Regarding your first point, this quote by Gian-Carlo Rota perhaps says what I want to say best:
"Most people, even some scientists, think that mathematics applies because you learn Theorem Three and Theorem Three somehow explains the laws of nature. This does not happen even in science fiction novels; it is pure fantasy. The results of mathematics are seldom directly applied; it is the definitions that are really useful. Once you learn the concept of a differential equation, you see differential equations all over, no matter what you do. This you cann... (read more)
Yes the concepts are the main thing useful you learn when you learn math. But not all math is equally useful in all areas. Economists hardly ever use differential equations; that is not a math that helps much there. So in learning econ Congressfolks should learn some math, yes, but probably not differential equations.
Regarding your first point, this quote by Gian-Carlo Rota perhaps says what I want to say best:
"Most people, even some scientists, think that mathematics applies because you learn Theorem Three and Theorem Three somehow explains the laws of nature. This does not happen even in science fiction novels; it is pure fantasy. The results of mathematics are seldom directly applied; it is the definitions that are really useful. Once you learn the concept of a differential equation, you see differential equations all over, no matter what you do. This you cann... (read more)