Chomsky on Liberal Disillusionment with Obama

Noam Chomsky on the consequences of liberal disillusionment with the Obama administration and a deliberately uninformed American populace.
From the question and answer session of a lecture given at Boston University on December 8, 2009, the entirety of which can be seen here: www.bu.edu/phpbin/buniverse/vi...

[@Snoopies622]

Funny how the initial question practically predicts the Trump election victory.

[@mpiana3]

that's exactly what I thought when I heard that lol

[@mpiana3]

guess the title of this video explains how you got there then

[@tomcat8662]

Obama is the reason we have Trump. We had the most divisive president in history with Obama. And that got people so pissed off that they voted in a guy who would return Obama slapping them in the face with Trump bludgeoning his own critics with a crowbar. It’s a way of settling the score by use of excessive punitive action. And the media are the cheerleaders and instigators. The question is when will it end? When will we see past the craziness of it all? That this can’t go on forever without there being a civil war.

[@isorokudono]

Same here!!! I had to turn off the tv after Obama started drone bombing American kids at birthday parties.

[@muslimmetalman]

@@tomcat8662 divisive how

[@SSJ4BLINK182FAN]

This aged so well it’s scary

[@fshoaps]

But Trump is not just Glenn Beck, or Rush Limbaugh lackee. There is something distinctly anti-imperialist, and anti-neocon about Donald Trump.

[@asderc1]

He seems to almost predict the rise of Donald Trump here.

[@micahdaranciang147]

Thing is though that Trump's attitude is its own PR, whereas Obama's public behavior was methodical and manufactured by his Hollywood campaign managers.

[@knowingwhatthebuttondoes3432]

I nearly fell off my chair! Bright guy.

[@SteelFyire]

Quite. Trump had no interest in taking powerful interests down a peg, he just wanted to be part of the club. Now that he's won, it's shocking how quickly economic and political elites are acquiescing to power, until you look at his cabinet appointments.

[@knowingwhatthebuttondoes3432]

Bam yo.

[@celdatadroiddroidy2961]

yep more CEO antiethical anti labor wage etc faith over free thought ... scumdog whatever heirs. n their cocaine binge rape crap...and what

[@the81kid]

That was a very good question by the original questioner.

[@christianparfyparry9357]

you commies suck big time

[@the81kid]

ChristianpArfy Parry You don't even know what "commie" means. From the same nation that thinks "socialism" is bad, and that treats "nazis" like nothing more than boogeymen.

[@MrBorceivanovski]

Gabriel Mahound Don't mix socialism with humanism #&#

[@Bucketheadhead]

He virtually foresaw Trump. Impressive.

[@AroundSun]

sounds like a libertarian professor of economics ive heard on youtube before

[@meho1010]

The tragic part about his video is that Chomsky saw this 6 years before it happened, and MSNBC and CNN still can't figure it out.

[@broken_abi6973]

All US mainstream media, including Fox News, understand what is going on. They just go for what gives them money. They represent private interests, and they look at what ppl like to watch and provide more of that

[@alexlorda394]

Corporate media doesn't WANT to figure it out and won't host people who have.

[@TheCharlesFr]

As Chomsky has said elsewhere, capitalist media of all kinds does not want an informed market. They want an uninformed, irrational market that is confused and desperate for irrational answers that profit the capitalists.

[@svadhisthana8867]

CNN and MSNBC are the PR organizations he's referring to.

[@eamonnbeahan5611]

0:55 If Chomsky told me 'you're quite right' in response to a comment I'd probably put that fact on my resume. Hell I'd probably cross-stitch it in cursive and frame it on my wall.

[@asad2918]

Eamonn Beahan Chomsky’s used to taking questions for nutcases trying to refute his universal grammar theory, that’s why he’s happy when he actually gets a good question.

[@aristotle736]

I hear you. That would be such a feather in s person's cap to be told such a thing from this tremendous intellectual.

[@gregoryreese8491]

LOL, indeed! I confess it would certainly add a bit of swagger to my walk.

