Noam Chomsky on the economy and democracy

[shalis]

Video : http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?o...4&jumival=3484

Transcript of the interview is at the buttom of the page past the comments.

[Tankbuster]

Chomsky is a great intellectual, and his economic views are often pretty accurate.

Politically speaking though, he's a complete loon.

[JP226]

Chomsky is really a prime example of why glorified opinions have no need to be heard. Him and that other idiot, the "bio ethicist" (whatever the hell that is) Peter Singer. You think they would have been useful in life by applying their gifts to things like math and science, rather they make a career in complaining.

[The White Knight]

I don't really like listening to Chomsky, but that's only because his articulation is so unclear. I think he has some pretty interesting thoughts, and in a way it is comforting that at least some intellectuals are being aptly critical of every powerful institution.

[Stalins Ghost]

Chomsky is really a prime example of why glorified opinions have no need to be heard. Him and that other idiot, the "bio ethicist" (whatever the hell that is) Peter Singer. You think they would have been useful in life by applying their gifts to things like math and science, rather they make a career in complaining.

You'll probably be happy to learn that Chomsky is a world acclaimed linguistics expert then.

As usual, I broadly agree with him - fact of the matter is the banks are too big, government is too big, and now they're both getting into bed.

[Scar Face]

Dude is a moron.

[Nouvelle Vague]

Dude is a moron.

Less spam please.

At least he provided decent points in talking this situation. What makes people think that the cure to the economic crisis lies from the same place the problem originated from?

[dragonsign]

Chomsky is usually a smart guy. He is clearly aging so i dont blame him for not have so much power in his voice that he had before.
Probably the most famous living anarchist in the US

[Denny Crane!]

I'm trying to figure out what the problem is with what he said. He is right that they are simply recycling old debt and not actually fixing the institutional problems that actually cause booms and busts, the expansions and collapse of credit which is exactly what this is... the overvaluation and correction.

As for his observations over rescuing viability and not shoring up toxic parts of the company, yes I agree with that as well. A lot of his analysis of the public private partnerships between money, public tax risk and private profit is spot on.

His thoughts on Bolivia seem ok, I mean if someone can tell me what is so objectionable over his opinions I'll stand corrected. It is worth bearing in mind that the man is far from an idiot, being one of the most quoted scholars of all time.

[Stalins Ghost]

Yup, I tend to think a lot of the furor over Chomsky is he is often branded a "Socialist", which all but prevents many people from even considering his views - which are by no means those of conventional 20th century style socialism which has thus far been a top-down attempt to enforce it. What Chomsky advocates is government where politicians don't choose their voters, but voters choose their politicians - that's what he means by politicians saying "hey, I'm a nice guy, vote for me". What he wants is "hey, I'm willing to represent your views in government, what would you like me to say there?" The measures he advocates aren't nearly as radical as the anti-Socialist brigade would have us believe.

[Heathen Hammer]

He is right. US elites changed the facade, but they didn't change the actual system. They still follow doctrines of neo-conservatism, although its clear now that its doomed to fail.

[Icefrisco]

Noam Chomsky is a very smart and very good linguist and psychologist (he single-handedly invented our modern language theories). However, I really question his knowledge in other issues. From my perspective he just seems to talk well and sound educated about other issues.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

Noam Chomsky is a very smart and very good linguist and psychologist (he single-handedly invented our modern language theories). However, I really question his knowledge in other issues. From my perspective he just seems to talk well and sound educated about other issues.

I wouldn't come to that conclusion. Chomsky not only cites evidence in his lectures but his books are also filled with footnotes containing several evidences for his claims. I have a copy of Middle-East Illusions and there's nothing in it that's left unsubstantiated.

[ivan_the_terrible]

Ever since Ive read the Propaganda Model by him and Herman, I've appreciated Chomsky's work. I don't always agree with him, but I respect his opinion more than almost anyone else's.

[Admiral Piett]

He's got some very good points, but I don't entirely agree with him on all the benefits of nationalization. However, I do think he presents some very good ideas about making a far more democratic establishment and one that is more representative and more responsible to the people that help cultivate and achieve the success of an industry or of a country.

Proof that Obama's policies have nothing to do with change, more just throwing money at the problems and bandaging up wounds that may be turning gangrenous. I'm not sure whether he's a step in the right direction or wrong direction when it comes to democratic policies. Although he certainly isn't in the right direction with fiscal responsibility.

[Denny Crane!]

Talking down Chomskys political views is so popular and yet all anyone wants to do is say they don't like him.

No one is actually willing to go into why they don't like him. What views they don't like, get into a debate about them. POst any Chomsky thread and you'll see the same things, ''oh yeah that guy who changed our very understanding of language, sure he's okay but politically he is a buffoon''................repeated 10-20 times then nothing else.

[Admiral Piett]

Lol, I've never actually heard of the guy until this thread.

[Stalins Ghost]

Lol, I've never actually heard of the guy until this thread.

First time I heard of him was in English regarding linguistic theory. Second time was thanks to Rage Against the Machine.

[Zephyrus]

I just hate Chomsky.

Guy is such an arrogant linguist...he's probably like Milo in Atlantis...

[Admiral Piett]

Guy is such an arrogant linguist...he's probably like Milo in Atlantis...

Good grief what an analogy.