I think the point of math is to learn other more advanced math. Which is so useful to the few that will have jobs that need it, that they want to push it as ha

I think the point of math is to learn other more advanced math. Which is so useful to the few that will have jobs that need it, that they want to push it as hard as possible just to give them every possible advantage, because it's hard. They want as many people in advanced STEM as possible, because that's basically like being a billionaire in terms of the level of wealth and comfort, and things like chemistry might solve some really big problems. Also, a really large number of people still think math is something you actually use daily. These are people that still balance checkbooks and make budgets with paper and do woodworking with fractions instead of CAD apps. Math really is useful to anyone who isn't comfortable letting a computer do half their thinking. I might never even own a checkbook in my life, and I've never even used basic algebra IRL. But I can see why someone who never got comfortable with a "There's an app for that" mindset would think long division was a life skill. I highly doubt I have the talent needed to ever learn a useful amount of math (My idea of useful is enough to get an EE or CS degree), so I don't make it a super high priority to get better at it.