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The Far Right’s Strategy: Reading Is Wrong, So Is College

Robert Pacilio
6 min readApr 30, 2020
Kinga Ciehewicz @ all_who_wander from Upsplash

“When you watch Trump, David, I’m not sure the man reads very well. I know he doesn’t write very well. I would argue that anybody who can’t read and can’t write can’t think. That’s what we have”. — Stephen King (NYT Magazine)

They won’t read, they don’t read, and they can’t read. That’s right — far right. And the Trump world is just fine with that. Sorry to deliver the blunt facts — but read below and weep. (Don’t worry. I’ll give you a tip or two by the end.)

I recognize two inherent ironies this essay must face. First, and most obvious, is that the likelihood of people reading this is limited; however, on the off chance that one does, I want to gird you with some evidence to use in the war against ignorance. The second, and a far more disturbing irony, is that the reasons a large percentage of the population won’t believe what they just might read is that this essay paints a target on those for whom reading has been either very difficult or that the information that they read is “fake news.” People refrain from being a target.

Despite the obstacles, allow me to lay out the case that Stephen King opines with some broader facts. “The U.S. Department of Education…study seeks to determine how well adults are prepared to function in today’s society.” The most recent results show “52% of all…

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Robert Pacilio
Robert Pacilio

Written by Robert Pacilio

San Diego County “Public School Teacher of the Year.” (32 year veteran) Author of five novels & a memoir available on Amazon and at www.robertpacilio.net.

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