Chomsky

[IcarusAngel]

Often considered the libertarians "worst nightmare," Chomsky gives a talk @ google on linguistic theories and politics. Worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnLWSC5p1XE

[Holden Caulfield]

most of what Chomsky says is worth listening to,

i started a thread in learning called 'learning from youtube' with a few Chomsky videos posted on it,

[RevolutionaryKluffinator]

Chomsky is most definetly worth listening to and above all reading.

He was extremely influential to the formation of my own radical political beliefs.

I can't say I agree with him all the time but, he is a very deep thinker, very analytical.
His ideas are right on.

[Bud Struggle]

This is particularly nice:

"In many respects, the United States is the freest country in the world. I don't just mean in terms of limits on state coercion, though that's true too, but also in terms of individual relations. The United States comes closer to classlessness in terms of interpersonal relations than virtually any society." Chomsky, Noam. 2003. Chomsky on Democracy & Education. Routledge. p. 399

[Killfacer]

poltically he seems pretty right on. But does he actually DO anything apart from think? (thats a genuine question)

[Kropotesta]

This is particularly nice:

"In many respects, the United States is the freest country in the world. I don't just mean in terms of limits on state coercion, though that's true too, but also in terms of individual relations. The United States comes closer to classlessness in terms of interpersonal relations than virtually any society." Chomsky, Noam. 2003. Chomsky on Democracy & Education. Routledge. p. 399
point?

[Bud Struggle]

point?

Of all the countries in the world Chomsky thinks America is the most free and the most classless. I think that's pretty good for a Capitalist society, don't you? :)

[Kropotesta]

Of all the countries in the world Chomsky thinks America is the most free and the most classless. I think that's pretty good for a Capitalist society, don't you? :)
He did say virtually. A capitalist society, yes, but compared to what? Other capitalist societies?

[Bud Struggle]

He did say virtually. A capitalist society, yes, but compared to what? Other capitalist societies?

No he meant all societies--Communist included. He never specificly excluded Communist societies.

Maybe if Communists want a trully free and classless society--they should join the CP-USA and vote for Obama.

[Dean]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/06/2008624202053652281.html Chomsky on American Politics and Public interest

[Led Zeppelin]

Of all the countries in the world Chomsky thinks America is the most free and the most classless. I think that's pretty good for a Capitalist society, don't you? :)

Eh, who cares about what Chomsky thinks besides some liberals and pseudo-anarchists?

[Demogorgon]

Eh, who cares about what Chomsky thinks
Linguists?

[RevolutionaryKluffinator]

At the same time Chomsky points out something that I completely agree with about freedom in the USA or any capitalist country claiming to be a "democracy."

"In operative reality, freedom in a capitalist society, like everything else, becomes a kind of commodity; one can have as much as one can purchase. In a wealthy society, much of the population can purchase quite a substantial amount, but the formal guarantees mean little to those who lack resources to avail themselves of them."
p.150 Chomsky On Anarchism

He also completely agrees with Rudolf Rocker's statement, "Democracy with its motto of equality of all citizens before the law and liberalism with its right of man over his own person both were wrecked on the realities of capitalist economy."

But, as far as interpersonal relations go, he is correct in some ways. We have a very distinct and visible class system in the USA but, I know from my own experience that there aren't any government restrictions on members of the lower class being friends with member of the upper class.

Chomsky is one of the harshest critics of United States-style democracy. He believes that "capitalist democracy" is a flat out contradiction.

[Led Zeppelin]

Linguists?

They used to, not anymore though.

[RevolutionaryKluffinator]

Well, Hugo Chavez reads Noam Chomsky and, whether you like him or not, that's a major world leader that Noam Chomsky has influenced. So, yes, people do pay attention to him.

[Led Zeppelin]

Well, Hugo Chavez reads Noam Chomsky and, whether you like him or not, that's a major world leader that Noam Chomsky has influenced. So, yes, people do pay attention to him.

Chavez also said he was a Trotskyist...

[RevolutionaryKluffinator]

Chavez has said he is a Maoist and a Trotskyist. Seems like a complete contradiction to me but, I'm not a Maoist, Totskyist, or Chavista .

[dirtycommiebastard]

Well, Hugo Chavez reads Noam Chomsky and, whether you like him or not, that's a major world leader that Noam Chomsky has influenced. So, yes, people do pay attention to him.

He also reads a lot of the IMT's material. While speaking to the PSUV, he quoted a few lines from Trotsky used in Bolshevism by Alan Woods, underlining the importance of the revolutionary party.

Can you link to where he said he was a Maoist?

