I don’t think that causation is evident or certainly or obviously factual. The negative interpretation is something you learn and internalize from your environment. You seem to already be in it, so I’m sure it may be hard to see an alternative. But I imagine education is neutral. And having zero power is an absolut defeatist mindset that is a conclusion of a lot of input and experience rather than a natural mindset from access to education.

I’m sure there is an alternative way of life, if the environment were different, if education were different, not less, but a different environment and approach, that people could become concerned but confident and active rather than scared and defeatist.

You said zero power. But looking back, every big social shift was in situations where individuals felt powerless. I can certainly see and feel powerless. But looking back into history, I feel like that individual conclusion should not be extrapolated to our society overall, and in consequence, ourselves as individuals within that society.