[@matthiasschuster9505]

I understand: "You're quite bright"

[@self-righteousideologue9398]

Wow.. lol. Way to aim high with your goals

[@tertiary7]

I'm from the future. Everything he said about that backlash came true.

[@Silver6400]

Sad

[@thealmanac_4935]

I’m also from the future everything is even more fucked

[@andreasgilpin-falk4099]

@@thealmanac_4935 fr :((

[@ApocryphalDude]

@@andreasgilpin-falk4099 and with a floundering only slightly successful moderate political wing in power then the timer is set for another pendulum swing back.

[@ctrtcfog]

The result of that disillusion was Trump.

[@Silver6400]

Maybe the result of disillusionment with Trump will be Sanders

[@normanjackson7960]

true. it was a very good question, and your forecast was/is right on point.

[@hugopalomino6026]

@@Silver6400 Yay. He smells even more like mothballs than Chomsky.

[@lonotalonota5779]

@Rodzilla Still might be, Bernie shifted the overton window pretty well imho regardless. M4A was a foreign concept a few years ago, as was "raising taxes on the rich". Still not sure what that means, but its polling nice. (im kidding about the last bit obviously).

[@ericomfg]

@@Silver6400 ...what disillusionment? Trump had clear goals, delivered on all of them, and more.. criminal reform, right to try, border wall, Jerusalem, taxes, regulations, on and on and on

[@tcjusttc5418]

this guy in my opinion is one of the true wise men left in the world. Most people are partisan and never capable of an unbiased thought process.

[@gfactor559]

True words spoken here TC. I try and try to have legit conversations and discussions on social media and it's practically impossible. People think what they think because it's what they "feel" and what they've been "taught"....NOT what their brains have figured out by being unbiased and reading/watching/learning from MANY different sources and angles. People just walk though life with their blinders on....can only see straight forward....can't be bothered by what's going on around them.

[@garymitrovic2503]

It will be a sad day when Chomsky departs this world. There are few orators who can articulate their arguments as well as he can in such a calm and informative manner. I only hope he's inspired enough people to continue to reach out to others in such a way for the future generation.

[@jonathankriewall1358]

TC Just TC Bertrand Russell > Noam > the rest of us dummies. (I don’t really believe that. Just saying I agree with you about him, and that he is and BR was fiercely moral and fiercely rational (to borrow your word, “wise”!)

[@jonathankriewall1358]

Gary Mitrovic I think about that often. Trying to enjoy him while he’s here, but a vacuum will need to be filled when he’s gone.

[@cv4809]

Chomsky is biased towards communism and anarchism

[@Sagittariuz912]

I have the suspicion the Trump campaign management saw this video.

[@gaticaantonio9235]

that is a posibility

[@49fiori]

the scary part is there some very smart people around Trump, so this is really possible.

[@49fiori]

austin M I don’t think Trump is stupid, and I never said that, but now that you brought it up, let me tell you, I know Trump is stupid, as any normal personal with semi functioning brain would tell you.

[@lonotalonota5779]

@austin M trump sounds like an idiot because hes a conman, which to everyone not buying his bullshit would sound like an idiot. However, like a conman, he knows how to find an audiance and work them like clay. Gotta give it to him, hes the most successful grifter con artist the US has ever seen. His capabilities fall short on objective good faith negotiations, actually sustainable legislation, and staff retention, but thats not his suit or his goal. Dont judge a fireman by his ability to land a 747.

[@PBAmygdala2021]

@@lonotalonota5779 spot on. Well said.

[@bruceduece1]

" The similarities between Wiemar Germany and here are not insignificant." A powerful statement that people should recognize. Saying that it could not happen here is to increase the likelihood of it occurring. Chomsky sums it up brilliantly.

[@paulmerring1607]

Yeah, I have a struggle...

[@isorokudono]

@@whatever5575 Show me the reticence to fund a border wall and you'll show me their political power. Define "minority".

