Chomsky: In swing states vote Obama without illusions

Noam Chomsky: People should vote against McCain and for Obama - but without illusions

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[bakunin888]

@bjmensz smashing the state isn't a teenage fantasy, it has happened many times and will again. it's a long term goal though, don't lose sight of the long term with your pointless 'pragmatism', Chomsky has given in because he is too old - Obama isn't exactly turning out great, just like anarchists predicted. What's needed is building peoples' power from below, not participating in political illusions.

[TheDuttzz]

@SeaSickElf89 you need to go one step further and recognize WHY there there is gov protection for this monopoly. The private companies accrued enough money over time to buy politicians to change the rules and create the monopoly protections via legislation. Ultimately it IS privatization that led to this result. ALL private entities will try to do this no matter what the business...healthcare, energy, agriculture, etc.

[BennyQuixote]

@TheDuttzz No, our interactions with corporations is not strictly voluntary. You misunderstand (or I didn't make clear) the conditions under which an individual can "opt-out" of their influence. Assuming all economic exchanges are bilaterally voluntary and informed (no force or fraud), the influence a corporation has over a consumer is voluntary. Corporations influence through the coercive apparatus of the state. Without a state (police, courts), they get money only if consumers give it to them.

[Keinlicht]

@BennyQuixote You don't seem to understand what you propose - that the act of 'opting out' is more democratically effective than voting for any government, no matter the layout. To come to this conclusion after taking a serious look at the structure, history, and results of growth in corporate power, wealth, and influence would require a fundamental misconception of democracy.

I urge you, look at how corporations are structured, what dictates their decisions. These are important issues.

[TheDuttzz]

@BennyQuixote so you think that our interactions with corporations and their influence is strictly voluntary? That we can "opt-out" by simply not buying their product? Your ignorance has gone from comical to borderline dangerous. You seem interested in how the world works, but you know nothing.

[BennyQuixote]

@TheDuttzz The difference between the government and corporations is that you can choose to buy a product from a private entity or not. Corporations are not "overlords" like the government is, since financial exchanges with them are voluntary.

If you don't like what a corporation sells, don't buy the product. It's as simple as that.

[TheDuttzz]

@BennyQuixote nope...would just eliminate the one speed-bump to total societal control by corporate entities. The power vacuum you ask for WILL be filled. And will our corporate overlords be more benevolent than the gov?

[BennyQuixote]

@TheDuttzz And you need to get another step further and realize that eliminating the power of the government to give these monopoly protections solves the problem in a real way, not just in a contingent way.

[gulbirk]

People who dont understand that there would be monopolies without governments too, are idiots.