Having followed this tragic development year after year, it is amazing that we are still surprised by what the chart below shows, yet here we are: surprised. Although judging by recent social, fiscal and monetary developments (and the complete lack thereof as the same old broken approaches are tried with a lunatic's intensity and an idiot's resolve that this time will be different), we can certainly believe it. In brief: another year, another record low for the average verbal SAT score, and another sad achievement for a nation that is getting fatter, dumber and ever more in debt.

And just because nobody took it seriously last year (and it shows) we repeat: the need for the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too has never been greater.

h/t @Not_Jim_Cramer