Water Cooler Wisdom

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. --Albert Einstein

Name:
Location: NE Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. --Albert Einstein

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Reality Check #2

Most of us in the M.O.B. (Minnesota Organization of Blogs) enjoy politics or are at least politically aware. Many of us read political blogs dealing with local, national and international issues on a daily basis. The blogs delve into debates and present editorial opinion on a variety of complex issues. Pundits on TV, in the editorial pages, and in the blogosphere break down the game film of political speechs and calculate how this statement or that vote will impact public perception.

But really, to whom are the wonks speaking? Whether the discussion occurs in the MSM, the blogosphere or both, it is largely a discussion of politicos, by politicos, for politicos. Whatever the medium, it becomes an echo chamber where sound rattles around, bounces back and forth and every so often might leak out enough to register in the conciousness of what is largely a politically tone deaf public, usually only after significant distortion.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that the fault lies with the messanger or even the message, but with the intendee, or more acurately the way our culture conditions the intendee. However, I do believe that the punditry, in general, over-estimates its own relevance and their own ability to influence the general public. Every so often one of these studies are published supporting that premise in a very humbling and frightening fashion...

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 (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) 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.

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.

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, the survey found.

I am reminded of a discussion I had recently where the person I was debating, a psychology student, insisted that the right to birth control was constitutuionally guaranteed.

There would be huge benefits to civics becoming a high school requirement, and I mean basic civics, not social / political activism.

I expect to be writing much more on this topic in the near future.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

michael kors, hollister, coach purses, coach outlet, true religion jeans, north face, burberry, nike trainers, true religion jeans, ray ban uk, nike roshe, michael kors, vanessa bruno, ralph lauren pas cher, nike blazer, replica handbags, nike roshe run, ralph lauren uk, nike free, abercrombie and fitch, ray ban pas cher, lululemon, air jordan pas cher, true religion jeans, air force, lacoste pas cher, sac guess, hogan, tn pas cher, hermes, air max, michael kors, vans pas cher, nike free run uk, timberland, nike air max, new balance pas cher, hollister pas cher, nike huarache, converse pas cher, longchamp pas cher, nike air max, michael kors, nike air max, louboutin pas cher, oakley pas cher, north face, true religion outlet, sac longchamp, mulberry

12/27/2015 8:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

supra shoes, links of london, pandora charms, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, converse outlet, lancel, doke gabbana outlet, hollister, barbour jackets, moncler, louis vuitton, wedding dresses, louis vuitton, moncler, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, barbour, sac louis vuitton pas cher, moncler, thomas sabo, canada goose outlet, canada goose, pandora jewelry, ugg boots uk, moncler, canada goose, doudoune canada goose, marc jacobs, toms shoes, coach outlet, canada goose outlet, bottes ugg, canada goose, moncler outlet, louis vuitton, moncler, replica watches, moncler, canada goose uk, pandora jewelry, swarovski, juicy couture outlet, montre pas cher, canada goose, pandora charms, moncler, karen millen, ugg pas cher, swarovski crystal, louis vuitton, juicy couture outlet
ninest123 12.28

12/27/2015 8:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

lancel, jimmy choo shoes, chi flat iron, new balance, vans, celine handbags, asics running shoes, gucci, converse, soccer jerseys, vans shoes, north face outlet, ralph lauren, reebok shoes, herve leger, nike roshe, timberland boots, ferragamo shoes, nfl jerseys, beats by dre, abercrombie and fitch, birkin bag, hollister, mac cosmetics, soccer shoes, lululemon, ghd, iphone cases, hollister, valentino shoes, longchamp, instyler, p90x workout, oakley, mcm handbags, ray ban, nike air max, babyliss, hollister, north face outlet, bottega veneta, nike trainers, insanity workout, baseball bats, louboutin, nike huarache, wedding dresses, nike air max, mont blanc, converse outlet

8/19/2016 5:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

canada goose outlet, canada goose, replica watches, louis vuitton, montre pas cher, canada goose, doudoune canada goose, juicy couture outlet, swarovski crystal, moncler, bottes ugg, louis vuitton, canada goose, pandora jewelry, toms shoes, louis vuitton, ugg pas cher, swarovski, karen millen, juicy couture outlet, moncler, pandora charms, canada goose uk, links of london, canada goose outlet, wedding dresses, marc jacobs, pandora charms, hollister, ugg boots uk, moncler, moncler, moncler, moncler outlet, pandora jewelry, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, louis vuitton, supra shoes, sac louis vuitton pas cher, moncler, moncler, canada goose, coach outlet, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, thomas sabo

8/19/2016 5:52 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home