Noam Chomsky - Do the Powerful Know What's Going On?

[@senecanzallanute4066]

More intelligence is required to see what's in front of our eyes, than what's hidden from us.

[@calldwnthesky6495]

i don't believe that. i think less effort on the part of those in power to distract or lie is the key. but that won't stop

[@teddebeere3223]

If you’ve ever met those with immense power (by which I mean wealth mostly, or political power), you’ll know that they are almost disturbingly human with plenty of ignorance, willful or otherwise, plenty of gaps in knowledge and awareness, narrow views inherited from their parents in many cases as well as the lack of intrinsic need to change things in dramatic ways, really I think some of them are ‘conservative’ because they think they just have to focus on defending what their family has built e.g. a large multinational corporation that employs many people and provides goods and services - furthermore, there is the whole “if not me/us, then it will be someone else and likely someone even worse” (as most people view themselves as better to hold power than others, financially, you’ll very rarely find someone complaining about being overpaid by not accepting the money of giving most of it away to what they deem more deserving causes whereas the inverse is near universal).

[@qlenium]

It's really amazing how the professor can hold so many facts in his brain. Simply just mind boggling~

[@philmessina476]

That's the power of reading, I think.

[@drpantz7732]

@@philmessina476 My thought exactly ^5

[@carlosmendoza8312]

@@philmessina476 Very true. I went to the Public Library last weekend and I was the only person in the Library.

[@edmunddantes935]

A photographic memory helps!

[@killgriffinnow]

4:42 "And if I didn't do it then someone else would" The Once-ler, from "the lorax"

[@coreycox2345]

I love Dr. Suess, Friendshipismagic. Great quote.

[@johnstockwellmajorsmedleyb1214]

"intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. ...We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. ...In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons...who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind." Edward L. Bernays

[@coreycox2345]

I read this book and found it nauseating, John Stockwell Major Smedley Butler.

[@coreycox2345]

A good case for better schools, mans410.

[@fertilizerspike]

Like 69 woot

[@lorenzomcnally6629]

WRONG QUESTION. NOAM CHUMPSKY. Do the Bourgeoisie know what Karl Marx thought of them? Their Middle Class ELIMINATION WORLDWIDE The "Workers KOMMISSARIAT" Will rule the World of "Workers" and the "Marxist" 1%. Yeah it "worked" Last Century 120 MILLION .....DEAD.... over Decades of forced labor, starvation and DISEASE. Noam CHUMPsky Gulag Commandant #1. 5th COLUMN CITIZEN "1.

[@tomj210]

arguably the most important channel on youtube today - the new york times

[@tertiary7]

"U.S. companies held $1.73 trillion in cash and liquid investments in 2014, up 4% from 2013 and more than double the cash level in 2007, according to a May 7 report by Moody's. Of that $1.73 trillion, nearly two-thirds ($1.1 trillion), was held overseas in 2014." 2017: TAX CUT!

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

Speak truth to the masses. Tell lies to power.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

The “powerful” aren’t the least bit interested in knowing anything other than that which advances their interests - full stop.

[@sepehrsadeghi5271]

He is right.

[@avigindratt7608]

Such a great question. Ive seen Friedman on CNN, and he appears to confirm Chomsky's description of him.

[@macelharen]

"by working with the powerless"

[@designerama1099]

I dont believe this truly speaks volumes over the true issue. Not the fact that people dont know that theres an issue but that it lies in the nature of our system, and that we have to understand it all trails back to money. And the blind vision of getting infinite stability and more wealth was the true answer. Meanwhile it's also driving the system to make that the only tolerable environment. So yeah, I really do think people should still learn more about how the system works. Not so they get rich quick but instead how that mentality itself is the destructive force that feeds the monopolys

[@cherylmburton5577]

Archbishop Romero whom Mr Chomsky mentions at the end, was initially afraid to do as he did in working with the powerless (today in USA is actually the mentally ill at the lowest rung of the ladder), but eventually through prayer and his faith in God he did become well known for his speaking out against his government publicly despite threats on his life, that eventually was realized, as he was assassinated while offering mass, shot dead in front of all those people he was speaking out for! Romero of course was one in a million, however, and most powerless should not be surprised when religious leaders will not only not speak out for the masses of powerless, but they will assist in leading them to the slaughter. I read an account recently of a Nazi Catholic Priest who was counseled by the prison Chaplain right up until the moment Judgement was executed on him by hanging, but he never showed any remorse, refused to acknowledge that anything he had done was wrong, refused to confess to God that he had committed heinous mortal sins, and was hanged having refused to do so with his brother Catholic Priest.

[@seeithappen1]

Promoting group thinking and status quo is the biggest manipulation and is very successful.

[@peteraleksandrovich5923]

Of course, we know what happened to Romero and Debs...

[@fernandofontenla8466]

I don't

[@Zettel9016]

@@fernandofontenla8466 Romero was assassinated and Debs was imprisoned for years.

