> Currently, it exists because the formal education system teaches everyone that the formal education system is very important, that economic growth and our nat

> Currently, it exists because the formal education system teaches everyone that the formal education system is very important, that economic growth and our national competitiveness depend on more and more people going to college. People believe this myth, and then vote for politicians who sustain the institutions. It also exists because the gatekeepers for many professions require it. In many cases, they require multiple levels of it. This problem keeps getting worse, too. For instance, NCEES guidelines require an accredited engineering Bachelors degree for a PE; they want to add mandatory post-Bachelors education to the licensure requirement because they feel engineering Bachelors degrees are too short.