:: Noam Chomsky : Does public opinion count? ::

[TenWhoWereTaken]

Chomsky is hella pimp.

[MarmaladeINFP]

Public opinion is to the left of most so-called 'liberal' Democratic politicians. Rhetoric/propaganda/spin of professional politics is so slick & media is so controlled the average American can't see what's going on. The average American is liberal & yet has been convinced by the conservative ruling elite that liberalism is evil. So, the public (those who don't feel entirely disenfranchised) continues to vote against their own interests & even against their own values & opinions.

[funknando007]

background music sucks, get rid of it.

[centurion180ad]

This “democracy” is nothing other than the morality of Genghis Khan, matched to the operational methodology of Hulegu, Muqali and Subutai. This is a homicidally insane Debt Syndicate.

[shinybald36]

where does he stand on employee owned business?

[00Billy]

The government will not take care of us.....support yourself...

[shadowfaxx1]

Liked the video, but wtf is with the music? It is soooo distracting and adds NOTHING!

[ensittare]

It is quite sad that retorical power should be more significant than the actual politics. I wonder how The US would fare if it was run by Scientists and philosofers?

I do not see any reason for example why anyone would want Sarah Palin for vice president, if one see to what she actually has to say.

[WarmongerWW3]

@ensittare "Scientists"? I prefer Palin. She will invade Iran no matter what and steal oil. But don't worry, she will use the toys created by scientists to do this. And philosophers may think about it.

[ensittare]

@WarmongerWW3

haha :P

[WarmongerWW3]

@ensittare I'm serious.

[ensittare]

@WarmongerWW3 Right, then that would make you...8, maybe 9 years old? :P

[danzo240]

wtf is that music. el shitto

[djhbrown]

signing a petition changes nothing. but consciously thinking about peace changes everything for the one doing the thinking. civil liberties are not inalienable rights; all human rights are only those accorded them by other humans. the more those other humans think about peace, the more inclined they will be to accord others the right to co-exist.

[PavedStones]

Incredible rhetorical skills. Everyone needs to listen to this man. He makes so much sense!

[loturos]

I like how Chomsky is mellow and relaxed throughout his conversations, he never raises his voice or uses zealous language. many people find it boring, but one does not listen to Chomsky to be entertained, as if watching a comedian.

he is a good relief from all the melodramatic users on YT commenting from emotion and not from perspective or sober thought.

[bewaver]

I actually find him entertaining, it is so refreshing to hear somebody that makes sense. I don't find entertaining a movie where I can blatantly see that the script is telling how stupid I am every second. I used to like movies, now I can't help thinking at all the trouble they go through to make their lies visually credible, while they don't care a bout the storyline, usually as foreseeable as incredible.

[bewaver]

Well I used to listen to him like gospel, yet little by little I grew suspicious about somebody talking about the same thing for 55 years, yet he never did anything about it. A part from being arrested, once, a very long time ago.

I mean it from the bottom of my heart, he is good, but useless.

[observationspring]

Really? How many long ones do you have under your belt?

[bewaver]

There you go, your downfall will be too much self assurance.

Do you think circumcision on the 8 th day makes u superior, only more analytic.

You will reign on an empty land after you have exterminated us all, the alternative is, because we are far more numerous, and synthetics we get you again, like before.

Chomsky also, thinks he is too good, but its easy with Americans they where the less instructed ones of us, Europeans are waking up and our American brothers will be told the TRUTH!! ;-)

[bewaver]

@observationspring I am only saying 55 years of studying a problem and never be able to suggest a solution other than street demonstration, I find it a bit weak. As for me I never said I was some type of Guru, it's just my opinion. He his however very clever at compiling, and certainly not boring, in spite of what he says. I just fear is is either unable or unwilling to elaborate further. Don't ask me why... All he says is great, but what's the next step, that's what people expect from him.

[observationspring]

@bewaver Informed people should be able to walk in the right direction on their own. Granted, not all.

