American priorities

More Americans can name the three "American Idol" judges than can name three of the five rights guaranteed in the First Amendment, according to a survey conducted by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum. The survey also revealed that 22% of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, but only one in 1,000 could name all five First Amendment rights.

Poor Joe Madeira, the museum's director of exhibitions, said he was surprised by the results. Where has this man been living? In the situation room at the Department of Homeland Security? Americans know almost nothing about the First Amendment, which, by the way, does not stop many of them from believing that it "goes too far."