Belly, I am also a jack of all trades with practical ability. In the outback I was mentored, if it's broken, fix it.
I think academics follow what they learn from literature. Thats good such as with medicine and walking on the moon for example, but its not good for managing world prosperity and peace.
And academic led excise tax to milk motorists to prop up the economy does not leave enough cash for people to consume goods and services.

JF Aus yes agree between us we could get things running again but single skill folk will never try,life has been good to me living when a true worker would always have a job and a chance to have a go at any thing