[@paulmerring1607]

They are NOT politically powerless. Whites are slated to enter minority status in America in 2042. The gravy train of beating up and beating on white people for political gain is coming to an end.

[@whatever5575]

@@paulmerring1607 in that case, the whites are overly represented, as we speak, no?

[@paulmerring1607]

No. You must be awfully stupid if you think a majority likes to be replaced no matter what that majority says. There is a fight going on about this in case you haven’t noticed. I think what you’re trying to say is because they are numerous yet not politically, they are powerless. You must be young. A replacement of such a large majority of this magnitude has never happened before in the history of the world and so damn quickly. They haven’t moved into the political sphere for several reasons but the major one is they haven’t been here THAT long.

[@dac314]

It's 2020 and I'm only now seeing this.

[@Tao-fp3yr]

Likewise.

[@ragemsaid8697]

dac314 what to do now ...../ bcoz the zombies r here N they r immune to death .... sad america U r reaping the fruits of what u have bared....

[@michaelcollins966]

i'm here from the future to tell you it's about to get worse

[@dac314]

@@michaelcollins966 we are seeing it is so.

[@fazbell]

Chomsky follows the money. He understands the system better than most.

[@erniereyes1994]

This is very true. There's an article called "Noam Chomsky, Closet Capitalist" from the Hoover Institution that expounds on your comment quite well

[@asad2918]

Ernie Reyes the article you’re referencing is more of a lazy smear attempt than a serious criticism of Chomsky

[@erniereyes1994]

@@asad2918 did you even read the article? It's not even a criticism. It was shedding light and exploring a point, not arguing a stance. The author even had direct correspondence with Chomsky...

[@paulryan2128]

Even more significant: he says what he thinks out loud - very rare!

[@erniereyes1994]

@@fietspompje259 I don't see that as a criticism. It's quite true, and the irony is that most people who criticize capitalism in the US largely benefit from it...

[@joshuascholar3220]

He said the situation was reminiscent of Weimar Germany. He nailed it. And here we are.

[@jeesusmeesuss5247]

@Matt S lol. Everyone likes to compare shit to Germany, but other than those 10 years, Germanys pretty epic in just about every facet.

[@placidpenguin4439]

austin M the first people Hitler killed and threw into camps were Socialists and Trade Unionists, aka his main opposition. Nazis adopted the socialist label due to its popularity in Germany at the time. The poem “first they came for..” ring a bell?

[@jeesusmeesuss5247]

@@placidpenguin4439 the party was "the national socialist party" a family in Germany could get a government loan, enough for a car and a house. The government gave 20% forgiveness on loan for having a child. Have 4 kids, the government would essentially give for free. Sounds socialist to me. What you aren't connecting is that the Nazis opposition were also socialist lol.

[@jeesusmeesuss5247]

@@placidpenguin4439 also do you think authoritarian does not fall on the left?!? You can have a king who is good or bad, large powerful government always creates authoritarian states. First they came for THE GUNS, then the speech.

[@twodogs3868]

@@jeesusmeesuss5247 Authoritarian regimes are independent of political dynamics. Some garner their momentum from Right or Left leaning social philosophies. Hitler would be considered a FAR Right- leaning, FASCIST autocrat who embraced the social darwinistic eugenics, anti-semitism, anti- communistic fervor which is in stark contrast to the liberal moral relativism of today, and then. Who are you trying to fool?

[@Not_Mii_Uus]

All I want in the world is to see a mind like that nodding along while I ask a question

[@twobrotherscycleanda]

Gotta love Noam.

[@michaellanger2624]

You Republicans are missing the whole point chomsky made... He's not advocating for a Republican President in 2016 lol why would he bash both Reagan and Bush all the time... He's really advocating a third party candidate or someone like Bernie Sanders

[@voltairinekropotkin5581]

Michael Langer He's an anarchist. As in, he wan't to dissolve the state and replace it with a system of bottom-up, direct democracy organised through confederated self-governing communities. So no, I doubt it. He may have recommended voting for Jill Stein in the last election but only to demonstrate that there were other options.

