Scary, Study shows more people know 'The Simpsons' than First Amendment rights

In my opinion, too many people, especially so-called journalists, are all too aware of their rights that are delineated in the 1st Amendment, but they are completely devoid of any notion of the responsibility of the exercise of those rights.
 
It might not be all that bad, the creators and writers of the Simpsons are all for the individuals' rights. Millions of people everyday are exposed to pro-gun, pro-rights, and anti-Prohibition propaganda through the Simpsons. IMO the Simpsons is one of the greatest thought provoking and entertaining shows of all time, on par with SNL.
 
what about the people that think the 2nd amend. pertains to them by saying "right to bear arms." Having no clue that thats just half of it...the first half is about states militia. Now, indiana constitution says each person has the right to bear arms. All I'm trying to say is you've got people that think they know but have no idea of the US constitution.
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You need to study English grammer.

http://www.saf.org/journal/4_Schulman.html

The words "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state," contrary to the interpretation cited in your letter of July 26, 1991, constitutes a present participle, rather than a clause. It is used as an adjective, modifying "militia," which is followed by the main clause of the sentence (subject "the right," verb "shall"). The right to keep and bear arms is asserted as essential for maintaining a militia.

....

(3) Is the right of the people to keep and bear arms conditioned upon whether or not a well-regulated militia, is, in fact, necessary to the security of a free State, and if that condition is not existing, is the statement "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" null and void?
No such condition is expressed or implied. The right to keep and bear arms is not said by the amendment to depend on the existence of a militia. No condition is stated or implied as to the relation of the right to keep and bear arms and to the necessity of a well-regulated militia as a requisite to the security of a free state. The right to keep and bear arms is deemed unconditional by the entire sentence.
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Finally you did not even quote a portion of the Second Amendment coorectly.

You stated "right to bear arms." and if that was what was writen in the Second Amendment you may have a point. It is NOT what is written though. What is written is "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms..." THE PEOPLE is a very specific phrase, used in several places throughout the Bill of Rights to denote INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. If the right was to have a militia why say the right of the people? If the right was to allow a milita to be armed why not say the right of the people to have an armed militia or the right of the militia to be armed? The statement though means exactly what it was meant to mean.

The people hae the right to bear arms. The right shall not be infringed. This right exists for the security of a free state which can only be maintained through a militia. The REASONS for the right in no way control the EXISTENCE of the right. Just becaseu it is not the US Army's policy not to quarter troops in your home in peace time does this mean you no longer need the Third Ammendment? Would you argue it no longer exists because the problem is no longer present.

As far as knwoing the US Constitution, my small paperback copy travells with me everywhere. Whenever people start inventing rights or removing them in general conversation I savor the many opportunities I have to whip it out and ask them to justify their statements.
 
"what about the people that think the 2nd amend. pertains to them by saying "right to bear arms."

With all due respect, IndyColts, you're the one without a clue.

Every hear of the US Code?

Title 10, to be specific?

The US Code are the laws that were written to further define and support the broad-brush aspects of government laid out in the Constitution.

Title 10 deals specifically with the composition of the armed forces of the United States.

In it, section 311, you will find the definition of militias...

"(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied
males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of
title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration
of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female
citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are--
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of
the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval
Militia."

In times of national emergency, the age requirements of the unorganized militia have been grossly stretched, most specifically during World War II when the unorganized militia was called up to guard war production plants, bridges, keep watch over waterways, etc.
 
"what about the people that think the 2nd amend. pertains to them by saying "right to bear arms."

With all due respect, IndyColts, you're the one without a clue.

Every hear of the US Code?

Title 10, to be specific?

The US Code are the laws that were written to further define and support the broad-brush aspects of government laid out in the Constitution.

Title 10 deals specifically with the composition of the armed forces of the United States.

In it, section 311, you will find the definition of militias...

"(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied
males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of
title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration
of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female
citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are--
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of
the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval
Militia."

In times of national emergency, the age requirements of the unorganized militia have been grossly stretched, most specifically during World War II when the unorganized militia was called up to guard war production plants, bridges, keep watch over waterways, etc.
 
Just The Tip Of The Iceburg

Here are some other interesting statistics.

60% of American can not find South Africa on a map of Africa.
Nearly 50% of American think that New Mexico is a foreign contry.
Most Americans actually think that we vote for the President of the United States.

I am sure that some of you have seen Leno's man on the street gig. He goes out and asks random people such tough questions as: Who is Cheny?. Who did the Americans fight in the Revolution?, and similar questions. Many times the person is totally clueless.

My mother was born and raised in a foreign country. She came here as an adult. She was able to name all the capitals of the United States. She learned them in school. How about that!

