does it really matter that most americans don't know who the chief justice of the supreme court is? sure, to a political junky and lawyer like me it may look like a big deal. but for most americans, it really doesn't make much of a difference whether they can answer that question.
every once in a while, i shock someone by revealing that i don't know the name of a single professional baseball player. to the diehard baseball fan this seems like a major demonstration of ignorance. but i get along just fine without knowing those names. the supreme court justice's name is really the same thing. most people can live their lives just fine without knowing. and while i think it would be better if they were into the same stuff as me, it's not a major problem that they are interested in other things instead.
besides, the poll is actually encouraging. while only 28% could name the chief justice, 53% said they did not know who the chief justice was. that means that 81% actually got the question right! not bad, american people.
