But to put this more simply, America values stupidity.
The Kardashians are top celebrities in this country, people who have literally created nothing, ever.
Stupidity is valued elsewehere as well, look at how many people wanted "regular ol Sarah Palin" to be VP, and think that an education is elitist and absurd.
And parenting has gone out the window as well. Parents no longer want to enforce rules, they want to be their kids friend. This means when they dont want to do homework or play hooky, the parent buys in. But someone has to take the blame when that kid fails, so who does? The teacher. Because they didnt do more to help the kid who refused to do any work in the first place.