Education is mainly a local and state (for higher ed) issue. States and Municipalities can't borrow money to fund continuing operations while the Federal government can, in droves. That's the simple answer to why Education is being cut to the bone while we still design fighter planes we don't need. Americans love their states and counties but the way they collect taxes (especially sales tax!) in the age of Internet Sales and Megacorporations like Apple is in serious trouble and no one's seems intent on doing anything about it.