I agree with you completely about the economics, but I think this is part of the problem, that everyone thinks it's either/or, that we have to decide when we're

I agree with you completely about the economics, but I think this is part of the problem, that everyone thinks it's either/or, that we have to decide when we're 18 whether we're going to be "technologists" or "humanists". There's a plausible world where everyone possessed enough "useful knowledge" to make a living and was also familiar enough with the humanities that people didn't feel the need to write articles lamenting the state of the humanities. I agree that the author's solutions don't seem like they would fundamentally change the economics of the situation. I think the biggest improvement could be had by convincing people that the humanities are important enough to spend time reading instead of watching TV all night every night.