The conservatives like the "children not learning mathematics" argument

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

This is poorly written.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Conservative-inclined posters are free to dismiss the idea, but I'm starting to believe that there is something inherently reactionary about the modern obsession with natural sciences and math as the only "useful" thing people should learn about.

Reactionary in what sense? "Right-wing" groups from numerous corners of the spectrum have historically denounced rationalism. That said, I would have to cede that the present is not the past; at the same time, however, the "21st century economy" drivel is horrifyingly bipartisan.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Conservative-inclined posters are free to dismiss the idea, but I'm starting to believe that there is something inherently reactionary about the modern obsession with natural sciences and math as the only "useful" thing people should learn about.

Reactionary in what sense? "Right-wing" groups from numerous corners of the spectrum have historically denounced rationalism. That said, I would have to cede that the present is not the past; at the same time, however, the "21st century economy" drivel is horrifyingly bipartisan.

I'm just struck by the vision it evokes - that of human beings as mere cogs in a giant machine, with no inherent purpose beyond that of serving it. Whether that machine is called Tradition, the Nation, Soviet Communism, or, as today, Rational Utility, might not be that significant in the end. Either way, human beings are reduced into tools and it doesn't seem like there is any need for any kind of personal fulfillment.

I realize that it's not a conventional definition of what being "reactionary" means (especially since I have deliberately lumped in ostensibly "left-wing" regimes), but I do feel like there is a vague thread tying all these thoughts together with the most virulent anti-Enlightenment ideologies.

Honey, this is a product of the Enlightenment!

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Everything that the conservatives consider that should not be taught at school, they blame for the low score of the students in mathematics. They say that the students are wasting time learning useless stuff, and that's why they are not using enough time to learn mathematics. Conservatives blame the teach of tolerance of minorities, multiculturalism, environment and sex education.
But we never see conservatives blaming religion classes for the low score in mathematics.

Well there aren't religion classes in US public schools. Not that things people on the street say are generally logically consistent, but still.

I do think liberals do (potentially) have a legitimate argument to point out the folly of the borderline science-worship many Americans have. But that seems to transcend party and ideological divides.

Science worship? What science worship? If anything, Americans dont regard science important enough. This is evident with how so many make it partisan denying things like climate change or wanting to inject religion into science classrooms.

We're taking about two different sets of Americans here (both of which possess the garden variety low information pool filter scum we love to deride).

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Once you Made Man Equal, there was one option for as to how to structure society: merit.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Once you Made Man Equal, there was one option for as to how to structure society: merit.

Uh, no, the meritocratic ideology is inherently irreconcilable with egalitarianism.

Once you dispensed with biased toward class, nation, race, or sex, those characteristics that differentiated one person from another became very simply what they either had done, or what they could do. Why should you receive a job, a raise, or anything else in the context of scarcity? Why should you be made a leader of men? Because I can do it better.

Of course, this too was an unstable system, as there can only be so much in demand at one time, and ceaseless dedication to official signifiers of merit detract from other aspects of life (including its very continuation).