The media is there. Our nation has come a long ways since having a Town Crier. Now each of us can be a global crier on the Internet. The information overload has shocked too many people into being confused, disoriented and not knowing who to believe.
That's why critical thinking is necessary as a tool to separate facts from the tons of bullshit constantly being thrown at us.
Agreed 100% on your recommendation; as a nation we need to do a better job of educating citizens for a 21st Century economhy.
The LW frequently discusses education. The RW, on the other hand, has trouble seeing value in it and encourages their base to dismiss it as "elitism." We need to change the messaging from equating "higher education" with college, and include the trades and skills every society needs. We need to provide two years of post-high school education culminating in a certification that includes the ability to do the job trained for, and we need to do it either for free or very low cost. The Reichwing will predictably scream about the price tag. Too bad. This is an investment in our country, an investment in our people, an investment in our shared future.