[@DyaniNC]

Michael Langer Indeed, he endorsed Bernie. :P

[@voltairinekropotkin5581]

+Ammario R Can't find any evidence of that on the Internet. I suspect it's little but wishful thinking on your part.

[@drumyogi9281]

+Ammario R Considering Bernie Sanders is the complete opposite of what Chomsky wrote on his personal beliefs. Mr. Sanders is for a super state with more power, as Chomsky wants to dissolve state power. Chomsky is really starting to fall apart. It's very sad as he was one of the most brilliant minds. He is now just another old fart who can hardly keep anything together.

[@ax2643]

+Jason Bay Such a disingenuous appraisal of Bernie Sanders' positions. Sanders is not for military expansion, expansion of police powers or enhancement of the surveillance state, eliminating the corporate influence over the state. He advocates for a broad social welfare net, yet you consider that enhancing state power. He advocates for comprehensive campaign finance reform that would once again restore democracy back to the hands of the people, yes you consider enhancing state power.

[@asad2918]

Chomsky is pure genius. Will be a sad day when he passes.

[@josephzhou8228]

"I'm not saying that it's gonna happen" - well, it happened..

[@erniereyes1994]

Lol realistically speaking, it didn't.

[@erniereyes1994]

@@Star-fb2zb the tremendous irony here is that view is supported only the mainstream media and those who are utterly detached from reality...

[@Star-fb2zb]

@@erniereyes1994 Mainstream media doesn't support Bernie Sanders. Mainstream media is controlled by Republicans and Democrats.

[@erniereyes1994]

@@Star-fb2zb if you include social media as part of the mainstream media (which I would argue is), then yes, the MM does support Sanders via Twitter and Facebook (based on SM users)

[@erniereyes1994]

@Sammy N you're stuck so far up your own paranoia that if anything that doesn't resemble in any way conspiratorial and not further your cultural Marxism, you consider everyone except yourself blind, which is remarkably rich...

[@Eric-rm4uu]

Man! What a sharp mind, that was sheer logic, all of it, and how easily he can put his ideas into language we can all understand is remarkable, I truly hope we can have this old warrior around for many many more years, we need him.

[@kylebowers6093]

Watching this in 2022 and man, that first guy was spot on.

[@avibakh]

He saw today 7 years ago, better than what we see right now!

[@vaska1999]

Our satirists could hardly make it up if they tried: the winning US presidential campaign of 2008 wins the advertising industry prize for that year. And that, dear electorate, is reality, not fiction. Democarcy a la 21st-century U.S. of A.

[@michaels8297]

How does this not have over a million views. How does one ask the KZbin algorithm to make this relevant again lol

[@AfterAFashionASMR]

Michael S KZbin doesn’t really want people to know this shit. This shit is dangerous for mega companies that are fattening themselves quite nicely on the status quo. An ignorant and uninformed populace is much easier to control. Why do you think despite all the crying over the state of our terrible education system, it all has amounted to nothing- no real change because why change something that’s working so well for the people in power. It’s working just like they want it to. Scary and sad. We have to share the shit out of this ourselves because I highly doubt KZbin would let this go viral.

[@rageagainstmyhatchet]

Wow... What foresight... Never die Chomsky...

[@ax2643]

I am reposting this so that conservatives and right wingers cannot continuously skew Bernie Sanders' positions. Such a disingenuous appraisal of Bernie Sanders' positions. Sanders is not for military expansion, expansion of police powers or enhancement of the surveillance state, eliminating the corporate influence over the state. He advocates for a broad social welfare net, yet you consider that enhancing state power. He advocates for comprehensive campaign finance reform that would once again restore democracy back to the hands of the people, yes you consider enhancing state power.

[@joeschmoe1193]

He is a socialist crackpot. I heard him promote Environmental Justice. This is verbatim not a skew. This is Left of typical Leftist positions of justice and equality. Liberals live in a fantasy world. Reality often evaporates their daydreams yet refuse to adjust to it. They want reality to adjust to their dreams. Isn't that called insanity?

