The good society is one in which every member, regardless of race, gender or ethnic origin, should have access to a rewarding life. Essentially, a good society is the one our forefathers intended when this country was built. Since education, by its very essence, is about that task, I was drawn to the book. Galbraith points out the United States has evolved away from a good society. He points to the discrepancy between funding for public and private activities.
Public activities tend to be less funded and meet lower standards.
Housing in parts of some cities is elegant, while the streets and sidewalks that bind them are filthy. Children go to under-funded and chaotic schools, and then go home and watch expensively produced television programs. While the bulk of Galbraith's analysis is economic, a centerpiece of the book concerns itself with what he considers to be the decisive role of education. First, he points out that the good society cannot accept that education in the modern economy is primarily to service economic ends. Education also has a bearing on social peace and tranquility.