Tonight, on 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley reported on the Social Security Administration’s Master Death List.  Problems with the list include identifying live persons as dead, as well as failing to record deaths, in which case Social Security benefits continue to be paid.

Mr. Pelley informed us that part of the problem lies in the fact that the SSA “uses a nineteenth century record-keeping system.”  Mr. Pelley then exhibited a well-worn magazine file box, read the label on it to prove its antiquity, and told us that the paper records in that box “are, in fact, from 1912.”

A journalist of Mr. Pelley’s caliber ought to know that 1912 falls in the twentieth century.  This kind of thing happens so much in serious broadcast and print media, it should be no surprise to anyone that the United States continues to fall in worldwide educational rankings.

And that’s just sad.