The US dedicated itself to education as a national security issue after WWII. The Cold War required a population that was highly educated. The Space Race and the Arms Race required the best scientists and engineers. The risk of nuclear war springing from regional conflicts required talented diplomats educated in world affairs and history. The battle between free societies and authoritarianism required a public well educated in civics.

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 further codified merit system principles, and defined prohibited personnel practices to protect against discrimination and political favoritism. [The Mandate of Our Education Department]

For decades after WWII education was viewed as a national security issue and part of the "General Welfare" duty of our government. Now it is viewed as a business. There was a time when a promising student was virtually guaranteed a free education. Not now.

The result of this is the appalling ignorance of the general public. Poor government policies are also the result when the general public has not even the basic knowledge of science, civics or history.

When a basic question like how many millions are in a trillion, or how many watts can a 15 amp circuit handle, or which branch of government controls the budget cannot be answered by many voters, we are in for a world of hurt.

When Donald Trump claims that he has brought $17 trillion dollars of investment into the US he gets away with it because Americans are inept at simple math.

When Donald Trump claims that the influx of tariff money will be the end of the income tax he gets away with it because Americans are inept at simple math.

Americans also cannot fathom the significance of our $37 trillion dollar national debt ($112,000 for every man, woman and child in the US. The yearly interest payment on this debt is $5600 for every man, woman and child in the US, banks love this)

Post-WWII U.S. education, driven by the GI Bill, federal funding (NDEA), and Cold War competition, lead to larger universities, new "New Math/Science" curriculums, increased high school graduation rates, greater focus on democracy/social studies, and the beginnings of federal involvement in equity (Civil Rights). Though the 1960s this effort was astoundingly successful. It is no longer so.

Education has been a political football for politicians and lobbyists. Its core functions have been abandoned and replaced by a job training function for industry. Higher education has become prohibitively expensive. It is in dire need of change.

So what does the Trump administration propose to fix these problems? Gut the department, slash the budget and install a moron to facilitate its demise.

In the past our Secretaries of Education were highly educated accomplished people. Linda McMahon is not. She is the former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE FAKE wrestling) executive officer.

[Linda McMahon Bio] [A lesson from Linda McMahon] [Past Secretaries of Education]

Education is fundamental to the well-being of our nation. We can't allow this debacle to continue.