Noam Chomsky (3/5): Peacemakers, Profiteers and Poverty (1995)

[ajames95]

I hate to say this but Americans deserve what's happening. Chomsky seems like a prophet when viewed through the lens of present day events, and the US populace was oblivious. They just didn't care. Most people wanted to blame immigrants and poor groups (viewed as lazy) in America, and did nothing to heed this warning. Americans proceeded to shop, chase fads, go to church, watch TV, and not read. Now the rug is being pulled out from everyone. And they are wondering, "why?"

[rysw19]

@ajames95 when was the last time you heard anyone like chomsky in the popular press? people don't know who or what to blame, so if you give them something, they will run with it.

[bcn533]

@rysw19 Jeremy Scahill is brave enough to say some of the things Chomsky does and he fortunately does get some access.

[rysw19]

@bcn533 that's well enough, but as someone of considerable exposure, I even haven't heard of him. is he a journalist?

[bcn533]

@rysw19 He is a journalist for The Nation and he's well worth checking out. Perhaps I should have said 'a little' exposure. Your point is right though, of course.

[rysw19]

@bcn533 i'm a nation subscriber, and i read every issue. i should probably pay more attention to the names. now i'm curious what other kinds of exposure he gets.

[ajames95]

I hate to say this but Americans deserve what's happening. Chomsky seems like a prophet when view through the lens of present day events, and the US populace was oblivious. They just didn't care. Most people wanted to blame immigrants and poor groups (viewed as lazy) in America, and did nothing to heed this warning. Americans proceeded to shop, chase fads, go to church, watch TV, and not read. Now the rug is being pulled out from everyone. And they are wondering, "why?"

[rysw19]

i'd love to see ronald reagan come back to life and have his skin torn off. criminal on every account.

[fctchk]

@rysw19 Mr. Reagan was merely one more product of American voters' ignorance of/indifference to how the world works and love affair with broad grinning glad-handers be they named Bush, Clinton, McCain or Obama.

[rysw19]

@fctchk when you say ignorance, it is in many ways enforced ignorance. (not everyone has the time to do real research; we all rely on authorities.) when you say indifference, i think you rather mean helplessness. ou rsociety is completely atomized and has been going downhill for the majority of the population for decades. people don't know who to vote for because the results are basically the same either way; people don't know who to blame because 4 or 5 mega-corporations own every news outlet.

[7jerryv7]

This is perhaps one of Chomsky's best presentation, in my opinion.

[astronomypouya]

@7jerryv7

Actually I think Chomsky is always at his best!

[chocobosage420]

great post