Like the old cowboy said, "About 2% of the people kin read or hear something and learn from it and not make the same mistake. Another 2% kin learn from their mistakes. The rest of us just keep pissin' in our boots."

Americans have always had a fear of intellectualism and education -- a love/hate relationship. "My cows don't need libraries," is a saying out here (and to which I reply, "Maybe that's why they're still cows").

"You only need enough education to figger out if your paycheck's right." "Just teach 'em readin', writin', and 'rithmetic. 'Sall anybody needs."
"I never went beyond the eighth grade and I turned out okay."
"Too much schoolin' spoils the kid."

And yet...when the kid graduates Mom and Dad are ready to bust their buttons with pride. "He got hisself a college degree and look! He ain't stuck up or nothin'!"

Among the very first things the settlers did was set up a school of some sort. Among the last things discarded on Oregon Trail when the going got bad were books -- with Shakespeare predominating.

Go figger....