I agree with you up to a point, although the level of essay writing needed be an engineer and the level of mathematics needed to understand progressive taxation

I agree with you up to a point, although the level of essay writing needed be an engineer and the level of mathematics needed to understand progressive taxation shouldn't need to be taught at university by experts in a field. Not everyone goes to university (nor should they without substantial changes to what is meant by university), so it's really not the right place to teach the tools to function in society. Political science is not a subject I'm claiming doesn't need any maths, but hatred or fear of mathematics shouldn't prevent someone from studying languages or history, just as a hatred of writing essays shouldn't prevent someone from studying a science. Obviously nobody hating or fearing either mathematics or essays is what we should aim for, but until we get there, don't prevent people from doing the things they excel at.