[bewaver]

@observationspring I do agree with you, but the picture given by chomsky is pretty tetanising, if he wanted to do something about it, he could have founded a party by now, or any organisation, and capitalise on the succes he has. He seems more interested in "parking" dessent in blind allyways. I know he wants to instruct people, but he supplies no tools to act upon his findings... I don't know he is a puzzling character to say the least.. I have my reserves, that's all.

[djhbrown]

@bewaver What's the next step? Well, it all depends where you want to go. My reading of Chomsky's messages is that he would like the US government to become more socially responsible. He has taken his step, that of sharing his observations with you. Your next step is up to you. Roland'O (petitionmondialepourlapaix.bl­ogspot.com) and other "Peacewalkers" are taking their own steps, literally, to share their messages, but thay are also not calls to "follow me".

[bewaver]

@djhbrown I don't know why it seems to me that signing one more petition, demonstrating, plotting revolutions or terrorism is at best useless and certainly likely to give them additional reasons to juggle a bit more with their balls while restricting us a bit more from our god given civil liberties...

[ColossalBlanket]

It's not up to him to do anything about it, one man can't really do anything. Chomsky is very much needed, he's one of the few intellectuals that see through the sham of neo liberal capitalism, another one is David Harvey. The only way for anything to be done is through organisation of the left, but the left is pretty fragmented at the moment with too much in fighting. I do have hope though, things are more civilised than 50 years ago and that increased civility will continue.

[aSheeple]

beweaver,

so learning about world events, analysing them, and educating people about what you find is useless?

calling his words gospel is certainly going too far, but so is calling him useless.

[bewaver]

@aSheeple IF the teaching is a wonderfull compilation or actual records decoded with the wrong key, yes.

The United States are only liable of accepting a loan from the Fed in 1913, from there it's all downhill, the jewry has taken control of everything, so he can blame the US and Israel, but never really gives the key to the problem. Is he under pressure, is he an intoxicator, I don't know, but that's a fact.

[aSheeple]

@bewaver

thats an opinion, not a fact. If I think Chomsky is useless because I disagree with his assessment, then I would have to say that you are useless because I disagree with yours. If we want to be rational people we have to listen to other peoples points and come to our own conclusions. Throwing insults at people just because you disagree with them is counterproductive.

[saxengee]

@bewaver

I think the reason it would seem (to some) he speaks about the same things over and over, is because these are progressive issues that are constantly and deliberetly left out from popular political discussion. This is where he is valuable. He has given strength, self empowerment and sorely needed alternative education to many in the western world. Many of whom are, or have become VERY pro- active in their own lives.

[slartibartfast68]

@bewaver

Very weak... The man is an intellectual and a Proffessor. He has spend his whole life aquiring facts with the diligent research of reliable sources. Using this knowledge he has spoken out in the hopes to educate those that will listen. What more can he do?

If everyone in the US spent the same amount of time he has aquiring the knowledge and research, which is what he seems to try to encourage IMO, do you think that would make a difference in America?

[imandxb31]

@loturos Another rare example fo such personality would be "Normal Finkelstein"

very much the same

[doston1]

I hope more people read/watch/listen to Chomsky.

[marsCubed]

Vote Obama, it weakens the right,

when Obama is in office push him hard, he will go some of the way, and then when he is used up, leave him behind and keep going.

Keep pushing in the direction you want to go. If you have an opposition to everything then you can't move. sometimes we need stepping stones, sometimes a bridge.

use what is there and climb over it. Obama may be a sham, but he opens doors to the next level.

and it shuts down opportunities for the worst reactionary elements.

[e105b5]

@ marscubed

Why not just support true freedom via true democracy.. Screw politicians.

A summary is available in my profile description.

[ANTISLAVEBOY]

yes they didnt tell us that 911 was an inside job trythseekers so it couldnt have been!when they say it on the news all sheep will beleive it!Wake up sheeeple ,cos until you do we will keep getting treated like the cattle we are!Anyone who thinks Obama is going to save us thay are living in cookoo land!JUST WAKE UP!wots it going to take?

[isSBFC4LIFEdied]

Is Public Opinion Died?

[Redcarpet01]

Don't you mean dead?

