Reading Is Fundamental

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Sarah Sweeney
July 7, 2025

In an attempt to navigate today’s constantly changing political landscape, wrought with significant social impacts, I decided to learn a bit about literacy in our country. Having the capacity to read and write can be considered a social determinant of health as it leads to increased career opportunities, an ability to overcome barriers that lead to poverty and is a commonly understood pillar of social status. According to the National Literacy Institute, global literacy stands at 86.3 percent, with developed countries boasting an average of 96 percent. America claims to be a world leader in many capacities, however we fall short in this category, with an overall literacy rate of 79 percent. As I continued my journey down statistics lane, I was surprised to read that 21 percent of adults in the United States are illiterate, and 54 percent of the population have a literacy level that ranks below that of a 6^th grader. Our nation ranks 36^th in literacy in the global arena. To dial in further, those most impacted by social standing or living in low-income areas, also feel the greatest impact on in their ability to read and understand what is happening to their medical and financial benefits. Nearly half of our country’s population receive an income below federal poverty levels due to their inability to read, while three out of four welfare recipients cannot read at all.

The wide net that is being cast by cutting Medicaid and social support programs such as food assistance and assistance for pregnant or parenting families will further drive these populations into debt and poverty as it is estimated 11.8 million Americans will be without insurance by 2034 and three million Americans would no longer qualify for food benefits.

Naturally, I think about the crossroads for those people wanting to understand the system but cannot read the letters sent to their homes. I am deeply concerned for the future of our nation as the crevasse between the “haves” and “have-nots” grows deeper and wider. Even more it is a product of our own making as we rely on policymakers and government officials too busy, and sometimes too jaded, to fully recognize how far behind we are as compared to our global counterparts. How can we claim to be a powerhouse, the best nation in the world, if we cannot even read or write consistently to save our lives? We have become a society of impatience, inward focus and social influencing, rather than one of education, intelligence and common decency.

As our world increasingly revolves around technology, I am finding a great reliance on artificial intelligence in particular—a tool which could make it easier to do less in developing a nation to be revered or respected. I consider what it was like before the internet, when we had to rely on the written word or had to visit a local library to discover the source of all knowledge. It has become too easy to create a submission-worthy work product by the mere act of plugging in a few key phrases or ideas. Can (should) we even take credit for something that did not come from our own minds or experience?

We have ignored the most vulnerable among us, stopped caring about being the best we can be and making an impression on other countries. As public administrators we need to engage our communities in collective action to address our common failures. Improve investment in education, elect strong leadership and create an economy that is equitable and inclusive of all those we serve. When I hear the phrase make America great again, I am saddened that it has become synonymous with hatred, misinformation and misogyny. When did we become such a laughing stock compared to the rest of the world, and how can we move beyond our failures and actually do better?

I believe that engaged leadership is key and we are responsible to guide and care for the communities we lead. This includes long-term investment in education, literacy and climbing out of poverty to equal the playing field. To consider that 50 percent of our nation is reading below a 6^th grade reading level and nearly a quarter of them can’t even read or write is just insanity to me. It is our responsibility to ensure that we build a better world for our future generations. Unfortunately, we have moved away from the infrastructure necessary to make that a reality.

Public administration is about ensuring continued prosperity, and that begins at home. We must do better and ensure that no child is left behind. Similarly, we must ensure that every adult has the chance to take advantage of the opportunity to take responsibility for their own prosperity. That said, we cannot do this alone, nor can we expect the average person to know what steps are needed to do better.

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Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and public administrator in Washington State.  She may be contacted at [email protected] 

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