[@TheColossalBlanket]

Joe Schmoe Liberals are centrist, not left. I largely despise Liberals and I'm well to the left of them and sanders.

[@jakekhawaja5101]

Joe Schmoe sanders is HARDLY a leftist. He is one, but he's way to the right of Chomsky or me.

[@igorcastro5837]

I don't think you can break sand, do you? Exactly, you can't. Having a GDP that goes well beyond what is expected doesn't make a country rich, having an increased GDP however, is synonimous to "class" distinction, making poor poorer and rich richer. With logic you can see things as they are: Rich people will buy what the poor can't, meaning building more industries and things like walmart and so on. People that seek a job need to work so they may start an enterprise their own, if they wish, but that is really hard because they don't have as many choices as the ones that came before did. Meritocracy? Why is meritocracy a thing today- "I worked so that I can afford a house and other things too" but how come people that also wish these things cannot have them without being in danger, meaning they survive paycheck to paycheck? Maybe it's because people use other people to work, giving them just what they need to get by. To me, it's already ruined, and with time, will be born again

[@il_veltro]

@Golden Knight do you know what either of those means? Typical buzzwords used against a man who wants to better the country

[@lettherebelamp5102]

As always with Chomsky I was pretty impressed with this video while watching it as he’s so articulate and precise but then I look at the release and am blown away. He legitimately helps predict the political climate of 2016. With the help of the excellent question

[@walterwilliams4803]

Should be titled "how we ended up with trump"

[@original6hockey402]

Walter Williams we got lucky

[@kathymayes4290]

And thank Dog we did!.

[@chriss.2978]

man this is framing the Trump election perfectly

[@christiansoldier77]

chris S. trump winning is a good thing you idiot. dont you like a good economy and low unemployment?

[@Mrlimabean01]

Bernie Sanders anyone? Don't make the mistake of dismissing him because of his labels. He's what America wants, right and left.

[@michelstarker3085]

Mrlimabean01 America is looking for a leader. Bernie Sanders could not lead flies to raw meat. He has never exhibited any leadership. When has he ever debated anyone and convinced them his idea was the best. Leaders have to understand when problems exist, envision a start to a solution and then convince others there is a problem and further draw them into the start and encourage them to seek a better solution. Bernie Sanders was happy to get elected and finally have a regular paycheck. That's the only problem he's ever solved. His constituency keeps him around for comedic effect and one less bum in their hometown.

[@Mrlimabean01]

who is americas leader for 2016 then michael? Bernis is literally doing everyrhing you just said so i dont know if youre trolling. I could literally go find a dozen speeches where he says "lets get the debates started early", as well as news interviews where he expresses interest in debating the republican candidates before the primaries start. Thats one thing. Also, if bernie sanders' plan for investment in infrastructure and progressive economic agenda isnt "a better solution", i fail to see how ANY OTHER CANDIDATE RUNNING IN 2016 has LITERALLY ANYTHING you said on bernie. Please michael, tell me who meets your criterea for american president 2016, im dying to know

[@Draw3524]

+Mrlimabean01 Don't even take Michel Starker seriously, he is talking straight out of his ass.

[@mfbinc]

+Mrlimabean01 i see you're falling for it all over again.....bernie 15 is a repeat of obama 8....state problems that people can easily identify, offer no solutions but create the illusion that you will solve the problem. when are voters going to really wake the hell up? THEY ARE ALL THE SAME. THERE ARE NO POLITICAL SAVIORS.....listen to what chomsky is really saying

[@Mrlimabean01]

You call me naive, I call you a cynic, but its worth noting who's making the sweeping statements. Chomsky is saying we have political problems, and if you think a political solution isnt viable, I'd like to hear what is.

[@MN-jb8nj]

The boy predicted trump in 2010!!!!