[jsh78mang]

People like you make others not want to vote for people like Ron Paul. Do the world a favor since your the minority Shut the fuck up about 9/11 and conspiracy theories you have no proof of so that we can get a real president into office. Thenn if there is something wrong he can find it, and fix it . TY

[LokiMatrix3V]

Listen, don't buy into the whole republican vs democrat typical controlled BS arguments. THIS IS ABOUT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE UNITED STATES! WE NEED TO BE AMERICAN and stand up for the TRUTH!

MUST SEE 'OBAMA DECEPTION'

[AtheistScholar]

I didn't vote for Ron Paul because he's a creationist nut bag, I expect more from a doctor of medicine. In spite of his constutionalist stance and desire to break down the fed, there isn't much about him that is better than other politicans like Nader or Kucinich.

[marsCubed]

RP and other far right republicans are a con jsh78mang.

Alex Jones led the anti war movement into obscurity, it was used to attack the UN on queue when Bush needed it. This same band has now been handed over to the republicans to hit welfare and employment rights.

Ii's decades of cold war propaganda and the false assertion that rule by unelected bosses is freedom. wake up now.

Join people who fight for human rights and democracy, not zero tax for the unelected rich neo nazi crap.

[jsh78mang]

I'm afraid your insane the richest man in the country Bill gates is a Dem. The Neo nazi rich crap is not secluded to the right, but on both sides of the coin. RP is not a puppet or a pawn. If you look up your Facts he has voted the same way for years and has alway been a a solid constitutional Republican/ Libertarian. Alex jones is a nut bag and you sound like his left counter part. Sorry I just don't agree with you.

[marsCubed]

jsh78mang, I am not sure of my facts regarding Ron Paul by any means.

However here is what I see, he gets called a social liberal, and yet he is about the most reactionary, hinting at murder charges for possession of the morning after pill, pro religion, pro corps having anything they want! , He is against welfare, so any tax would only be for army and police.

small govt is a place we will get to, but ppl have to do it themselves. not corp power and charity. look up corporate state aka fascism

[marsCubed]

A problem the economy is that it is stupid.

The blind logic of what makes the next $.

We can do 3 things.

we can increase competition to the point of war and extinction.

we can overthrow the system and replace it with distribution based on informed democracy.

or we can evolve what we have into a better form with progressive tax and sane green markets.

Expose corps which hide money from the tax catchment instead.

MANY declare no taxable income in the USA by moving profits to tax havens.

[medliberty]

No issues are ever discussed here. Trivial matters rule. Whichever candidate tries to raise a serious issue gets marginalized as a crazy and no one wants to "throw their vote away" on a crazy guy.

[dcw815]

I think Ron Paul was the best example of that the election. I'm not sure that he represented true public opinions but he certainly had different stances than the other candidates, won all his debates by huge amounts, and was never taken seriously. What a joke this is.

[arijitrule]

Same thing happened with Dennis Kucinich. I may not agree with Ron Paul with everything but he talked about real issues.

[haraldblum73]

yipp

[saltydog78]

you may be right Henry, wordsmiths can be very elusive at times. People follow Noam because they accept his speech in good faith. People are drawn to him because they want to hear something other than death and destruction or greed. (reasons why I was a big fan) but 9/11 changed everything and MIT is a CIA funded institution.

[thejudicialbranch9]

FARD

[yogiunlimited1234567]

Noams the man. My american idol. haha

[54spiritedwill54]

that's adorable.

[GallagherXXX]

Obama is a fucking nigger joke! GO CHOMSKY!

[agenttachyon]

I think it's funny that you'd say something so stupid, then endorse a guy who would surely be pleased to tell you how foolish that makes you sound.

[house25]

politicians are put there just to give you the ilusion that you have freedom of choice. Chomsky gives the analogy of the toothpaste and the politicians. it's not so much the "information" on the toothpaste what we should be looking for nowadays, but rather the ALTERNATIVES for "toothpaste". this in itself is an ilusion of freedom. they give you what they want, not what you asked for. it's time we find an alternative for toothpaste. voting isn't going to change anything.

[Solechnaya]

Exactly. People need to start reading about Goldman, Kropotkin, Marx, Bakunin, and others.

That there is an alternative to "toothpaste", as you call.

