I'm going to have to disagree there. Public schooling is absolutely necessary for an informed citizenry. We can certainly debate on whether or not public schooling is as effective as it should be, and attempt to adjust accordingly - but without "free" education, the lower levels of society wouldn't have a chance to better themselves. And, really, that means society does better as a whole.

Opportunity for education is one important thing. But I think there also has to be some kind of consensus on what exactly is being taught too, and that is really only going to come from government. If everyone is fractured in their basic facts and values, well, we get the current state of social media. :)