[@Kareragirl]

Anyone who paid attention to WWII could have predicted it. It's the same story. Chomsky is smart, but predicting that a demagogue seizes an opportunity like that doesn't require brains.

[@errconhucansson4353]

Trump happened..!

[@Khono]

And now we have Trump.

[@patrickvernon5368]

The right is equally disappointed everytime as well.

[@richardramfire3971]

Chomsky is brilliant

[@Jimmy2times90]

At 6:00 onwards pretty much sums up Brexit.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Yup. He basically predicted the Trump phenomena before it even happened. Trump was the answer to middle America's grievance. Let's just hope that they don't get more than what they bargained for.

[@nicestguyinhouse6112]

Stop the Philosophical Zombies Let’s hope something changes or god help them with the next president or the 1 after that

[@dowdallerno1]

One of smartest people on the planet.😥🍀

[@meho1010]

Damn. This shit was like a prophecy.

[@emeliedenmodige2470]

and here we are.

[@purpurina5663]

"Campaign managers are smart enough to read polls" the height of backhanded compliments 👌🏾

[@devinmeenan5708]

This is one of the most prescient statements I've ever heard.

[@coleman2586]

I love and hate chomsky.

[@needicecream100]

coleman2586 why do you hate him?

[@lordj3793]

Wow 🤩 what insight. Dayuuum!! It’s exactly like he said.

[@spencerjames9417]

Chomsky is a fucking genius. He predicted it 6 YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENED

[@ComradeBuka]

@MrRickywallace Answer me this: When a company is close to bankruptcy and the government bails them out, is that not by definition socialism.

[@SelfSuckGiraffe]

it is not. read marx and you'll discover he says very little about socialism and government. socialism is workers owning the means of production. simple as that. richard d wolff has a great series of videos explaining socialism.

[@guzzidude7410]

That would be closer to fascism

[@bonmot7850]

If only there were more commenters here who would make grandiose assertions about what America wants, what people on either side believe, and what Obama is really up to. I'm really disappointed by all of this restraint.

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

Good stuff. Nice and concise.

[@edthejester]

Greetings from 2020. Boy was this prophetic.

[@bjarnesegaard5701]

Bernie as president.

[@oriondrums2]

+Bjarne Søegaard er du en dansk Bernie supporter?

[@bjarnesegaard5701]

+oriondrums2 yep

[@oriondrums2]

bare nysgerrig, hvilket parti i Danmark har du støtte? Jeg ønsker at se, hvor Bernie står i dansk politik. i also just want to practice my danish with a dane haha

[@bjarnesegaard5701]

oriondrums2 Hvor bor du? Er du amerikaner med danske forældre eller hvordan?

[@oriondrums2]

Jeg er amerikansk og mine forældre ikke er dansk, men mine familie har meget gode danske venner. (gonna have to switch here because i don't know enough) I really am just trying to learn danish because i love linguistics/phonetics/phonology and danish has some really really interesting phonological features that are incredibly unique for germanic/indo-european languages. Plus I have always thought scandinavia was dope as fuck with great systems of welfare and a political system that represents the extremes of pretty much the entire spectrum.

[@allardfreichmann3733]

Stop regarding to humans as heroes or gods. There is no captain America. It's just a cartoon.

[@nikita-dh5je]

He saw this coming in 2010, most of us only saw this coming by 2016. What an incredibly smart man, I wonder what he sees for the near future?

[@purdysanchez]

This answer is clearly applicable to both parties in 2021. They both engage in the sort of hyperpartisan warfare

[@Asenueh]

@Darean51 One of my video uploads, "Where Were You When...," makes a similar point. The way they promote some of their issues undermine mainstream acceptance to their point of view. I'm currently working on some video concepts to bring some of those issues to a place the mainstream feels more ownership and comfort talking about certain things.

[@MillionthUsername]

@hippydog123 "What are you referring to that Chomsky said, what part?" I just gave you the video. Here's a clue. If you watch it and listen, sometime between the beginning and the end you will hear Chomsky refer to fur traders and fishermen. This is the part that I reference when I refer to Chomsky talking about fur traders and fishermen.

