Posted on 03/03/2006 6:25:03 PM PST by sully777
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Most Americans have an easier time naming members of the cartoon Simpson family than listing the five freedoms granted by the nation's founders, a survey by a museum released on Wednesday said.
Here's a hint: one of them is not the right to own and raise pets, an error committed by one in five respondents.
Half of 1,000 Americans randomly surveyed by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum could name at least two of the five members of Fox Television's Simpson family, the stars of the network's long-running show.
But just 28 percent of respondents could name more than one of the five freedoms listed in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment -- about the same proportion that could name all five Simpson family members or could recall the three judges on Fox TV's top-rated "American Idol."
Just 8 percent could recall three First Amendment freedoms.
Two-thirds of respondents did remember freedom of speech as one of five rights in the First Amendment, but just one person accurately named all five.
"These survey results clearly demonstrate that many Americans don't have an understanding of the freedoms they regularly enjoy," said executive director Dave Anderson of the museum, which opens on April 11 in Chicago.
Freedom of religion was recalled by 24 percent, freedom of the press by 11 percent, freedom of assembly by 10 percent, and freedom to petition for redress of grievances (right to a day in court) by 1 percent.
Some participants displayed comical ignorance such as the 38 percent who believed the right not to incriminate yourself -- "taking the 5th" in lawyer lingo -- was granted by the First Amendment rather than the Fifth.
Among other rights not mentioned in the Constitution but listed by some respondents was the right to drive and the right to have pets.
The survey, conducted January 20-22, had an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
In case you forgot, the Simpson clan's names are Homer (owner of that exclamation of ignorance, "D'oh"), Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.
"Think about how stupid the average person is... and remember half the people are stupider than that!"
-George Carlin
ROFLMAO!
Freedoms weren't *granted* by the Founders, we were endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights.
What kind of museum is this, anyway?
When a stunning 25% of Americans don't know where the Pacific Ocean is, according to a Gallup poll, this isn't really surprising.
DOH!
George Carlin is wrong, as usual. He should have said the "median", not the average.
This is a good time for a review of our Bill of Rights.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Did any answer the right to life?
What about my right to party?
You've gotta fight.. for the right to PAAAAAARRRRTTTTYYY!
Yes, I'd noticed.
That still doesn't mean the Founders granted those rights. They merely enumerated a few rights that were already ours.
----
Mr. Madison has introduced his long expected amendments... The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people.
-Fisher Ames, Letter to F.R. Minoe, June 12, 1789.
You can't give someone something that ALREADY belongs to them.
----
If you just want to get technical, the Constitution is a statutory, positive law contract established by the civil entities know as 'states' to create a federal government with limited national powers whose purpose was to act as an arbitrator among the States and protect the rights of the People.
No more ignorant than the S.C. finding a right to murder unborn children.
The First Amendment doesn't say "The Citizenry is Granted Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, etc.".
It says "Congress shall make no law ...", leading to an implicit assertion that the listed rights are preexisting.
"than listing the five freedoms granted by the nation's founders"
--- Al-Reuters intentionally "errors". The Constition grants no Rights. The Constitution is a limitation on federal gov't power.
Amendment 9 -- "The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"
Amendment 10 -- "The powers not delgated to the United States by this Constitution, not prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to he States respectively or to the people"
---> All rights are inherent in the people, certain specific ones are loaned to the federal govt
I wasn't asked, but if I were I'd have responded the same as Thomas J and James Madison would.
They forgot to mention the right to have your particular racial, ethnic, religious or sexual preference group proportionally represented in all schools, professions, government agencies and prison systems.
Thanks, I hadn't read that in a while.
But if he said "median", then 95% of his audience wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about. There's some irony in there somewhere, I think. . . .
Actually the right to own and raise pets would be a ninth amendment right, one "retained by the people"
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
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