[buckfush12]

Noam was a leader for me and now I am able to lead myself. Thank you so much.

[juliaisafilmbuff123]

Same here. His observations about the government, media, and all that has helped me make my own observations about those things, which is what he is there to do.

[cellohood]

Once again, thanks for the Chomsky with the cool background groove. I think Noam would get a kick out of it.

[barbcinque]

Ok so Im reading how Chomsky is being compared to communists by someone who is calling for the ousting of liberals from the country. In a democracy the voice of the majority is what counts and the majority in both parties reject bush and his policies. In fact many republicans are voting democrat this year because they've lost complete faith in these warmongers.

Thank God there were only 8 yrs of this. Thats all it took for many rightwingers to turn against themselves.

[senateb]

this is a historical consistency, throughout the ages this has been a constant.  the "skirting" of the issues, the marginalization of popular support and the molding of consent is something the powers-that-be have used to forward their own agendas throughout history. the fight for truth and justice doesn't end this november, this is a perpetual struggle of all peoples in so-called democratic societies, we need to be constantly vigilant in fighting for our best interests

[AClockworkApple88]

Chomsky is a good analyst, but his politcs are just ridiculous. (That's why "The Corporate Media" promotes him, btw)

Come on, let's not fool ourselves. The general public is completely retarded when it comes to politics. (I guess that's why Chomsky likes them so much)

We're not doing them a favour by denying this obvious fact.

[observationspring]

"(That's why "The Corporate Media" promotes him, btw)" -- where did you see the promotion of Chomsky by corporate media?

"The general public is completely retarded.." -- I assume you are not the "general" public? Then again, your comments argue otherwise.

[aewester]

Enlighten us, what does it take to have at least a sufficient or decent understanding of politics?

What parts of Chomsky's politics are "ridiculous"?

Does your idea that the general public is "completely retarded when it comes to politics" mean that democracy is not a good idea? Or just democracy with an uneducated population?

Does this mean that the profit-based information systems that have dumbed us down should be condemned?

By the way, corporations promote him when there is a profit

[Knoblauchduft]

AclockworkApple88, wake up you silli arsehole.

[lordgoku420]

Noam Chomsky once got in a fight wiht Commander Riker and it was basically a clash of the titans.

[lordgoku420]

Noam Chomsky can roundhouse kick three Washington Fat Cats at once.

Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Noam Chomsky pajamas.

They once made a Noam Chomsky toilet paper, but it wouldn't take shit from anybody.

[theultimatecleaner]

lol on the toilet paper joke...

[ThunderFarts420]

Wasn't this guy Stalins political adviser? Sounds like a Polish Communist to me. GO home and change the screen door in your submarine.

[paulwebb1]

great comment man. someone who actually get that noam is a global douche bag with no clue

[ThunderFarts420]

Liberals only talk about their problems and never solve them. I can't wait for the Republicans to finish breeding you out of the gene pool. George W. Bush is doing everything right but throwing you liberals out of my beloved USA.

[melosebrainuhoh]

Please never vote, and please never breed. You were born to be an evolutionary dead end and nature will frown upon you being otherwise.

[paulwebb1]

good comment. you can trace a lot of problems we have now to things that happened 10 years ago done by libs.

[lordgoku420]

I think that Norm Compton is one of the only true scholars left alive on God's(Yeah Right) Green Earth. I always worship everything this guy says because I can't think for myself. So I'm going to post on Youtube about this guy; and act like I know something. Ah; Indeed; Hm. Furthermore,

[boredsun]

wtf is that damn music?!

gosh its so distracting

[KroveDC]

NEOCUNTS CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

[KroveDC]

NO WMDs NO Operational links to al qaeda NO Meetings with Atta NO Nukes NO Bio/Chem weapons labs NO Alum. centrifuge tubes NO Yellow cake purchases Just a motive and a plan (Wolfowitz Doctrine) Just intent to "fix intel around the policy" (Downing St Memo) Just Feith's false intel (Pent. Insp. Gen. Rpt) And more false intel (Sen. PhII Intel Rpt) Just retaliation for the truth (V. Plame/J. Wilson) Just a president who violated his oath and lied to America (articles of impeachment)

[DanLackey]

Chomsky says the same thing over and over and over . . . . when will it finally sink in?