[@peasantsoul]

Great response to the question.

[@gregorygraham9371]

i’ve never been a huge chomsky fan, as despite his evident intellect, i recognize his inherent biases. i am prone to bias as anyone; which is why i seek intellectual discourse that is unbiased, to better myself. this particular offering of his is actually very lacking in bias, and refreshingly objective.

[@0VistaDelMar0]

I am starting to learn about Bayesian theory. According to richard carrier/youtube etc, it will bring me to realize for example in this case, how (masters of) governments utilized it to end ww2. Anyone please if you know, where does Chomsky specifically tie in the theory. Thanks.

[@thisismyrealname7083]

What does Chomsky have to do bayesian reasoning? Besides both being awesome that is ;-)

[@frokenstein]

You're crackin' me up, SuperGuitarman.

[@kaziahmed1424]

I am sure Professor Chomsky hates this term but sometimes he can actually be prophetic. By far the greatest living mind in the world today.

[@smoothacceleration437]

This video is remarkable... Chomsky and the dude asking the question had already predicted Trump back in... 2010 !!

[@not2tees]

Sometimes you have to wonder if democracy should be equality to qualify to vote, not some absolute right to vote.

[@otrnam1]

They tried that in the past, it was called Jim Crow.

[@not2tees]

@@otrnam1 It seems that no matter what can possibly be ventured, human nature will defeat any hope of improving our situation, my friend.

[@billgrant4857]

At least Beck and Limbaugh will tell you what is actually going on. I can't fault them for that

[@otrnam1]

bill grant If you think Beck and Limbaugh actually tell you what’s going on. There’s a serious problem in this country.

[@billgrant4857]

And if you think CNN and MSNBC are telling the truth, then you have a bigger problem

[@AfterAFashionASMR]

bill grant LOL he never even mentioned them. Classic knee jerk reactionary what-aboutism, I bet you get a lot of that from Fox. All the main stream media bullshitters are not to be trusted - totally self interested. You have to look to the few truly knowledgeable and honest out there like Chomsky. You can’t get much truth on TV or the radio friend, something I suspect the previous commenter realizes, which is why he wasn’t the one to mention them.

[@V12F1Demon]

You tube is automatically suppressing volume levels of certain videos like Chomsky's. Has anyone else come across this?

[@Mina-vr1kw]

Exactly what happened!!!

[@MrDoubtfulguest]

He believes in sharing other people's wealth, not his own. He wants huge estate taxes on other people, but he has gone to great lengths to protect HIS estate. Anyway, talk to me AFTER you watch "Dennis Prager & Howard Zinn debate American policy."

[@winmine0327]

always amusing to see the dreamy economics you find under chomsky vids. or in chomsky vids

[@BENABONZO]

This is still one of the best Chomsky clips on the internet imo.

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

Yet the five-alarm fire fizzled and the sky never fell.

[@DiceBaseballDigest]

First time I hear Noam tell someone they are right. Holy smokes!

[@DiceBaseballDigest]

We get Trump is the answer to the man’s question about what happens.

[@TheCharlesFr]

It's surprising how good a prediction this has been as of now (sep 2020).

[@swannavon]

How I love Noam Chomsky. Bless him.

[@MrDoubtfulguest]

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match, Find me a find, catch me a catch Matchmaker, Matchmaker Look through your book, And make me a perfect match."--Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick

[@irishgodfatherchris]

@MrRickywallace Ed Husic (Labor Member for Chifley), Penelope Wong (Labor Senator for South Australia) Mathias Cormann (Liberal Senator for Western Australia )Maria Vamvakinou (Labor Member for Calwell), Darren Cheeseman on a technicality (Labor Member for Corangamite), PM Julia Gillard on a technicality again (Labor Member for Lalor, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (Liberal Member for Warringah) there are more but this is just an example of our diversity.

