There's never been anything like the so-called Vietnam Syndrome: it's mostly a fabrication. Noam Chomsky More Quotes by Noam Chomsky More Quotes From Noam Chomsky The elections are run by the same guys who sell toothpaste. They show you an image of a sports hero, or a sexy model, or a car going up a sheer cliff or something, which has nothing to do with the commodity, but it's intended to delude you into picking this one rather than another one. Noam Chomsky sexyrunningsports Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power. And concentration of political power gives rise to legislation that increases and accelerates the cycle. Noam Chomsky concentration-of-wealthyieldgiving In the literal sense, there has been no relevant evolution since the trek from Africa. But there has been substantial progress towards higher standards of rights, justice and freedom - along with all too many illustrations of how remote is the goal of a decent society. Noam Chomsky illustrationrightsjustice There are very deep and restrictive principles that determine the nature of human language and are rooted in the specific character of the human mind Noam Chomsky principlesmindcharacter Capitalism denies the right to live. You have only the right to remain on the labour market. Noam Chomsky capitalismlabourdeny In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just ideals to be valued - they may be essential to survival. Noam Chomsky democracies-havefreedomhero The point of advertising is to destroy markets. Noam Chomsky advertising In the early 50s in the US, there was what was called McCarthyism and the only reason it succeeded was that there was no resistance to it. When they tried the same thing in the 60s it instantly collapsed because people simply laughed at it so they couldn't do it. Even a dictatorship can't do everything it wants. It's got to have some degree of popular support. Noam Chomsky supportatheismpeople The more privilege you have, the more opportunity you have. The more opportunity you have, the more responsibility you have. Noam Chomsky privilegeresponsibilityopportunity In much of the world the U.S. is regarded as a leading terrorist state. Noam Chomsky terroriststatesworld The US stole Texas from Mexico by violence, then invaded Mexico on ludicrous pretexts and conquered half of it, what is now the Southwest and Far West. That's why cities have Spanish names: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Cruz, etc. All of this is suppressed in standard American history. But the victims remember. The conquerors typically have one history, the victims a different one - and often a more accurate one. Noam Chomsky texascitiesnames ...the mass media. What are they? They're huge corporations, massive corporations, linked up with even bigger corporations. They sell audiences to other businesses, namely advertisers. So when you turn on the television set, CBS doesn't make any money. They make money from the advertisers. You're the product that they're selling, and the same is true of the daily newspaper. They're huge corporations, selling audiences, potential consumers, to other businesses, all linked up closely to the government, especially the big media. What picture of the world do you expect them to present? Noam Chomsky mediapoliticalgovernment A lot of association on the internet is highly constructive. There are people interacting, interchanging ideas, making plans, coordinating activities; take any of the popular movements, a lot of the organization is through the internet. We want to have a demonstration or we want to have a meeting, its done through the internet. I think that's all to the good. Noam Chomsky organizationideasthinking Public opinion can be influential, the media can be influential. Noam Chomsky public-opinionopinionmedia In the moral calculus of currently prevailing state capitalism, profits and bonuses in the next quarter greatly outweigh concern for the welfare of one’s grandchildren, and since these are institutional maladies, they will not be easy to overcome. While much remains uncertain, we can assure ourselves, with fair confidence, that future generations will not forgive us our silence and apathy. Noam Chomsky grandchildrenforgivingsilence Policy is largely set by economic elites and organized groups representing business interests with little concern for public attitudes or public safety, as long as the public remains passive and obedient. Noam Chomsky safetyattitudelong The fact is that if you have not developed language, you simply don't have access to most of human experience, and if you don't have access to experience, then you're not going to be able to think properly. Noam Chomsky experienceablethinking I've often been struck by the extensive knowledge that people have of sports, and particularly, their self-confidence in discussing it with experts. . . . In contrast, when discussing matters of concern to human lives - their own and others - people tend to defer to experts. Noam Chomsky self-confidencesportspeople Barack Obama is an opportunist, mostly supported by the financial institutions. He had no positions on anything. He's very intelligent. If you look at his program, almost no substance. Change, hope, what's that? I mean, he had some policies, but it was almost certain that he would give them up instantly, which he did. Noam Chomsky intelligentgivingmean Predatory capitalism created a complex industrial system and an advanced technology; it permitted a considerable extension of democratic practice and fostered certain liberal values, but within limits that are now being pressed and must be overcome. It is not a fit system for the mid-twentieth century. Noam Chomsky politicaltechnologypractice
