Speechless
Though I first read it several days ago, I still can’t believe it:
The nationwide telephone poll of 1,000 adults found that 19 percent of respondents strongly agreed that the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. That number was down sharply from the 41 percent found on last year’s survey, conducted nine months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. [emphasis added]
— Survey: Support for First Amendment Up, Associated Press
The fact that last year, fully two in five Americans surveyed strongly agreed the First Amendment goes too far blows my fucking mind. I fervently hope that there is some massive flaw in the survey’s methodology, and that these statistics are not representative of the general public. But oh, how I fear that they may be.
Just for reference, ladies and gentlemen, let’s review the full text of the amendment in question:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
That beautiful opener of the Bill of Rights goes too far? What is wrong with those people?