Budd Margolis

“The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania has conducted the Civics Knowledge Survey since 2006.76 The 2022 findings include the following jaw-droppers: •   “Less than half (47%) of U.S. adults could name all three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) … One in 4 respondents could not name any.” •   “Over half of Americans (51%) continue to assert incorrectly that Facebook is required to let all Americans express themselves freely on its platform under the First Amendment.” •   “1 in 5 (22%) incorrectly thinks that it is accurate to say that under the Constitution a president can ignore a Supreme Court ruling if the president believes it is wrong.” •   “Nearly 1 in 3 people (32%) incorrectly thinks that a judge has the prerogative to force a defendant to testify at trial.” •   “Asked what it means when the Supreme Court rules 5–4 in a case, just over half (55%) correctly chose ‘the decision is the law and needs to be followed.”
― William Cooper, How America Works... and Why It Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the U.S. Political System

“The optimal response to Covid 19 would have been measured, balancing protecting vulnerable populations with tailored health measures against the heavy toll of closing schools and businesses. Few advocated for this approach. Americans’ reflex of running to extremes and addressing complicated policy challenges with the blunt weaponry of tribal warfare—reinforced by years of muscle memory—was simply too strong to shake off.”
― William Cooper, How America Works... and Why It Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the U.S. Political System

“You can think something often enough, but you will never be prepared for your heart disintegrating.”
― Richard Osman, We Solve Murders

“When asked unprompted to name the protections specified in the First Amendment:77 o   One in 4 respondents (26%) said they can’t name any or don’t know o Freedom of speech was cited by 63% o Freedom of religion was named by 24% o   Freedom of the press was named by 20% o Right of assembly was named by 16% o   Right to petition the government was named by 6%”
― William Cooper, How America Works... and Why It Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the U.S. Political System