[kayakker1]

Genious777 can't seem to spell or express a truly coherent thought, bryander can't seem to focus beyond background music. I have this terrifying thought that all you people are going actually vote in this next election. I am in deep despair.

[geckoremmington]

huhu you only need to spell "x" to vote. i worry for that too. who you gonna vote for? does it make a difference who gets in?

[bryander]

I usually like to hear what Noam has to say. Unfortunately, I found the audio track that was laid down under his words incredibly distracting--I couldn't get past minute 0:02. (Don't dislike the music, just that it doesn't fit.) Will try to remember to give it another attempt later.

[matthewkho]

seriously..

[blakiplops]

chomsky wouldnt really support anyone tbh

[samdonuge]

he'd support nader. but he doesn't place much emphasis on the political system as he is an anarchist

[IntelligentHoodlum]

he wouldnt support Nader, you can't speak for him and from how much I understand him he'd support no one for the reason you mentioned.

[samdonuge]

he have stated in interviews that he supports nader in the previous times that nader had ran. he disagrees with the prioritization of placing emphasis on the electoral process. however, he also states that 1) there are slight differences between administrations (even bigger if progressive like nader) and 2) that these differences big a big difference in people's lives. this is what i've read from his work.

[samdonuge]

Furthermore, he's a political theorist, it's ok to examine what he has (and would say) about certain issues. that's what the field of political philosophy does. one day chomsky will leave us, people will start asking 'what would chomsky say' in certain instances. while it's important to note that chomsky is merely a footnote in progressive struggles and that individuals should engage in critical analysis on their own. dissecting the analyses of others is important (whether chomsky or marx)

[alramone1]

does this mean chomsky is for hillary? obama doesn't offer a lot of detail about his policies but he's obviously the most leftist candidate out there and therefore has my vote.

[wentrikin]

No, he would never support a war hawk like Hilary. Chomsky clearly supports Mike Gravel. You know the only candidate that is truely "for the people"!

[andreawhiting]

Noam Chomsky is so fresh, honest and brilliant really. He's both my new hero and my new crush!

[4ourthofjuly]

that's adorable.

[strandwolf]

Oh joy: David Barsamyan and Sean Hannity through  a Moebius Strip. Chompski...when did the senility commence?

[genious777]

when did the senility commence? the moment you star breathing

[rayb0b]

"I was listening to NPR the other day, you know I have this masochistic streak." Lol.

[aewester]

i'm with captain ampersand.... LET'S COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS HERE PEOPLE.. vague idealistic philosophies really are nice, but tough to do anything about in the now.

i am all for Chomsky and his ideas, and i think they are some of the most important in the world today, but i wish he would spend more time explaining his ideas for change, who we can trust, etc.

[eirefrance]

I agree. Chomsky demands intellectual and moral honesty of people, which is important for any society to have. His idealism, however, demands things that no modern society will ever meet. While he should always be given a platform, the 'solutions' are going to compromises that would never meet the high standards he rightly holds.

[pakarpis]

He is making you aware of our situation. You

have to determine what you think about it thus

how you will act or not act upon it. Michael

Moore is acting on alot of things you may or may not agree with him but he is taking action.

[jumpoutatree]

What's with that annoying music?

[captainampersand]

I agree with these criticisms, but you can spend all day criticizing the entire world to death, and I'm not hearing any attempts at a solution.

[ScooterMcBean]

Here's a start: Ban all members of the bar from running for any office.

[captainampersand]

That's ridiculous. You realize that senators are lawmakers? The one thing that really qualifies you for being a legislator is being a member of the bar.

[ScooterMcBean]

A "law maker" needs legal advisors to interpret the intent of the law into legal code. When too many lawyers are out there making the laws, they tend to favour their own industry. (IMHO)

[kd1s]

And Chomsky isn't the only one who gets this. I get it too. I know there is a fundamental disconnect between we the people and those who allegedly represent us.

