Noam Chomsky

[Simotix]

I do not know much on him but have not read much of his writings either but was wondering what people thought of him. Also if you did like his views, what writings would you recommend?

[JKP]

As an anarchist reformist, he says things which are misleading in my opinion. He does however, write good stuff on U.S imperialism. Manufacturing consent is worth checking out.

[Amusing Scrotum]

I do not know much on him but have not read much of his writings either but was wondering what people thought of him. Also if you did like his views, what writings would you recommend?

"Hegemony or Survival" is the only proper Chomsky book I've read and its really good. I've got a few short essays of his, "Propaganda," "Doctrines and Visions" and a few others on my computer which are also really good.

I know he describes himself as an Anarchist, (which causes great offence to the Anarchist community,) or a Libertarian Socialist, which seems more accurate to me. He certainly promotes self-determination in whatever shape and he comes across as a Libertarian Republican in my opinion.

While his political views may be questionable, his critiques of American policy are brilliant and well worth reading.

[Amusing Scrotum]

As an anarchist reformist, he says things which are misleading in my opinion.

I don't get that statement. You may dislike his views, but I don't think he's "misleading" anyone.

[JKP]

Originally posted by Armchair [email protected] 18 2005, 10:14 AM

As an anarchist reformist, he says things which are misleading in my opinion.

I don't get that statement. You may dislike his views, but I don't think he's "misleading" anyone.
His sponsorship of John Kerry destroys any credibilty he had as an anarchist.

He is advocating reform, and that is mis-leading.

[Amusing Scrotum]

His sponsorship of John Kerry destroys any credibilty he had as an anarchist.

He is advocating reform, and that is mis-leading.

In your opinion it is misleading because you don't agree with him. However he probably thinks what he is doing is "right" and therefore saying he is "misleading" anyone is not correct, because it implies that he is actively doping people when all he is doing is expressing his personal opinion.

[Guerrilla22]

If you're an anarchist you should read Ward Churchill, Chomsky is too much of a libertarian.

[gewehr_3]

You should get rhapsody and listen to his CDs

[JKP]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2005, 11:25 AM
If you're an anarchist you should read Ward Churchill, Chomsky is too much of a libertarian.
Did you know that libertarianism was orginally used to describe anarchism?

[Guerrilla22]

Yeah, I know however the libertarian party, who Chomsky has advocated in the past, is very very different than any kind of anarchism. I really don't even consider libertarians to be leftist because they are in favor of absolute unrestricted trade and commerce, where as anarchist are in favor of a society free of government restrictions, they actually are two very different things.

[JKP]

Err, I don't think he ever supported the libertarian party. Got proof?

[metalero]

He has good analysis on US foreign policy, but I don't agree with his political and economical leanings. I also got dissapointed once at a conference he was giving at Univerisity of Houston, when I asked him if he considered the FARC's armed struggle as legitimate, and he told me no because peasants were afraid of them, something that crearly shows his lack of understanding of latinamerican struggle against exploitation and objective historical conditions in Colombia.

[Guerrilla22]

At timesit seems like he has, although you probaly cannot find anything where he directly says it.

[Bannockburn]

If you're in a situation, that has two choices, say to shoot yourself in the head, or slice your throat, which one would you choose? No matter what you do, you're going to end up dead. Well, the situation wasn't any less critical than the bush-kerry election. He's actually said in a few interviews, that voting for Kerry was just the opposing side of the same coin as bush. Nevertheless, it was the process of the lesser of two evils. He wasn't voting for Kerry, he was voting bush out. There is a difference. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet. In his, “Chomsky on Anarchism” he actually literally states he would rather like to see a much stronger state than what we currently have. This isn't really any different.