[@pnoozi]

One of the biggest problems in this country is the lack of proportional representation in Congress. This is the primary reason we are stuck with what is essentially a two party system. In an absolute majority electoral system, people don't vote for who they agree with; they vote for who they think can win. In a system with proportional representation, people are free to vote for who they want (even if their party doesn't win, they'll still have the right amount of representation). *sigh*

[@santialtamirano8621]

This is gold

[@williamwooten6156]

This man is a thinker

[@gorojo1]

The guy was a Prophet.

[@Iktomeone]

Freedom from government, from employers, from parental control, from sexual repression, from religious dogma, from all of the forms of domination that are in our lives. All of these chains must be broken before the human race can ever be freed from it's own delusions.

[@MrRickywallace]

@MrRickywallace That is "vested interest." I omitted the "interest." Sorry.

[@ByronJames7]

"Uniformed consumers who make irrational decisions" America

[@pat6146]

damn what a great video. a near perfect prediction

[@robyn3899]

We all choose to follow or not to follow. No excuses.

[@uncreativename9936]

And on that bombshell...

[@MrRickywallace]

@MrRickywallace Read "American Rifleman" , I meant.

[@manglesthecat2635]

Jesse Ventura for President 2016! I'd like to see Chomsky's review of Jesse.

[@Celestion321]

@fenix9885 Watch earlier interviews with him. Old age has taken its toll on his timbre, but he had a very vibrant and listenable tone until recently.

[@Asenueh]

@CytherLynx I agree that the ideas of ethics and values can't be proven by most standards of physical science, which they why they are metaphysical concepts. Just as physical science tries to describe the order of the physical world, so metaphysics tries to do the same for inner plane of existence. If a value can be assigned to the reduction of human suffering and if suffering can be indexed, at that point, social science can be able to test and model in a meaningful way.

[@xxFortunadoxx]

The shocking thing about this video is that Chomsky called the backlash before the 2010 november elections.

[@ExistentialNights]

This aged so well it’s fucking terrifying

[@mclaconic7974]

Some of these videos are eerily prophetic.

[@quagmire444]

thank god someone called it out. people have been saying the same thing that he has, for a long time. except they werent noam chomsky, so they didnt get the same respect.

[@BENABONZO]

I wish someone would put their face in their hands and look at me the way Noam looks at this questioner.

[@viggosimonsen5870]

"... I'm not saying it's going to happen here, but ..." that exactly what it did. Chomsky ahead of his time.

[@zombyfrank]

@MillionthUsername I take anarchism in Chomsky's case to mean the dismantling of the current system in order to construct a new one. I have not studied the history of the anarchist movement however. I am not anti-private property because that brings us back to Utopia which is unrealistic. I am not anti-state because I believe that also is unrealistic. I believe society is better for all if you have a safety net for poor and old, health care, regulation of pollution, food safety, etc. by govt.

[@MrDoubtfulguest]

The "crony" of some big corporations is the government. Huge companies can hire teams of lawyers and accountants to deal with new regulations; upstart competitors cannot. The government picks winners and losers in the marketplace, something they have no business doing, especially if it means co-signing all our names to loans for batty enterprises like wind and solar, the Im-Ex bank, and a host of other things we will be on the hook for. We should have learned this from the housing mess.

[@mlacaze]

@tristramshandy3 These brief comment sections are tough places to have these sorts of discussions, but ultimately I agree with you. Having taken said classes (& more importantly read said books) I concede that's a great starting point. But let's not diminish the incredible benefits that have accrued to the world due to the profit motive so many are quickly to demonize. Nearly everything of value in your life, including the amazing computers on which we write these messages, are a direct result.

[@jpwjr1199]

just to clarify, average real wages have stagnated or decreased in the US since 1974. And see (George Schultz, Paul Volcker)

[@seanm.1813]

And now we are here. You talk about prophecy.

[@sabi8381]

Long live Noam Chomsky!

[@jonathankriewall1358]

That guy is prescient!