All I can say is "About time". I'm in my 7th year of processing my 2 kids through college and I am seething with frustration. I work in a private sector job for a company that has to compete vigorously to win in the market place. American colleges are about as far as you can be from this. Picture some fat feudal lord sitting in the lap of luxury while the peasents que up to bring their tythe and you have American academia living large on the American middle class. To anwer Mr. Sowell's question, NO but when it comes to your kids how many of us feel compelled to "play the game". Just look at your media covergae. If someone went to a "prestige" U it gets mentioned. If they went to "average" U it won't get mentioned. Recruiters and HR people all follow "cookbook" practices that focus exclusively on perceived stature of the U. Keep up the good work and promote the work of these new "think tanks". Its too late for me but maybe sanity will be restored in time for my grandkids. Maybe the ride Academ is on is another "Bubble". The last few years seem to be the "Bubble era"