Gig 601XL Builder writes:

And where exactly do you get that 1/3 of the US population is illiterate?

A number of studies that I've read, in the days when I was interested in
trying to help reduce illiteracy. As much as half the population cannot even
understand a help-wanted advertisement or a W-2 form.

The CIA world fact book says...

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Most countries, including all developed countries, dramatically overstate
their literacy figures. The United States is no exception. Furthermore, most
countries count a person as literate if he knows the alphabet and can
recognize simple words. In fact, that isn't even close to literacy in any
practical sense, and the number of people who are _functionally_ literate is
generally only a fraction of those who meet these minimal criteria.

But this link http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/St...x?StoryId=2553 is
written by a guy saying that Cuba is doing a great job and compares the US
to Cuba and even he says 97%.

That may be true, as a rigid and compulsory educational system can raise
literacy rates by forcing everyone to learn to read. However, 97% is probably
optimistic.

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