I would say the ability to think critically, coupled with a good literacy foundation, is more important than just literacy.

I know many will say literacy is the building block to critical thinking, or something along those lines, but I don't know, I've now known many, many examples that don't support the idea.

I'm quite sure Germany's population was as literate in the 1930's as any other. It's subtler than that.

I can’t imagine people trying to bring back a “golden age” of white supremacy are ignorant of the past.

I think there is a solid point made by the GP about what literacy is needed for. To me the end game is not to have a randomly erudite population, but well adjusted people. Literacy is only a small part of that.

The author also says this, but also basically claims literacy hasn't improved humanity. So you repeated him without adding anything (in fact subtracting much), and I repeated myself. If anything, we've either supported my point or demonstrated your lack of deep literacy.