Tavi's thought process--which takes place in instants--bears repeating.

<i>To do that? <b>Maybe</b> a Senator or High Lord could do it, if they had enough support. No one currently could. I doubt a Lord could without unprecedented popularity. It would take the First Lord to do it--but Gaius as he is can't, his support is too eroded. The First Lord would need a lot of charisma and influence and sheer stubbornness to ram it down their stubborn, hidebound throats. He'd need to prove it's useful to the future, too; maybe if there were a way to shift the budget and show a better educated population would be more productive in the long run, and better at keeping us from stagnating by having actual technological advances...

Gaius Sextus wouldn't think of it to begin with. Someone would have to suggest it, and be pretty bloody persuasive for him to even consider it, especially given the current stuation.

It would take initiative, idealism, willpower, and charisma.

The First Lord could do it.

<b>Sigh.</b>

I wish I could do more than I can to help my people.</i>

And his brain cannot begin even for a moment to conceive of himself with that steel circlet on his brow.

For a scant instant an obscure passion lights his eyes--a ruthlessly determined elation. Just as quickly, though, the only thing that shows on his face is wistful regret. All he says out loud:

"I have enough to overfill my time with concerns on a much smaller scale within my <i>own</i> world, without playing politics," he mixes truth and lies with wry easiness. "Fixing others' institutions of learning isn't exactly feasible."

Congratulations, Gavroche, you nearly broke Alera.