Noam Chomsky on Democracy

[anryth]

i see no difference between the tyranny of one and the tyranny of many. there is a reason why we are a constitutional republic and not a democracy.

[redlinetri]

So enlighten me buddhagem.  If 99% of people vote to have the other 1% killed, what happens?

[Fuctmentality]

@redlinetri It would never make it to a vote in the first place.

[redlinetri]

@Fuctmentality Why wouldn't it make it to a vote? Isn't democracy the system whereby the people get to say how the system is run? So if 99% of them want to vote out democracy, how is that not an example of democracy?  Even Socrates said as much. Moron buddhagem thinks that what we see now are abuses of democracy. NO. What we are seeing now is exactly what happens when we have a system based on votes rather than principles. Votes can be manipulated.

[Fuctmentality]

@redlinetri If 99% want to kill the other 1% it wont make it to a vote. Do you honestly not understand why? Because the 1% would be dead before a vote could be taken. & Yes democracies commit suicide, every one knows this, realizing it doesn't make you smart. Thinking others don't realize it makes you stupid. & Principles can not make a system of governance they are mere concepts, incapable of acting in any manner.

[ensittare]

Thank you! Very intersting video!

[firefox8192]

Where can anyone find in the constitution the word democracy or any indication that democracy is constitutional or in the bill of rights. or magna carta.

[nerfmyaccount]

@firefox8192 why would authoritarian documents contain the word democracy

[RadioFreeWisconsin]

Would this be the same Noam Chomsky who brought us news of the, "not so bad," Khmer Rouge?

[wvprogressive1933]

Seriously, when did you meet Noam?

He's quite the man, even if I disagree with him on certain issues.

[Dalambam]

Incredible!

[mondohartford]

where is the democracy? I hope you dont believe we have one here!

[mansadala]

Nice video! Do you listen to Stephen Hill, the host of the radio program Hearts of Space?

[FacultyZ]

I guess I should have waited for the series to end, cheers

[FacultyZ]

I am surprised he has discuss the notion of Polyarchy yet?

[buddhagem]

Actually the discussion of Polyarchy will be in the next video in this series.

[Perussaataja]

Thank you for this clip. Plus the pic of you and mr Chomsky is great too!

[55ella2007k]

Good to get this out there...!!! I'm placing it into my favorites, so that some of my subscribers can see this (particularly those, who are not familiar with Chomsky.

[Mjhavok]

Cool photo of you and Chomsky with the large image of Russell in the background.

[greenhell666]

great vid.

looking forward for more of this series.

o/

[iwiwla22]

Another good place to find out about the inner workings of how our current system stays alive is the "Social Dominance Theory" or "Right Wing Authoritarianism." Both offer great incite into the reward systems and beliefs that are held by those in power to those rising in power. They give a much better understanding of how the inner system works and what Chomsky touches on education systems being places of institutional ignorance. How the mind conforms to believe in things contrary to nature.

[Dalambam]

Yeah, I too recommend looking into that. Interesting insights into the psychology of alienation by authority

[benson471]

outstanding video, buddhagem

[yadsik]

Interesting. You know, as soon as I took civics class, and started to think about what democracy means, I realized that something was up. Real power is in the board rooms and elite clubs for the rich. The separation of executive and legislative powers in parliamentary democracy means that even if the majority's representatives gain a majority in parliament, they find that in reality they control nothing. The state, is not elected, but stands to protect the elite regardless of public opinion.

[AntiArchon]

As to the separation of powers, I remember when it dawned on me what a scam that is. "Checks and balances," indeed! Checks on the power of you and me to control our own destinies, and a "balance" between the working class majority and the opulent elite (the very idea of which is absolutely offensive to the intellect)!

This is why, if the state can't be smashed in one fell swoop, it ought to be dismantled in a rational order. In the US for example, the Senate out to be abolished for starters.

[yadsik]

The Senate is a disgusting place indeed.

Whether we really need to adjust the government is one question, but if the people take action themselves, by organizing, association, freely forming unions and so forth (with direct and participatory democratic function), eventually the state will become irrelevant as everything would be decided by consensus of the people, and the same people making those decisions - that is everyone - are the same people who are actively doing something.

[mistaspot1]

Great subject. It definitely needs to be explored more.

[citizenkong]

You met the man. very cool.