[RevolutionaryKluffinator]

Chavez said, "I have been a Maoist since I entered military school," in his 2005 Speech at the World Social Forum.

Unfortunately, I do not have enough posts to post the link yet. But, you can google the speech and should find it.

[Bud Struggle]

Chavez said, "I have been a Maoist since I entered military school," in his 2005 Speech at the World Social Forum.

Unfortunately, I do not have enough posts to post the link yet. But, you can google the speech and should find it.

Here you go:

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/South_America/CapitalismSavagery_Chavez.html

Friends and Enemies.

I have been a Maoist since I entered military school, I read Che Guevara, I read Bolivar and his speeches and letters, becoming a Bolivarian Maoist, a mixture of all that. Mao says that it is imperative, for every revolutionary, to determine very clearly who are your friends and who are your enemies...


...A big hug, I love you all very much, a big hug to everybody, Many, many thanks.


And a big hug back at you! :wub: :lol:

[Kropotesta]

No he meant all societies--Communist included.
"In many regards"


He never specificly excluded Communist societies.

Maybe if Communists want a trully free and classless society--they should join the CP-USA and vote for Obama.
What communist societies are these? Surely you're not reffering to the USSR or China!

[Bud Struggle]

What communist societies are these? Surely you're not reffering to the USSR or China!

Please do name a "free" Communist society! :)

[Kropotesta]

Please do name a "free" Communist society! :)
Me naming a communist society isn't up for contension :p
I'm sure the 'free terrority' in the Ukraine, anarchist terrority in Korea, anarchist Catalonia and the Paris Commune, all of which may have not lasted for a very substanial amount of time but I'm pretty sure they were alot more classless than the contemporay USA.

[MarxSchmarx]

Please do name a "free" Communist society! :)

In 1775, if I asked you to name a "successful" republic, you would have been hard-pressed to come up with a good answer.

After all, the powers of the day (France, Turkey, China, Spain, Britain) were essentially quite authoritarian and monarchical. They had "proved" the futility of comparatively democratic republics like Athens, Iceland, Venice, and the Five Nations.:rolleyes:

[Zazaban]

I wonder why this is in Opposing Ideologies?

[Bud Struggle]

In 1775, if I asked you to name a "successful" republic, you would have been hard-pressed to come up with a good answer.

After all, the powers of the day (France, Turkey, China, Spain, Britain) were essentially quite authoritarian and monarchical. They had "proved" the futility of comparatively democratic republics like Athens, Iceland, Venice, and the Five Nations.:rolleyes:

You know, that's the best answer I've ever gotten to that question.

Tuche!

I don't think though, it fits in with Marx's or Hegel's idea of progression of history. I could be wrong there--I'm no expert.

[RGacky3]

Eh, who cares about what Chomsky thinks besides some liberals and pseudo-anarchists?

Who cares what anyone says?

Chomsky has a great ability to look at the big picture, and he also does a LOT of research in his books, he writes great books and they are great for seeing what Leftists already know in concrete terms, given all his research.

TomK, I would probably agree with him when he talks about the US as being free, that does'nt justify anything though, generally after he says that he goes on to describe the type of propeganda system the US has, which is also very accurate, and which the US needs to uphold its class system, since it can't use violence or restrict freedom (its tried that in the past).

A good book to read in my Opinion is Chomsky on Anarchism, most of his other books talk about American Imperialism and the such, stuff we already know.

[Red Flag Rising]

Chavez will say anything he thinks is a good idea at the time. I doubt he's read a word of Chomsky.

Is Chomsky a revolutionist? A Marxist? A socialist? If not, fuck him. So fuck him.

[gla22]

Chomsky is a libertarian socialist.

[trivas7]

Chavez will say anything he thinks is a good idea at the time. I doubt he's read a word of Chomsky.

Is Chomsky a revolutionist? A Marxist? A socialist? If not, fuck him. So fuck him.
I suspect that you're wrong re Chavez not having read any Chomsky, but I admire your directness.

[RGacky3]

Originally Posted by Red Flag Rising http://www.revleft.com/vb/revleft/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.revleft.com/vb/chomsky-t82555/showthread.php?p=1183625#post1183625)
Chavez will say anything he thinks is a good idea at the time. I doubt he's read a word of Chomsky.

Is Chomsky a revolutionist? A Marxist? A socialist? If not, fuck him. So fuck him.
I suspect that you're wrong re Chavez not having read any Chomsky, but I admire your directness.

I admire it too, I always admire people who have strong opinions about things they have very little if any information on.

[Bud Struggle]

I admire it too, I always admire people who have strong opinions about things they have very little if any information on.

:lol::lol::lol: Good one.