 Why can't Lane read or write?
Raging , Trooper Lane hovered three thousand feet above Tammany Square. The cool cybrain surgically implanted in him was working on the problem. The humming paragrav-paks embedded beneath his shoulder blades held him motionless above Newyork's three administrative towers. They don't teach them about their own city, that they'll be fighting for. From seven years old up, Troopers have too much to learn about fighting. Two black paragrav-boats whirred along the translucent underside of Newyork's anti-missile force-shield, the Shell. Lane somersaulted. Cybrain had taken charge of his motor nerves. Lane dropped lightly to the floor, inside the room, in battle-crouch. "Lashing police with his vibray," said the announcer, "Lane broke through the cordon surrounding Manhattan Armory. Tammany Hall has warned that this man is extremely dangerous. Citizens are cautioned to keep clear of him. Lane is an insane killer. A built-in electronic brain controls his reflexes—" "At ease with that jazz," said Lane, and a sheathed finger snapped out. Lane's mailed hand snapped open a pouch at his belt. The force-bomb "exploded"—swelled or inflated, really, but with the speed of a blast. It shaded the view from his window and re-entered the tower wall just below. Sure, I've heard of it—you gotta go by spaceship. Look, Lane, holding me is no good. He takes orders from Newyork." But also the road to the return to city-states.
 Lane has only been schooled in soldiering since he was seven. He was taught to fight, nothing else.
 When the cybrain was installed, Lane's own brain was wiped clean.  Lane is dyslexic. He got frustrated trying to learn and gave up.  Teaching the soldiers how to read and write would only lead to rational thinking. The soldiers might start to question orders. Therefore, they are only taught fighting.  Lane has only been schooled in soldiering since he was seven. He was taught to fight, nothing else.