Here is a comment that might be from Epicurus:

I can only run a philosophical school if I get interested people coming to me who are well-rounded, sociable, self reliant;  people with enquiring minds, able to think for themselves  and critique the accepted consensuses of their elders.

Yes, I made this up, but can it be far from the truth?  How can you run a school of philosophy, let alone a country, without critical thinking and truly educated minds?

I am coming to the realization that both the United States and Britain, two countries I know, have given up on education and are only interested in schooling (reeding, riting and rithmetic and passing basic tests), and the concentration on job training.  Why else would you offer a BA degree in computer science, business studies, computer game design and similar subjects which previously were courses labeled as job training.

Why are the rich powers happy with this situation?  First, they don’t want to pay the taxes required to educate youngsters not their own.  Secondly, a barely literate population only requires a minimum wage, and if it is possible they will abolish that, too.  The rich have entree, if they want pay enough, to the Harvards and Yales of the world, once accessible, now well beyond the financial reach of the middle class.   A new self-replicating aristocracy is being created before our eyes, where wealth is equated with worth.  In this world the poor are worthless.

The Israeli moral philosopher, Avishai Margalit, is quoted as saying “A decent society does not humiliate its members.”   The gross inequalities occurring in both the United States and Britain are indecent and can only end badly.