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Noam Chomsky Quotes - Page 34

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Democracy doesn't mean much if people have to confront concentrated systems of economic power as isolated individuals. Democracy means something if people can organize to gain information, to have thoughts for that

Democracy doesn't mean much if people have to confront concentrated systems of economic power as isolated individuals. Democracy means something if people can organize to gain information, to have thoughts for that matter, to make plans, to enter into the political system in some active way, to put forth programs and so on. If organizations of that kind exist, then democracy can exist too. Otherwise it's a matter of pushing a lever every couple of years; it's like having the choice between Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola.

Couple, Hero, Mean

"Intervention in Vietnam and Central America: Parallels and Differences". 1985.

From a comparative perspective, the United States is unusual if not unique in the lack of restraints on freedom of expression. It is also unusual in the range and effectiveness of methods employed to restrain freedom of thought... Where the voice of the people is heard, elite groups must insure their voice says the right things.

Unique, Expression, Voice

"Though Control in the USA: The Case of the Middle East". "Index on Censorship" Magazine, July/August 1986.

There was no direct way to prevent the Boston murders. There are some easy ways to prevent likely future ones: by not inciting them. That's also true of another case of a suspect murdered, his body disposed of without autopsy, when he could easily have been apprehended and brought to trial: Osama bin Laden.

Boston, Trials, Body

Noam Chomsky (2015). “Because We Say So”, p.106, City Lights Books

Why does everyone take for granted that we don't learn to grow arms, but rather, are designed to grow arms? Similarly, we should conclude that in the case of the development of moral systems; there's a biological endowment which in effect requires us to develop a system of moral judgment and a theory of justice, if you like, that in fact has detailed applicability over an enormous range.

Justice, Facts, Doe

The dangers of unexamined and unregulated monopoly power, particularly in the state executive, are hardly news. The right reaction is not passive acquiescence.

Power, Acquiescence, News

Noam Chomsky (2015). “Because We Say So”, p.108, City Lights Books

Remember, the U.S. is a powerful state, it's not like Libya. If Libya wants to carry out terrorist acts, they hire Carlos the Jackal or something. The United States hires terrorist states.

Powerful, Want, United States

"Distorted Morality: America’s War on Terror?". Talk at Harvard University, chomsky.info. February 2002.

Surely no rational or realistic person will discount the possibility that [during wartime] the United States might suddenly resort to nuclear weapons. Those who retain the instinct for survival, not to speak of minimal concern for their fellow man, will seek ways to act before rather than after the event.

Men, Survival, Church

Our crimes, for which we are responsible: as taxpayers, for failing to provide massive reparations, for granting refuge and immunity to the perpetrators, and for allowing the terrible facts to be sunk deep in the memory hole. All of this is of great significance, as it has been in the past.

Memories, Past, Church

Noam Chomsky (2001). “9-11 [neuf-onze]”, p.46, Seven Stories Press

Half the population hold that the government is run by a few big interests looking out for themselves, as polls regularly show.

Running, Government, Population

We do not for example say that the person has a perfect knowledge of some language L similar to English but still different from it. What we say is that the child or foreigner has a 'partial knowledge of English' or is 'on his or her way' towards acquiring knowledge of English, and if they reach this goal, they will then know English.

Children, Perfect, Goal

Noam Chomsky (1986). “Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin, and Use”, p.16, Greenwood Publishing Group

It's like these people are programmed by Karl Rove. What he wants is to have liberal critics ridicule Bush because he says 'nucular' and 'misunderestimate' and talks with a probably fake Texas accent and so on, because then can come back with the big propaganda apparatus saying, 'See, those elite liberals who run the world and are sitting around drinking French wine and eating quiche don't understand us ordinary guys'; regular guys like the guy working on the assembly line and George Bush, who is going back to his ranch to cut brush.

Running, Drinking, Wine

September 11 shocked many Americans into an awareness that they had better pay much closer attention to what the US government does in the world and how it is perceived. Many issues have been opened for discussion that were not on the agenda before. That's all to the good.

Government, Issues, September 11

Noam Chomsky (2008). “Interventions”, p.21, Penguin UK

Virtually all informed observers agree that a fair and equitable resolution of the plight of the Palestinians would considerably weaken the anger and hatred of Israel and the US in the Arab and Muslim worlds - and far beyond, as international polls reveal. Such an agreement is surely within reach, if the US and Israel depart from their long-standing rejectionism.

Israel, Agreement, Long

"Apocalypse Near (Part One)". Interview with Merav Yudilovitch, www.ynetnews.com. August 04, 2006.

The rascal multitude are the proper targets of the mass media and a public education system geared to obedience and training in needed skills, including the skill of repeating patriotic slogans on timely occasions.

Patriotic, Media, Skills

Noam Chomsky (2011). “Deterring Democracy”, p.363, Random House

The 'corporatization of America' during the past century has been an attack on democracy.

Past, America, Democracy

"Profit over People". Book by Noam Chomsky, 1999.

There's a very committed effort to convert the US into something resembling a Third World society, where a few people have enormous wealth and a lot of others have no security.

People, Effort, World

Noam Chomsky (1998). “The Common Good”

There is no reason to accept the doctrines crafted to sustain power and privilege, or to believe that we are constrained by mysterious and unknown social laws. These are simply decisions made within institutions that are subject to human will and that must face the test of legitimacy. And if they do not meet the test, they can be replaced by other institutions that are more free and more just, as has happened often in the past.

Believe, Acceptance, Past

As for the various religions, there's no doubt that they are very meaningful to adherents, and allow them to delude themselves into thinking there is some meaning to their lives beyond what we agree is the case. I'd never try to talk them out of the delusions, which are necessary for them to live a life that makes some sense to them. These beliefs can provide a framework for deeds that are noble or savage, and anywhere in between, and there's every reason to focus attention on the deeds and the background for them, to the extent that we can grasp it.

Meaningful, Thinking, Focus

Mr. Mijanovi and those associated with him are the hope and the conscience of the Yugoslav revolution.

Revolution, Conscience

If you're in favour of any policy - reform, revolution, stability, regression, whatever - if you're at least minimally moral, it's because you think it's somehow good for people. And good for people means conforming to their fundamental nature.

Mean, Thinking, People

"Noam Chomsky: 'No individual changes anything alone" by Aida Edemariam, www.theguardian.com. March 22, 2013.

Karl Marx was in favor of socialist and communist-socialist revolutions, but he had a pretty nuanced view about it.

Views, Favors, Revolution

"Chomsky On The Prospect of Kurdish Independence". Interview with Namo Abdulla, chomsky.info. February 15, 2011.

It is a privilege to join the campaign to support Bradley Manning for his courage and integrity in serving his country by helping make the government accountable to its citizens, and to inform the world of what its people should know.

Country, Integrity, Government

I admire Ralph Nader and Denis Kucinich very much, and insofar as they bring up issues and carry out an educational and organisational function - that's important, and fine, and I support it.

Educational, Issues, Support

Interview with Matthew Tempest, www.theguardian.com. March 16, 2004.

In Kosovo, the U.S. has chosen a course of action that escalates atrocities and violence. It is also a course of action that strikes a blow against the regime of international order, but which offers the weak at least some protection from predatory states.

Blow, Order, Violence

"Now it's a free for all". www.theguardian.com. May 16, 1999.

My speculation is that the U.S. does not want to establish the principle that it has to defer to some higher authority before carrying out the use of violence.

Use, Want, Violence

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