[@fernandofontenla8466]

@@Zettel9016 Cesar Romero and Debora Blando?

[@dr_prc]

how old is gringrich?

[@avinashreji60]

200

[@c.s.7097]

You could just put that question in your Google search bar

[@maxgatica5736]

Old and he is a PIECE OF WORK a real scumbag.

[@calldwnthesky6495]

ah that magical number of views that most videos providing a generous dose of Chomsky are forever held to.... 40,000 to 50,000... in general. who owns this channel, the "central intelligence agency"? the office of "homeland security"? LOL

[@parepidemosproductions4741]

working with the powers.... hmmmm

[@MRender32]

He said working with the powerless I think

[@parepidemosproductions4741]

@@MRender32 I'd have to listen to this again because...

[@KevinOrePflucker]

the powerless

[@parepidemosproductions4741]

Hey y'all, at the end, 7:03, he seems to say powers...

[@80ki68]

​@@parepidemosproductions4741 He really obviously said powerless lol

[@drpantz7732]

His dismissal of culpability by pushing it behind "institutional roles" is disappointing.

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

not at all. he doesnt say they arent guilty. he says they arent necessarily bad people. thats a difference. the point is. people want to know who is guilty. focusing on that is just ridiculous. sure go ahead and lynch someone in public. 2 days later another guy gets in his position doing the same, just a bit more clever in his public appereance. he wants to solve that problems. you dont solve them buy looking who is guilty. you solve them by attacking the institution. its a much more advanced and clever approach to the problem than a simplistic "person X is guilty".

[@drpantz7732]

@@BuGGyBoBerl I don't know how more "advanced or clever" the approach is, it's just where he comes down on the Agency vs Structure debate - he thinks structural change will lead to individual change, as a Sociologist, I feel that individual change needs to happen first before structural change will be possible. Allow me to shed some light on why I was disapointed before you tell me "person X is guilty" is simplistic. When the corrupt housing loan swaps fell apart that led to the 2008 recession, there were a whole bunch of men and women who lacked integrity and had in bad faith set up that arrangement, while making a fortune, and not ONE of them went to jail or had to answer for their crimes. It wasn't the Home Loaning Institution that made this problem happen, it was the corrupt men and women within it that did. It's the people brother, not the institutions per se, but the people that comprise them that need improving =]

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

@@drpantz7732 well ofc if you have a criminal you have to adress the individual. ofc you need to do that to give rules/laws any meaning. however there are also systemic problems that need a different approach. both things are real. one has to look at the specific case to identify if its a systemic or a individual problem. lets look at this case. is the system fine and its just a few people who got out of control and need to be adressed? i think thats obviously not the case. look at the corporations. CEO tries to improve environmental situation and cuts down profit margin about 10%. he is a gone pretty fast. its all about profit. the system wants CEOs to create profit. so if you now blame the guys who are doing "bad stuff" now, you dont gain anything. they will be replaced by other people who cover up the negative consequences but basically do the same, as thats what the system wants them to do. now obviously i dont want to say individuals dont carry responsibility. not at all. they do. (hannah arendt jumps into ones mind) but focusing on them while there is a system that produces that kind of behaviour is fighting the symptoms, not the disease. here i dont see a either or case. punish criminals, but take care of the systemic flaws, otherwise it happens again.

[@designerama1099]

My best argument againts this, is that there are tons of people who drive cars, and very select few who design them and make them. But among the consumers there are few who understand how they are made. So of course the car manuf. Know how they will operate. But that doesnt mean the same for the population as a whole. It's still deeply divided in just information itself on how this system of a car works.

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

well he isnt talking about everyone. he is talking about the top 20%. also these things are much easier than the technological details of a car. he said it: if you dont want to know, you dont know it but if you want to, you definitely will. considering the top 20%s job is in that business and they are somewhat clever + the information is very easily accessable its safe to say many know it.

[@thestone7747]

No. And no.

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

What is it with these whiners why can’t we all sing beautifully why can’t we all be baseball champions why can’t we all be Hollywood stars why aren’t we entrepreneurs why aren’t we the best technology wiz kids BECAUSE you’re too busy whining that’s ALL you’re good at

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

is that supposed to be an argument?

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

Yes do what you do and do it well don’t envy others or expect them to do for you just do what you can well and be satisfied with your lot

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

@@vivianoosthuizen8990 and in what way is that relevant here. are you supposed to not touch systemic problems because you should be satisfied with your lot?

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

As I said all men want to whine about everything but don’t make any changes or difference by whining to the masses go do something about it instead of looking for followers of a policy of whining about everything

[@BuGGyBoBerl]

@@vivianoosthuizen8990 i know what you said, but it doesnt get right just because you repeat it. systemic problems are real and need to be adressed. this is very well documented throughout history. that "whine talk" has 2 issues. first of, it shuts down valid criticism which is needed for progress. its not "whine". second its not universal. there are many situations where you arent the only one responsible for the situation. long story short, make the best out of your situation and dont complain too much, but when there is an systemic issue approach it.