I think quality education being attainable for every person that could take full advantage of it is a worthy societal goal. On the other hand, I also think there is no need for the taxpayer to support the many "amusement park" attractions of the modern US university. European universities with heavily subsidized tuition tend to lack the extras that we have here. They sprang into existence here as ways to attract students (and their tuition dollars) but aren't essential to academics.