Could it be an attempt of elitists to turn America into the white college utopia described in Mega Trends, a best seller in the 80s?
It happened much sooner than that.
I remember commuting with an avowed communist in the early 60s, not too long before all smokestack industries and manufacturing of everything that was excellent began to move overseas.
I recall replying in many discussions that I could not conceive of the U.S. (or any country, for that matter) existing very long as a totally "service" society.
We have confirmed in the worst way possible that an economically healthy society cannot exist without the actual creation of wealth and useful manufactured products.
Of course, the unions couldn't care less, being the new privileged economic aristocracy.