[NintendoSky]

People who get mad and curse about what Chomsky is talking about, you are in the dark about our government's true nature. And what he discusses is just the tip of the iceberg. To be told something that has been kept hidden for so long is shocking, and the first step for a person is denial and hatred. But what he talks about has a much deeper truth.

[kd1s]

Indeed. But we need to make some infrastructure changes to optimize the system. We need to revoke the notion that corporations have the same rights as flesh and blood persons. They erroneously interpret the 14th amendment to do so. This is why they run roughshod over our lives. Change the 14th to specifially exclude corporations first.

[sencorp]

U.

S.UCK

A.SS

[glowsnail]

He just bashed NPR. His "masochistic" side wanted to listen to it. Therefore I ask, in Chomsky's opinion, which publications or media outlets are "good."

Where does he get his news? Who _can_ we trust?

[observationspring]

Try "Democracy Now" and Pacifica.

[observationspring]

Watch documentaries (Adam Curtis' are good), read.

[supaajeman]

He often cites newspapers and he also tells you that there are true opinions in them you just need to find them. I think he tells you to read the last paragraph first then the entire article to see the authors opinion. I think though, that he bashes NPR because it seems liberal for the sake of being liberal ... just another face in the 2 party system.

[IgWannA2]

he's right about the media not telling people enough about the candidates' positions on topics. i read that half of the people who voted for mccain in the caucus didn't even know he wants to stay in iraq.

[Hostile]

I wonder how they'd feel if they knew his position on Iran?

[dodgyd55]

Cheer up Chomsky

[cayhens]

As the Republican nomination, or as 3rd party, you can count on it.

[Marcos7E7]

Damnit, he's right. Some people really need to get hanged at the end of this.

[Hostile]

Good video mate. Confirms what I've been saying about Obama: he doesn't really exist. Just an elaborate construct of acting and PR campaigns. Don't believe the hype.

[nwriko]

it confirms that EVERYONE doesn't really exist.. which most certainly includes hillary clinton. given her background, she is even more staus quo than anyone else out there.

[Hostile]

Yes, but in the progressive/liberal political groups, Obama's influence is the most dangerous. Nobody likes Hillary or Edwards: it's Obama who will steal away votes from youth anti-war audiences, confused by his non-existent policies. They're the future, they're the ones who need to wake up to the reality of this election.

[nwriko]

fine.. if that was your point, i can't disgree.

[saltrack25]

he doesn't exist, if you go to his website or his wikipedia entry you can see his views on all kinds of issues. it might require a little footwork on someone's part. but to say he doesn't exist is a not true. if anything chomsky is saying that the president is the ONLY one that exists. that's what makes the election important, and getting a president that listens to popular opinion is also crucial.

[Hostile]

That's rhetoric, mate: it's no more real than his speeches, his books or his PR campaigns. The Obama that people want to vote for, the anti-war, progressive liberal Obama, simply doesn't exist. He's an illusion, perpetrated by the media. All that actually exists is yet another slimy politician, draped in the flag and posturing for the benefit of his political audience. It's all a game. The hype: don't believe it.

[nwriko]

i disagree. chomsky argues that the likelihood is that whomever will win, will be just more of the same. unfortunately, the president is not important. the policies have already been chosen by those who determine. the one who will be elected has only one role/duty.. to implement.

[saltrack25]

the president is not important? what the hell are you talking about. bush and who he appointed has had a real impact on affairs, i doubt a democrat would have vetoed stem cell or health care for children, or done a lot of other things. i take your point that a lot of it is business as usual, but has bush not shown us that the experiment to put any idiot in the oval office was a failed one?

[nwriko]

i'm so sorry to disappoint you. bush is a moron please do not underoverestimate him. he is a tool probably the best they could find since he has no intellect to speak of. do you really believe that bush sr. budh jr. and any other name you could come up with are actually an expression of their own philosophy and ideals? he was placed there by an extremely efficient movement which has dominated american foreign policy for many years. puppets

[trickyt83]

Ron Paul eagerly and aggressively discusses issues on the war, economic policy, and immigration, among others. He's the only candidate that is crystal clear on his issues and has decades of consistent voting to back it up.

