So lets say that this futile folly known as the "war on drugs" was officially ended on the criminal and judicial level.
I find it very unlikely that the greedy entities of wealth and power that own the politicians (in both parties) would allow that money to be used upon a declared "war on ignorance". Especially since a good chunk of that saved money would no longer be filling up their foreign bank accounts.
I doubt very much that public schools would ever see a dime of it.
A WAR ON IGNORANCE.... what a concept.
Unfortunately, historically doomed to failure I'm afraid. Ignorance seems such an easier path for most. And truth can often be psychologically painful. I believe that so many subconsciously choose this path as a psychological defense mechanism.
So much easier to take oneself out of the equation directly and put it all on the government or on some collective ideal, or deity. It then, in a psychological sense removes direct responsibility for our own fates, paths, decisions, and actions.
One can just say "WE as Americans" , or "OUR government" or "God" are or is responsible for this or that etc. etc. rather than just staying within our own span of control. It is so much easier for cops, soldiers, and even private citizens to condone and commit atrocities when it is done with the "blessing" of policy, or idealism or whatever; rather than thinking for oneself and being accountable for ones own actions instead of passing the buck to "policy" or "God said"
When it all comes down to the base element, it is still just "group stupidity". WEAK!
I think "we" also do this because it is psychologically EMPOWERING and I would hope that we all know how dangerously addictive is the "drug" of POWER.