Did Arne Duncan Make up a Bunch of Lies to Get $4.35 Billion for a Scam? (Race to the Top and Common Core Standards)

Have we just been scammed by Arne Duncan and the Department of Education?  Secretary Duncan bemoans the fact American children don't score high enough on standardized testing, there aren't enough "highly effective" teachers, there is not educational equity, we need to make all educational decisions on data (which is presently lacking), our kids are not college ready and all children must attend to college for the country to remain competitive.

Watch this video from Heidrick and Struggles, a private search firm on the lookout for talent on a global level:

2011 Global Talent Index - Overview & Methodology from Heidrick & Struggles on Vimeo.

The Global Talent Index is a unique research study designed to identify where talent is located in the world today and in the future. The purpose of this analysis is to help organizations identify potential talent challenges as well as opportunities around the world.

What country came in first as having the most talent?

The United States. 

What was an important component in achieving this rank?  Why, the "excellent education" the United States offers.

If our education is so excellent (number one in attracting and keeping talent), why are we instituting global initiatives, common core standards,and mandates to ostensibly catapult our students into a higher position or score?

What is all the brouhaha about the failing educational system in American and how American students are so far behind?  Does this private company which ranks the US as number one in talent have access to different data than the Department of Education has?  Could American taxpayers have been fleeced by this administration for purposes other than to improve educational services and train our students to become globally competitive?  According to this firm, the United States was doing very well without this mass infusion of billions of dollars, mandates and the nationalization of education.

What exactly is going on?