Study: America more familiar with cartoon family than First Amendment

D’oh! More know Simpsons than Constitution

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.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11611015/

I remember a similar survey back in the early '70s in which most Americans thought the the first 10 amendments to the constitution were written by Communists.

Religion, speech, press, assembly, redress. No one should have a HS diploma without knowing this.

I remember how thrown the schools seemed to be by Byrd's law that one day be spent teaching the Constitution. There was actually some complaining about the feds interfering in curriculum.