Why do people think education is the only answer to societal ills?

At one time, hard work and a good education could take you almost anywhere. But with outsourcing, public schools closing, vanishing jobs and an unproportionately high number of unemployed (or underemployed) people holding degrees, education is NOT the final answer. Comments on this?

I agree with you. But with all that good old fashioned hard work that built this country, work ethic has gone out the window.
Part of the problem is that employers are not as loyal as they used to be either, and unions are outlawed in most of the U.S..

As far as educated and unemployed go, that just depends on what career trend it hot at the moment, it doesn't necessarily prove that education is a waste.

Most people only show up at work for a paycheck anyway.

hopefully they weren't referring to the public education system which is a total joke and only educates the top 3% of it's enrolled students.

the rest are left to mediocrity like me.
I agree. America was built on plain old hard work.
kill the rich
all i can say education gives you more advantages,
Even if education (sometimes) doesn't bring you material benefits, it still improves your life in making you understand and appreciate things you would not otherwise. I don't know anybody who wishes they were more ignorant than they are. Do you?
I disagree. Employers want an employee with a well rounded education. In most cases, the more education you have, especially in the field that you're working in, the more money you're likely to make. As for me, I took a lot of classes that wouldn't help me in the work place, but I enjoyed them. I got a lot out of college, not just the education, but meeting and befriending a lot of really cool, interesting people that I would have never met otherwise. The whole experience was rewarding to me, any body's quality of life would be better after an experience like that. Stay in school, kiddies.