A depressing new survey is out that apparently shows that Americans know more about the cartoon television show The Simpsons than the First Amendment.

Writes the AP:

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.

Joe Madeira, director of exhibitions at the museum, said he was surprised by the results.

“Part of the survey really shows there are misconceptions, and part of our mission is to clear up these misconceptions,” said Madeira, whose museum will be dedicated to helping visitors understand the First Amendment when it opens in April. “It means we have our job cut out for us.”

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.

That “right to own a pet” thing would be funny if it weren’t so downright scary. This is yet another in a long line of studies and surveys that seem to show that public schools have failed miserably when it comes to educating our nation’s youth.

Other recent surveys have indicated that most Americans can’t name the presidents carved into Mount Rushmore, and that the First Amendment goes “too far” in the rights it guarantees.

UPDATE: La Shawn Barber has an interesting post dealing with the subject. She writes:

This is what happens in a technologically advanced society with the sort of leisure that affords indulgence in popular culture tripe. It’s ironic that Americans are free enough to engage in trivial pursuits and not have to fight for basic rights or even know what those rights are or where they came from and how they came to be!