I have recently been of the opinion that perhaps teaching philosophy in school could be a benefit to having people open their minds and be more accepting of different opinions.

I think it is ridiculous that it is currently not taught. Philosophy is a wonderful tool for an individual to read, experience, and grow to form their own opinions of the world around them.

Most of the people you're referring to were carefully groomed to be ignorant, apathetic, and submissive to authority, by the system itself, because without people like that the system cannot survive, much less grow as it has been for centuries.

Going to this point, I think we would have to build the new generation first before changing the way the system votes. (If that even makes sense.) :P