Seven Dwarfs vs. Supreme Court justices -- Americans know the dwarfs better

[NFS4]

Three quarters of Americans can correctly identify two of Snow White's seven dwarfs while only a quarter can name two Supreme Court Justices, according to a poll on pop culture released on Monday.

According to the poll by Zogby International, commissioned by the makers of a new online game on pop culture called "Gold Rush," 57 percent of Americans could identify J.K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard as Harry Potter, while only 50 percent could name the British prime minister, Tony Blair.

The pollsters spoke to 1,213 people across the United States. The results had a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points.

Just over 60 percent of respondents were able to name Bart as Homer's son on the television show "The Simpsons," while only 20.5 percent were able to name one of the ancient Greek poet Homer's epic poems, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey."

Asked what planet Superman was from, 60 percent named the fictional planet Krypton, while only 37 percent knew that Mercury is the planet closest to the sun.

Respondents were far more familiar with the Three Stooges -- Larry, Curly and Moe -- than the three branches of the U.S. government -- judicial, executive and legislative. Seventy-four percent identified the former, 42 percent the latter.

http://breakingnews.redstate.com/blogs/.../15/americans_know_their_three_stooges

 

[FoBoT]

this is why incumbents always win

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Well... there are only seven dwarfs to have to remember...

 

[Kadarin]

It's sad. When the fascists finish taking over the US government and morph the country into a police state, the general population won't even notice.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's sad. When the fascists finish taking over the US government and morph the country into a police state, the general population won't even notice.

qft

 

[yllus]

Hmm. Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Scalia, ...seven total? I know four.

Not knowing the branches of government is just pathetic though.

 

[NatePo717]

I think if the members of the Supreme court had names like Sleepy or Grumpy more people would be able to remember them.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's sad. When the fascists finish taking over the US government and morph the country into a police state, the general population won't even notice.

qft

V for Vendetta FTW

 

[So]

Originally posted by: acemcmac

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's sad. When the fascists finish taking over the US government and morph the country into a police state, the general population won't even notice.

qft

Yup. The problem is, the only alternative being offered is creeping socialism, i.e. nanny fascism instead of corporate fascism. We don't even have a choice.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Well... there are only seven dwarfs to have to remember...

And most of them are just named after moods or states of health.
Come on, if we had justices with easy names, like "Judgy" and "Frowny" and "Meanie" then I think people could name more of them.

Originally posted by: NatePo717
I think if the members of the Supreme court had names like Sleepy or Grumpy more people would be able to remember them.

Damn you Nate! I was slow on the post because I loaded a whole bunch of threads in separate tabs. The last post made in this thread was at 3:05pm! Ack!!! Thfpbbb!!!!

 

[ElFenix]

ginsburg
roberts
scalia
thomas
kennedy
alito
breyer
souter
stevens

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Well... there are only seven dwarfs to have to remember...

And most of them are just named after moods or states of health.
Come on, if we had justices with easy names, like "Judgy" and "Frowny" and "Meanie" then I think people could name more of them.

And in the news today, chief justice Elderly said that he completely disagreed with justice Snoozy's statement of opinion on the case of Stewed Prunes v. The State of North Dakota.

 

[herkulease]

what do you expect? disney whores out the seven dwarfs every chance they can get.

Some people can't even name the vice president. And its not like as if Cheney has never been in the news whether its good or bad. But the not knowing the three branches, that just bad. all those people who didn't know, if they have a college degree should have theirs revoked.

furthermore the justices past and present like to keep themselves out of the limelight. Other than confirmation hearings, its unlikely you'll hear about them specifically on the news. they will often just say the Supreme court decided... and give a vote. rarely will you see them break it down by votes either.

anyhow its not the hard.

Left leaning:
Stevens, Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter

middle:
Kennedy

Right leaning:
Roberts, Thomas, Scalia, Alito

 

[MrChad]

This is not nearly as disturbing as some of the other stories I've heard (x percent of Americans can't name the Vice President and such).

Supreme Court justices are rarely in the public eye as individuals, except during the confirmation process. They are not elected but appointed, so as a citizen knowing a justice's name is not nearly as important as knowing my local Congressman and Senator. Honestly, I stay on top of news and politics, I vote on election day, and I could probably only name 3 or 4 justices.

 

[FoBoT]

this is interesting reading

http://www.supremecourthistory.org/02_history/subs_history/02_f.html

 

[Saint Nick]

the seven dwarves have been around for years, and we've been exposed to them a lot. the supreme court justices change a lot and we aren't exposed to them as much.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
It's sad. When the fascists finish taking over the US government and morph the country into a police state, the general population won't even notice.

or care