Simpsons better known that Constitution in US

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Oh my, this is funny. Almost.

D’oh! More know Simpsons than Constitution

Study: America more familiar with cartoon family than First Amendment

Only one in four Americans can name more than one of

the five freedoms in the First Amendment, but more than

half can name at least two family members of "The Simpsons"

(from left, Lisa, Marge, Maggie, Homer and Bart).

Updated: 1:22 a.m. ET March 1, 2006

CHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about “The Simpsons” than they do about the First Amendment.

Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. (Survey: can you name the five freedoms?)

But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey.

The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

Joe Madeira, director of exhibitions at the museum, said he was surprised by the results.

“Part of the survey really shows there are misconceptions, and part of our mission is to clear up these misconceptions,” said Madeira, whose museum will be dedicated to helping visitors understand the First Amendment when it opens in April. “It means we have our job cut out for us.”

The survey found more people could name the three “American Idol” judges than identify three First Amendment rights. They were also more likely to remember popular advertising slogans.

It also showed that people misidentified First Amendment rights. About one in five people thought the right to own a pet was protected , and 38 percent said they believed the right against self-incrimination contained in the Fifth Amendment was a First Amendment right, the survey found.

The telephone survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Jan. 20-22 by the research firm Synovate and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Source

[pax 0]

God, this is so sad. Ewen and I were running through some naturalization questions over the weekend, and I think he got more of them right than a lot of Americans would.

[Fuzzness 2]

It's too bad the US Govt doesn't even know such a document exists.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's too bad the US Govt doesn't even know such a document exists.

They know it exists. People just have no clue what it means. Which is precisely why the government can trample on it as it pleases without a large number of people being concerned. After all, Bush hasn't messed with the constitutionally protected right to own that dog or cat just yet.

[Fuzzness 2]

It's too bad the US Govt doesn't even know such a document exists.

They know it exists. People just have no clue what it means. Which is precisely why the government can trample on it as it pleases without a large number of people being concerned. After all, Bush hasn't messed with the constitutionally protected right to own that dog or cat just yet.

i'll go along with that. I also heard that Bush isn't concerned with the polls because if he were he wouldn't be doing his job. Seems to me that the job of an elected official is to serve the people... not interested in the people's opinion? hmmmm...

[Mand 1]

You mean we have a real actual right to choose a cat or a dog It's not just a pretend right? (We actually choose "none of the above')!!

[eau_xplain 2]

Maybe they should have all americans take the citizenship test when they turn 18?

[Sister Fracas 5]

I guess it's non-USC's that took the "Can you name the five freedoms" survey then?? Cuz 80% got it right...

[pax 0]

For the record, the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment are:

--Freedom of speech

--Freedom of religion

--Freedom of the press

--Freedom of peaceful assembly

--Freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances

[faith 0]

Maybe they should have all americans take the citizenship test when they turn 18?

Where I live and went to school, you have to take the constitution/government test and pass it in order to be moved from 8th grade to 9th grade. And then to graduate high school you have to take it again and pass it. It's also a requirement in college.

Edited March 1, 2006 by faith

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Maybe they should have all americans take the citizenship test when they turn 18?

Well, it would be enough if everyone planning to vote had to take it regularly; and maybe elected officials should take it too ideally before being put on the ballot.

[Kajikit 65]

The simpsons have been put in front of people at LEAST once a week (more like once a night) for the last decade... it's not surprising that everyone knows about them. But last time I looked the US constitution didn't make good television...

[pax 0]

Pfffft. That doesn't make it any less shameful that so many native-born Americans are so woefully ignorant of their own history and culture. In fact, that makes it worse. Your implication is that Americans are unable, or at least unwilling, to assimilate knowledge that isn't put in front of them via the television.

At a time in history at which many of our basic Constitutional rights are very much at risk by an increasingly imperial Presidency, American ignorance is less acceptable and more dangerous than ever.

[Miranda&James 8]

I will say that that quiz isn't a very good one, it's worded badly and all of the questions contain things that are true, just maybe not in the first Amendment. Seeing as most USC don't have regular classes on the exact contents of the Amendments, I would think it would be normal and ok that most have a general idea but don't know exact details.

The pet thing is just idiotic though Maybe that falls under right to pursue happiness?

[Fischkoepfin 1]

But "The Simpsons" are at least one of the few TV-shows that inadvertently teach about constitutional rights once in a while and when they do it always makes good television.

I agree, however, that it is sad that most Americans have no clue when it comes to the constitution and its amendments. Everyone can recite the pledge of allegiance, but not everyone knows the first amendment by heart. Maybe it is time to replace the pledge with the first amendment.

I will say that that quiz isn't a very good one, it's worded badly and all of the questions contain things that are true, just maybe not in the first Amendment. Seeing as most USC don't have regular classes on the exact contents of the Amendments, I would think it would be normal and ok that most have a general idea but don't know exact details.

The pet thing is just idiotic though Maybe that falls under right to pursue happiness?

Given that the right to bear arms is a second amendment right and that most people should be aware of that given the frequent discussions of that right on national television, the quiz is actually fairly easy. The wording seems to me pretty straight forward, but then I'm not a native speaker.

As to the pet thing, that is interesting. I wonder if you receive money for your pet when you're on social security. If so, that would explain something...