However, our schools are concerned with a student's self esteem. If a kid thinks that two plus two equals five, no problem as long as he feels good about it.
 
what about the people that think the 2nd amend. pertains to them by saying "right to bear arms." Having no clue that thats just half of it...the first half is about states militia. Now, indiana constitution says each person has the right to bear arms. All I'm trying to say is you've got people that think they know but have no idea of the US constitution.
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Ain't that the truth.


Most Americans actually think that we vote for the President of the United States.
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We do vote for a President ... I assume you mean to say that most Americans think that the President is elected by a popular vote.
 
Here are some other interesting statistics.

60% of American can not find South Africa on a map of Africa.
Nearly 50% of American think that New Mexico is a foreign contry.
Most Americans actually think that we vote for the President of the United States.

I am sure that some of you have seen Leno's man on the street gig. He goes out and asks random people such tough questions as: Who is Cheny?. Who did the Americans fight in the Revolution?, and similar questions. Many times the person is totally clueless.

My mother was born and raised in a foreign country. She came here as an adult. She was able to name all the capitals of the United States. She learned them in school. How about that!

However, our schools are concerned with a student's self esteem. If a kid thinks that two plus two equals five, no problem as long as he feels good about it.
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Where do those statistics come from?

Do you think Leno shows us every person that answered? Do you think that these people don't have to sign a release form afterwards (or perhaps beforehand) to be on the show and thus making it possible that they answered in such ways that will get them on TV? Do you think those wrong answers are the majority of the responses?

No school is going to allow a child to get math wrong to save his self esteem. That's a gross exaggeration of the problem. Math and science are the two fields of public education that educators are genuinely trying to protect from this kind of thing. I find it sad that those two subjects are being dumbed down but I think we'd be hard pressed to find any instance of a child being allowed to pass math class while thinking that 2 + 2 = 5.
 
Re:redworm

The United States ranks 15th in the world on student math scores as measured by standardized tests. I am a teacher. I currently have a nonclassroom assignment. But I did over a dozen years in the trenches. I have first hand knowledge.

Again, we need to keep in mind that there are regional differences. California is ranked near the bottom of states when you look at test scores. There are many reasons for this and the solution is not going to be easy. Trust me on the self-esteem thing. I have experiences at this, first hand.

I do have teenage kids. I have talked to their friends. They are pretty clueless about basic knowledge. Sometimes I'll bring up a news story about an important issue. They have no idea what I'm talking about.

HUGH DAMRIGHT
We do not vote for the president. We vote for an electoral college. The popular vote does not have go the way of the majority. The electoral college can vote anyway they desire regardless of the popular vote. They will never go against the popular vote for fear of a revolt. We do not vote for the president.
 
I wouldn't worry about this - at the rate the Bush administration is going the Simpsons will be more relevent than the Bill of Rights in a couple of years.
 
I'm not surprised that people can't name the verbatim parts of various amendments. But an awful lot of people still have an understanding of those rights and would pass a basic "is this a right" quiz. That's the important part, IMHO.

Now, can we find a politician who knows how much a gallon of milk costs?;)
 
The United States ranks 15th in the world on student math scores as measured by standardized tests. I am a teacher. I currently have a nonclassroom assignment. But I did over a dozen years in the trenches. I have first hand knowledge.

Again, we need to keep in mind that there are regional differences. California is ranked near the bottom of states when you look at test scores. There are many reasons for this and the solution is not going to be easy. Trust me on the self-esteem thing. I have experiences at this, first hand.
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That's nice that you have firsthand knowledge but it would still be good to know where those statistics come from as well as that ranking. As a teacher you'll understand why one would want to see published studies subject to peer review before simply accepting this. Does the school you work for allow students to pass math class while believing that 2 + 2 = 5?



I do have teenage kids. I have talked to their friends. They are pretty clueless about basic knowledge. Sometimes I'll bring up a news story about an important issue. They have no idea what I'm talking about.
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Important issues such as...? An issue important to you may not be important to them.

When you were a teenager were you well versed in these very same issues?


HUGH DAMRIGHT
We do not vote for the president. We vote for an electoral college. The popular vote does not have go the way of the majority. The electoral college can vote anyway they desire regardless of the popular vote. They will never go against the popular vote for fear of a revolt. We do not vote for the president.
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The electoral college has indeed gone against the popular vote on more than one occassion.
 
I don't have a study to show numbers on this, but I would bet that many more university professors and Democrat politicians could quote Karl Marx than could quote The Founders of our nation.:barf:

I'll also wager that in America, we have more simpletons who sit and watch Jerry Springer than we do citizens who have read the Constitution beginning to end.:barf: :barf:
 
A possible answer to above questions might be the following.

To much time spent in front of television sets, and not enough time spent reading books.

This is not to say that nothing televised is worth while looking at, nor does it say that the law of garbage in, garbage out has been amended or repealed with respect to words printed on pieces of paper. I do make the following point, or I try.

Books have been with us for a very long time, and the medium has withstood the test of time. The sole purpose of much of what is televised appears to be the selling of one kind of junk or another.
 
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