A variety (growing list) of articles and quotes on the importance of knowledge.
Knowledge is an interconnected understanding. An understanding of 'things' to that the knowledge can be applied (perhaps used as a tool) to make a decision or to solve a problem.
The Death of Expertise
John Hallwas, in the 8-5-17 commentary piece titled, "A crisis: The lack of knowledge in our time," advocates for the book "The Death of Expertise: The Campaign against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters," by Tom Nichols. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0190469412/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_ozLIzbF14AZJD
The Dumbing of America
He cites a 2008 article (old, but still true) in the Washington Post, "The Dumbing of America." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021502901.html
Americans are in serious intellectual trouble — in danger of losing our hard-won cultural capital to a virulent mixture of anti-intellectualism, anti-rationalism and low expectations.
Anti-intellectualism Is Killing America
Anti-intellectualism Is Killing America: Social dysfunction can be traced to the abandonment of reason (Posted Jun 23, 2015) https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201506/anti-intellectualism-is-killing-america
How America Lost Its Mind
America is in a post-truth period. https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/534231/
