It's a good essay, except for the comment of pushing a "bold conservative agenda". Out-of-control spending, greater concern for foreign policy than domestic issues, government intrusion into the lives of citizens. . . I guess maybe that's what it means to be conservative now, but it's ridiculous.

I am sick to death of education being the panacea to all of our economic troubles. In undeveloped parts of the world, such as Africa, you can find people with college degrees selling cigarettes on the street. That's because there are no jobs there. It takes more than education to create a healthy economy.