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Eh, the classic version of this is a late 1960s experiment that asked people to sign a petition... which happened to be the Declaration of Independence. The ove

Eh, the classic version of this is a late 1960s experiment that asked people to sign a petition... which happened to be the Declaration of Independence. The overwhelming majority of Americans who started reading it didn't recognize it, and thought it was too radical.

miles 9y ago
That's fascinating. Do you have more information on that experiment? A few minutes searching did not turn up anything.
- greglindahl 9y ago
  I wrote a term paper about the Students for a Democratic Society (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_for_a_Democratic_Society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_for_a_Democratic_Soci...) in high school, and this is something I recall from it. I did a little googling and don't see a reference to it. Sorry.
  - miles 9y ago
    Just found it! After 36 Years, More Recognize Historic Documents, Survey Finds http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1987/After-36-Years-More-Recognize-Historic-Documents-Survey-Finds/id-2a57850fc4be5fe2c23bdef9827fa04d http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1987/After-36-Years-More-Recogn... 50 years ago, fear ruled Fourth: Reporter's petition measured effect of McCarthy http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/years-ago-fear-ruled-fourth-reporter-s-petition-measured-effect/article_3a6ea200-819c-11e0-994d-001cc4c03286.html http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/year... Plain Talk: Would people sign ‘subversive’ petition today? http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/plain-talk-would-people-sign-subversive-petition-today/article_875e2646-c541-11e1-8e23-0019bb2963f4.html http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/...
bryondowd 9y ago
I mean, that shouldn't really be a surprise. It would be a very bad sign if people today thought signing something like the declaration of independence (presumably independence from the USA, in this case) wasn't too radical. In theory, we should have a better relationship with our govt today than the colonists did with England back then. Although the way things are going, I wouldn't rule it out in the not too distant future, sadly.

miles 9y ago

That's fascinating. Do you have more information on that experiment? A few minutes searching did not turn up anything.

greglindahl 9y ago
I wrote a term paper about the Students for a Democratic Society (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_for_a_Democratic_Society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_for_a_Democratic_Soci...) in high school, and this is something I recall from it. I did a little googling and don't see a reference to it. Sorry.
- miles 9y ago
  Just found it! After 36 Years, More Recognize Historic Documents, Survey Finds http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1987/After-36-Years-More-Recognize-Historic-Documents-Survey-Finds/id-2a57850fc4be5fe2c23bdef9827fa04d http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1987/After-36-Years-More-Recogn... 50 years ago, fear ruled Fourth: Reporter's petition measured effect of McCarthy http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/years-ago-fear-ruled-fourth-reporter-s-petition-measured-effect/article_3a6ea200-819c-11e0-994d-001cc4c03286.html http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/year... Plain Talk: Would people sign ‘subversive’ petition today? http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/plain-talk-would-people-sign-subversive-petition-today/article_875e2646-c541-11e1-8e23-0019bb2963f4.html http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/...

bryondowd 9y ago

I mean, that shouldn't really be a surprise. It would be a very bad sign if people today thought signing something like the declaration of independence (presumably independence from the USA, in this case) wasn't too radical. In theory, we should have a better relationship with our govt today than the colonists did with England back then. Although the way things are going, I wouldn't rule it out in the not too distant future, sadly.