I agree with 98% of that. That's a big reason I like to exchange ideas in these topics, because often we find out that we have far more common ground than we realize.
You and I are from much earlier generations, Terry. I can appreciate that you would take offense (even if you didn't) at the comparison of totalitarian regimes to the U.S. decisions in front of us.
However, I truly wonder about this younger generation. Not sure at all how many liberal college sophomores in the year 2016 hold the first amendment as sacrosanct. Jesse Watters did a humor piece at O.S.U. walking around with a petition to ban the first amendment, in the interests of sensitivity, and got over 50% support.
Not sure at all how much the 18-30 crowd would find the Chinese system unthinkable.
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Good thoughts on the K-12 system. Will let you have the last word there.