While education and public services that promote education are being funded less, the average American has access to the internet via a computer or smartphone.
Yes, you still need to be educated on knowing how to do proper research, but a simple search of, "how do I research" gives some good results.
At this point, people just want to think they're right and never check other viewpoints or even look at themselves and why they believe their own beliefs. In my opinion it's a culturally inherent thing about "rugged individualism" instead of anything about a failing education system.
Finally, being empathetic towards other races and cultures takes 0 education. And if you want to know if you're on the right or wrong side of something, it takes barely any effort to search and learn about it.