I think it is because America isn't meant to produce smart people. It is meant to make an environment hospitable for smart people. Cynical as it may sound, th

I think it is because America isn't meant to produce smart people. It is meant to make an environment hospitable for smart people. Cynical as it may sound, this means a consumer based worker population, which entails dumbing down. Our economy runs off of mass production, so the products need to meet the greatest common denominator. You get a big common denominator by leveling society.