The political foundation of liberal democracy is democracy, but the philosophical foundation of liberal democracy is liberalism.

A majority of citizens must actively want a sphere of liberties protected by liberalism more than it wants to impose its collective will on individuals within that sphere. If the majority decides it wants to determine how individuals are to live, speak and think more than it wants individuals to choose for themselves, liberalism will be voted out of existence, law by law.

But liberalism is a difficult worldview to acquire and keep. It must be taught and cultivated.

An educational program that views its mission in terms of preparing its students for the labor market, or worse, qualification for entering it — a prosperity ticket — will mistake training for education and create qualified workers and illiberal citizens.