America (and we are not alone) is in a race to the bottom. Just like Coke and Pepsi spend more an more each year on advertising,-- because the other does the same -- doesn’t mean they are making that much more in profits each year. The same can be said for education: Costly perks need to be added because “the other guy is doing it”, and in the end, we just pay more for (mostly) what we had before. Seriously, has basic calculus changed so much in 30 years?