[techweenie]

Less than 30% of US kids graduate from a 4-year college.

Anyone who thinks that US colleges have been turning out well-schooled Americans over the past 20 years has not read as many resumes and cover letters as I have.

American exceptionalism was based on optimism about building a better country and the drive to take it there. In any mature society, some begin to think that sliding down the right birth canal --in and of itself -- makes them special and deserving. Many of those stop trying to improve themselves and their neighborhood/state/country/world. When the latter becomes the majority, it's the end of "exceptionalism." That the US has crossed that tipping point is pretty much beyond debate. Whether we can rediscover our purpose as a nation is in question.

Maybe time to throw out the mayonnaise and grab the mustard.