If user fees go into effect I'm done

Mxsmanic wrote:
Even today, with 1/3 of the U.S. population illiterate, there aren't
too many people who are qualified to vote, even though most of them
are allowed to vote.


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

The CIA world fact book says...

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

But that is the CIA, so I can understant if you say "Bull" to that.

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%.

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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Mxsmanic wrote:

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.

I gave you rates that were from widely different sources and they varied by
only 2%. You said "A number of studies that I've read..." which one of those
responses seems the more authoritative?

Gig 601XL Builder writes:

I gave you rates that were from widely different sources and they varied by
only 2%. You said "A number of studies that I've read..." which one of those
responses seems the more authoritative?

The ones I read, as they explained and displayed their data and methodology in
detail. Illiteracy is a serious problem in the United States.

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