PRATIE PLACE

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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Lisa Simpson for president.

A story issued by AP/Chicago, sent to me by a friend in Atlanta. I've seen versions of this survey all my life but it never fails to amuse and depress me.

Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition for redress of grievances). But more than half can name at least two members of the Simpson family.

The study by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with one in 1000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

The survey found more people could name the three "American Idol" judges than identify three FIrst Amendment rights.

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.


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3 Comments:

At 2:01 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pathetic in a dismal yet slightly amusing way...

Yet in other news, I'm very grateful that you take the time to write summaries about the telenovela Alborada! I, a struggling Spanish student (say that 3 times fast), was assigned to watch this for school. Thanks for all your help on some of the iffy incidents on the show.

 
At 9:05 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

About one in five people thought the right to own a pet was protected

That made me laugh.

It is sad, but smart people will realize that TV and entertainment is the true way to educate. If the Simpsons had some shows about the Bill of Rights, think how quickly people would memorize them.

 
At 3:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't know about Lisa, but Apu is running in 2008:

http://apuforpresident.com/

 

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