Thomas Friedman is one of my favorite writers and commentators. In his November 20, 2010 OP-Ed column available at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21friedman.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y he wrote:

President Obama got this one exactly right when he said that whoever “out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow.” The bad news is that for years now we’ve been getting out-educated. The good news is that cities, states and the federal government are all fighting back. But have no illusions. We’re in a hole.

In support of the assertion we are being out educated, he then goes on to say: