More (not so) fun facts:
54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.
21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.
High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.
see the thing is that I've already misjudged how dumb the average person is. I give too much credit to people.
same thing with people being assholes. I just kind of assumed that people generally want to not be assholes. nope, absolutely not, wildly incorrect. the average person doesn't give a fuck about anything but themself at that moment