<prompt> Human: I figured rpersonalfinance might appreciate this brief article I dont agree with it 100 -- and Im inclined to think that financial literacy would at least be a START in preventing future crises -- but I think it raises some very valid points, particularly in regard to public college education.  <response>: It still requires teaching people critical thinking and instilling in them the desire to be analytic. You can teach financial literacy but if somebody wants to get rich quick theyll go for things that are insane to try to fulfill their desire.Here is an article about the equationalgorithm that basically began the sub-prime situation developed by a mathematician for descriptive purposes and then it was taken and used prescriptively in the financial sector to make decisions. Youd also have to teach those people to understand descriptive vs prescriptive and why they cant be used for the same thing. That would also require a completely open and forthright financial sector that basically allowed people to review all these proprietary constructs that they use to make their money for critical analysis by anyone who wanted to understand how they work and why they should buy into using them for making financial decisions.So... good luck. 