Yes.

I think it's possible if the right people are in charge. We need people in positions of power who value education not just for themselves but for everyone. Unfortunately, ruling classes tend to like keeping a large portion of their population dumb, which is great for having a large pool of laborers who won't challenge the status quo, but it blunts the critical thinking skills needed for rational decision making.

Its hard to say waht is rational in the generic as it is often situational. Its rational to prepare and save for the future but if no amount of savings can get something substantial. Lets say like a house. A rational mind might not see much of a point to saving for it. Compound this with a future that seems to be rigged, lets say but investments or savings that seem to lose over time. Well what is rational changes.

I agree with you— I think it’s one of those “well our tools of analysis only work under an assumption of rationality, so we have to state it as an axiom” things.