Moog, I'll take your word for it about being a teacher.
However, if you'll re-read your posts to me, you'll have to admit there has been a big lapse in reading and responding in context.
For example I said "I'd also be willing to wager that more than half of them come from grade schools that taught the latest fad in reading". Notice that my post referred to something that happened years ago. Yet you responded as though I was making the assertion that it was still being taught: "Whole language has long ceased being the "latest" fad at least here. Like I said, I haven't seen it around for years year. A more balanced approach--mixing phonics with sight words is the prevailing idea now."
There are numerous other 'corrections' that should be done also before the paper is handed in to be graded. (Grin)
I will stand by my assertion, that most non-readers today came through reading classes that taught Whole Language. The caveat of foreign invaders who can't read is a valid one, and I'm not including them in my wager.
One more point, from what you revealed about the continued use of Whole Language it's easy to see that that non-readers will be around for some time.
Fortunately, my grandkids are home schooled. They are from the group who will lead the country into the next century. I feel sorry for the "Do you want fries with that?" Whole Language group. The Educrats are being terribly unfair to them, meanspirited really.