I think that the "math" largely misses the point. It is the underlying moral ideas that matter. The math, as well as whatever other facets of reality get in the way of these moral/political ideas - particularly those pesky humans among us who continually undermine them, are but a "nuisance."

A nuisance to be "properly" dealt with if (when!) need be.......

Look at the list of countries. Eliminate struggle, eliminate proficiency. We are the dominant species on earth, not from size, strength, speed or teeth, but from our minds. all this bought with overwhelming struggle over millennia after millennia, century after century.

That list is not an indictment of teachers, schools, race, capability or even common core. That list is an indictment of sloth from the removal of struggle in the lands of plenty. Not only don't we struggle to survive, we don't even struggle to avoid boredom!

This is one of the best arguments against socialism. Take away the challenges from many, and they stop challenging themselves. It is classic Ant and Grasshopper. This is why everyone does not need healthcare or welfare. Everyone needs a chance, and consequences of sloth and non performance.

If anyone thinks a pollution problem is caused by companies or capitalism, they are wrong. It is caused by too many people and no natural or self imposed checks on survival or reproduction.

One thing about teenagers and young adults is that they rarely think things through. It's hard to do and the results frequently shatter the dream. And there are some that never grow out of this kind of pubescent naive enthusiasm. The liberal understanding of economics can best be described as a form of mysticism. Liberals truly believe that economic realities can be manipulated by good thoughts, wishful thinking and positive karma. And when that approach fails they are always ready to find culprits that have foiled their plans through evil intentions. To a liberal economics is a form of magic but then anything that one does not understand can appear magical.

Math isn't the only problem...

While "who" is going to pay for "free" college is the big question...the underlying problem is what happens when you give something to someone who hasn't earned it.

We can give all the free college we want, but most of the students who take advantage of it won't be worth a damn. While there might be the rare individual, the rest of them will waste it all away. Why put any effort into something that you didn't have to work for, in the first place?

I did poorly in my later school years (except the straight A's I received in technical courses). Like many, I disliked being made to go to school and it showed in my grades. Had I had to pay for said schooling, on the other hand, I likely would have had far superior grades AND have been a far better student since I had "skin in the game".

This kind of knowledge comes only with experience and I'm afraid the kind of voters who back Sanders don't have any, at all.

Hell...they can't even understand that "A is A". How could you possibly expect them to understand basic arithmetic.

Why would a giddy gimme gimme gimme someone even care about doing the math?
That silly reality thing is not their forte.

Why stop at math, list for me what they can do!

What do you mean when you say I can't find the answer on the Internet?

I have 2 macro classes, and the students cannot even move decimals, multiple (divide) by reciprocals, cross-multiply, simplify large fractions (112/14 to 56/7 to 8) without a calculator. They are entitled and expect the teacher to answer. The most common answer in my poli sci classes is idk!

In one way I'm puzzled about it, but on the other hand could there be a connection? Is there something about being able to grok math and the ability to understand the relationship between free markets, individual liberty, and productivity ? Has anyone ever done a study of the SAT math scores of objectivists or genuine libertarians?

They can do the math, but they have chosen to blank out. As captured during Rearden's tumbler revelation, we'll "do something"!

I agree with this quip, but it doesn't entirely explain it. Even people who don't know math can usually do arithmetic.