@sneakypete think about what Literacy tests are associated with.
She wasn’t saying anything complimentary or useful towards any of us.
@txradioguy I sometimes like for posters to refine their thoughts so there is no confusion about what they implied. Especially on a subject as controversial these days as illiteracy. I suspect that illiteracy is rare these days outside the Dim strongholds that used to be referred to as "ghettos" ,but not so rare for the generation that are now on SS.
The man that adopted me was illiterate,and his wife only had a 5th grade education. Neither of which was uncommon for people of their generation. He had to quit school in the 3rd grade to go to work at a boatyard as a laborer after his father died to help support his mother and 5 brothers and sisters. Later on,after he was married,he and my mother took in her nephew to raise after his parents were killed in a car wreck,and then adopted me maybe 10 years later. After I joined the army and left,they tried to adopt again,but were turned down due to age and illnesses.
The woman who raised me had a similar backstory. Her mother and father both died in the flue epidemic of 1918,and both she and her little sister were saved by the only social organization at the time that had the ability to help orphans,the KKK. The Klan put them both with a one-legged Civil War veteran who was having a tough time taking care of himself. She told me the way it was explained to her and him was "You need someone to cook,clean and help you around the house,and these little girls need a place to live. In return,you feed and clothe them and send them to school."
The Klan had to come back a year or so later and remind him of the deal he had agreed to,though. She never told me what led up to it other than he started drinking a lot,but she told me that one Friday night they showed up on horseback and carrying torches,and called him out in the yard and "laid down the law to him". According to my mother,the head Kluxxer told him "Old man,we have received word that you are not sending these little girls to school,and that you are not buying groceries and other items appropriate for little girls,but are spending most of your money on whiskey. If we ever hear of this happening again we will come back,and I will tie to to that tree in the corner of your yard,and beat you with a horsewhip until my arm gets tired." My mother told me they never again had a single problem with that old man right up to the day he died.
Anyhow,at the time my mother and father were children,it was not uncommon to see children AND adults that were illiterate because many children had to work to help support their families. That does NOT mean or even imply any of them were retarded.
I will grant you that these days illiteracy amongst the native-born is rare,but I suppose it must exist at some level.
Still,illiteracy isn't an issue in regard to voting rights these days. Even illiterate people have access to news via radio and tv,plus talking with their neighbors.
Retardation isn't really a problem in LEGAL voting because it's obvious these people can't cast an informed vote. Yes,I AM positive retards vote on a regular basis in Dim districts,but so do dead people,imaginary people,and even cartoon characters. This won't be stopped because the DNC doesn't want it stopped. IMHO,it could be fairly stated that "Retards are the base voters for the DNC."