[Hostile]

Quite right mate. Ron Paul exists, and has a voting record to prove it. I still recommend that members of the Ron Paul Revolution temper their hero worship... he is, after all, still a politician... but nonetheless he is also by far the most wholesome candidate in this entire mockery of an election. Ron Paul 08!

[dankpants]

not spam

[melekcrescent]

@roboko563

Criticism of one's government =/ Hate for one's country

[cayhens]

it's our job, as the fourth branch - We the friggin Peeps.

[ScooterMcBean]

What is wrong with hating your country? You should be free to feel what you want without fear of deportation or incarceration.

[ShadowColossi]

Hate is wrong no matter where it's directed.

[dankpants]

so who should it be up to to police hate?

we can't hate anything?

I hate accidentally burning myself on my oven

[ShadowColossi]

You obviously don't understand what hatred is. It should be up to you to police the hate in your heart and cast it out. No one should hate, it's immoral.

[ScooterMcBean]

My response was really directed at the asinine comment from melekcrescent but I got overzealous. If you can't critisize a country then you have good reason to hate it.

Right or wrong, hate is a natural response.

[ShadowColossi]

You can be critical of a country without hating it. Hate doesn't produce anything productive. The more people that just straight out bash America out of hate the more Americans will isolate themselves even further. It's a vicious cylce, and even if hate is a "natural response" as you say, it doesn't mean it's not wrong. Humans don't exactly have a morally upright nature. Sometimes "natural responses" are meant to be denied so we can evolve into better beings.

[ScooterMcBean]

Hate to have to disagree with you on this topic but hate can be the product of official propaganda. This is an effective way to sway popular opinion and to influence public policy for what ever reason.

[ShadowColossi]

I'm confused by your wording. Are you saying that it's a good thing to "sway popular opinion and to influence public policy" through propaganda? People should think for themselves and not be swayed by external forces because most external forces, especially in the world of politics, have dark motives.

[ScooterMcBean]

Good or bad is a matter of what is in your best interest. PR, marketing and advertising are all effective at doing just this. Very few people are capable of thinking for themselves. Remember: no man is an island. Also, I'm not sure that you can consider most external forces as 'dark'. Mostly, people just want to secure an economic advantage over their peers. Politicians are no different.

[eirefrance]

Im not sure its true that people cant think for themselves. The psychology of belief, whether it be in a religious belief, patriotism, political agenda, race theory, etc... is always more complicated than simple brainwashing. There are sheep and critical thinkers for every issue.

[ScooterMcBean]

Here is an example of hate propaganda put to good use:

Propaganda is used in order to influence a whole nation of people support a war with mind and spirit. American anti-Japanese WWII propaganda included racial slurs and demonization, as I'm sure did Japanese anti-american propaganda.

[edbingey]

What bollocks

[ScooterMcBean]

such deep insight, edbingey.

[gbanfalvi]

There is little space for biased interpretation to majority votes. Spain in fact had a 92% of it's population (I can source that, if you want to, from 3 newspapers) against going into the Iraq war.

Am I (or Chomsky) biased if I said the government didn't listen to public opinion when they still went into war?

I'd rather you left America then him, him being a better (and braver) american by calling this out.

[ninjasandwich]

I find it hard to understand your viewpoint. If everybody who wanted criticised a country would simply leave it, how would it ever improve?

[nwriko]

perhaps, if you made a little effort to stop and think, u might come up with something a little more thoughtful to write. it is odd that you attack him since he is in no way offensive in expressing his view points. has it ever happened to you to have been critical of decisions taken inside your household? did that make you a traitor or someone to be ostracized because u did not approve the behavior of those you love?

[SomeUsefulVids]

That is a response typical of TOTALITARIAN regimes.

If someone disagrees with being shafted, then they can fuck off somewhere else.

NO. In a democracy you have the right to voice your opinion just like you have the right to pay taxes so you can contribute to state policies that reflect the will of the people.

That's how it's supposed to happen anyway. Saying "our way or the highway" is not democracy it's a totalitarian regime, and anyone who spouts it has been brainwashed.

[salim201]

very good cheers

[EpicBuilder]

good video