Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go thru life, son.

[Spence]

According to a study by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, 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.]

This was less than half the number of people who can name more than one of the five members of the cartoon “Simpson” family.

Furthermore, while 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members... just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

Source (http://www.mccormicktribune.org/mccormickmuseum/pdf/Survey_Results.pdf)

[Ibleedburgundy]

So there you have it, the Simpsons deserve their own holiday. :)

[RedskinsDave]

Fine but what were the poll results outside of the White House?

(see people, I can joke about my side too)

[smoak]

Americans are stupid. In other news, studies show that most bald men have little to no hair on their heads.

[Spence]

Fine but what were the poll results outside of the White House?That's a good line, but if you think it's going to make me start making more jokes about how Bill Clinton was the inspiration for the "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" slogan then you're kid...Oh, wait. Never mind.

[redskin_rich]

Americans are stupid. In other news, studies show that most bald men have little to no hair on their heads.
People in general are stupid, Americans don't corner the market on ignorance.

[smoak]

People in general are stupid, Americans don't corner the market on ignorance.

Fair, but with the resources we have as country are far more than most. Don't thnk I am excluding myself from my critical POV, but I just think Americans are unintelligent and lazy (both physically and mentally lazy). It makes me sad, but then I just pop on FOX and all my troubles melt away. :D

[Booser]

i have to admit that i only got 4 of the 5, and i consider myself to be an educated man.

and yes, i can name all the Simpsons.

guess that makes me one of the lowest common denominators!:)

[RedskinsDave]

Seriously, petition for redress of grievances? I don't know if I've ever dressed one in the first place and I certainly wouldn't bother petitioning to do it again if I have. Or is this the basis for one of the tenets of Festivus?

[Spence]

Or is this the basis for one of the tenets of Festivus?You're thinking of the 6th Amendment, which guarantees the rights of all people to challenge their elected officials to "feats of strength." That's how Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen.

[dukeuch]

People in general are stupid, Americans don't corner the market on ignorance.

On the other hand, we are the only industrialized nation where about half of thepopulation does not believe in evolution.

[Agrawog]

I agree that the results are not that surprising but it does highlight one of the more serious problems we do have which is the overall ignorance of the constitution as the basis for our laws.

Not knowing the rights of the 1st amendment is actually not the biggest problem - most people actually believe the 1st amendment gives them more rights than they actually have (how many times have we heard - that's a violation of my free speech rights!).

We have the whole debacle around the 2nd (most people don't actually know what it reads - only the few words the NRA publicizes).

If people knew the amendments they would get a much better picture of our history and the rights we have accorded our citizens over the last 200 years (women's suffrage, etc) rather than believing the rose colored platitudes of the freedoms assured to all people by the fouding fathers.

This, in turn i believe, would lead more americans to have a more nuanced view of our country, its history, and its place in the world. This would help us in understanding foreign policy and making current electoral decisions better.

Am I dreaming? For a second there I felt like Steve Martin in that old SNL skit about a cave man judicial system that could be improved. Oh well, we can only hope that more people will take an interest someday.

[RedskinsDave]

On the other hand, we are the only industrialized nation where about half of thepopulation does not believe in evolution.

Source please.....

[Ibleedburgundy]

Source please.....

My guess would have that number around 20%. Not 50%.

[Ibleedburgundy]

These numbers are almost 20 years old but, youch. 47% don't belive in evolution.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm

again, youch. 51%

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml

This is embarrassing. Only 48% believe humans have evolved over time

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146879/

[swheeler]

Americans also think they have rights that aren’t necessarily granted at all. About one in five
Americans (21 percent) agreed that the First Amendment granted them the right to own and
raise pets, something that isn’t discussed anywhere in the U.S. Constitution or Bill of Rights.
One in five also believe that the right to drive is guaranteed by the First Amendment, although
the car was not invented for another 100 years. This part's a little shocking, too.

[Axegrinder]

This just in:
50 % of Americans know their left from their right.

[dukeuch]

This just in:
50 % of Americans know their left from their right.

That's good humor.