this is simply an effort to create more liberal brains
BINGO! I remember that "new math" that was introduced when I was in middle school. Granted I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to math, but even I understood that the new math was not right.
Now, fast-forward 25 to 30 years and all these new math disciples are running the country. Thusly, they are creating budgets using new math, so any answer they come up with is the correct answer.
No sarcasm tag used because, unfortunately, I am correct.