Posted on 08/14/2006 3:09:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three quarters of Americans can correctly identify two of Show 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 game show 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.
Twice as many people (23 percent) were able to identify the most recent winner of the television talent show "American Idol," Taylor Hicks, as were able to name the Supreme Court Justice confirmed in January 2006, Samuel Alito (11 percent).
Disney's Seven Dwarfs perform during the 'Disney On Parade' show at Hong Kong Disneyland in this September 11, 2005 file photo. Three quarters of Americans can correctly identify two of Show White's seven dwarfs while only a quarter can name two Supreme Court Justices, according to a poll on pop culture released on Monday. REUTERS/Paul Yeung
Enough said. This is exactly why a democrat (even Hillary) could win in '08.
...but the SCOTUS doesn't have a catchy tune (or two) to help you remember who they are.
Snort! Harry Potter is smarter and more focussed on the problem than Tony Blair, by a longshot!
Well I couldn't name any of the Seven Dwarfs while I can name everyone on the SCOTUS.
The Seven Dwarfs don't believe in a "living, breathing" document, hence their staying power.
The dwarfs have been around longer than all but two of the scotus, so they're easier to remember.
/s
a couple judges do pass as dopey and sleepy.
And Justice Scalia is Grumpy.
Ginsberg could pass for Grumpy.
Does "Dopey" count for both questions?
Smarter, too.
Bash-ful.
I wish I could say I was surprised.
I nominate Roberts for Happy due to his amazing ability to suffer the confirmation fools gladly.
He was nothing short of heroic. Imagine being as brilliant as John and sitting for days in front of Biden, Durbin, and Kennedy.
Good point! I expect many of us would have been in jail, but Chief Justice Roberts maintained an even strain ...
Zot, man ... that's Ugly!
The Seven Liberal Dwarfs:
Dopey, Nutty, Lefty, Sleazy, Whacko, Shifty and Braindead.
We just need to give the Justices better nicknames.
Bring back the Wizzer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.