But the issue is that most every person is not going to go "ohh boy! Compound interest!". Even though society is better off when both sides understand mortgages

But the issue is that most every person is not going to go "ohh boy! Compound interest!". Even though society is better off when both sides understand mortgages and car payments. They aren't going to go "ohh boy genetics!", in order to understand what they're voting for when it comes to science positions of political candidates. Basically, in my view, both society and individuals benefit with a certain base level of knowledge. I also believe that a majority of people would never learn parts of that base level if they had to do self-directed learning. I know that I never would have picked up poetry, or music if I wasn't forced to. Remember that we are the exception here. We are the cream of the crop in self-educating, self-motivated people. I think it's far too optimistic to say "let people get self motivated", and hope that they learn everything they need.