Conversations with History: Noam Chomsky

Original50 Says:

Nov 4, 2009 - Partly. How many CEO's, senior bankers and financial advisors have really been fired or suffered career set-back since the whistle was blown on the sub-prime slight-of-hand...? But, what about the naivity of those people that took credit on fantastical conditions? There is no such thing as a free lunch either. There should be rules in place to obstruct the wolves and also to fence in the lambs, because one man's Ferrari is just likely to be paid for by another man's homelessness...

solcypher83 Says:

Nov 4, 2009 - So then would be silly to expect these large organizations to act more moral? Wouldn't that be the best type of regulation? Mostly freeing them to act in selfish, greedy ways but knowing their is a limit? Their are drug dealers that won't sell to pregnant women, so why can't we expect this type of social awareness from our best and brightest.

wormdrink414 Says:

Nov 5, 2009 - I went through 59 minutes waiting for Noam to punch the interviewer in the face.

Rrromy Says:

Nov 5, 2009 - nice music. is that tangerine dream?

longkri Says:

Nov 5, 2009 - Hi, I am conducting a study on how youtube aids learning and I would love to get your input via a very short survey (will take less than 2 mins). You can find a link to the survey from my youtube profile. Thank you.

SomeUsefulVids Says:

Nov 7, 2009 - It is not human nature, what you describe is the nature of control. Kings, emperors, emirs, khans, the Roman Senate (a bunch of aristocrats basically) and now the modern equivalent are corporations. All on that list would have you believe the way things are are just the way it is. Educated people know better and choose to serve power and reinforce the status quo (most of them) or some like Noam just tell the truth. You're German, your own people resisted Roman imperialism for a long time.

Original50 Says:

Nov 8, 2009 - Authority (mis-)used to serve personal needs at the cost of the labour and life-quality of others is a part of human nature. It's not present at all times and in all people (such is our nature), but when given the opportunity (power) 'we' will generally extract the greatest advantage for ourselves and our closest kith and kin. Some serve/remain silent to ensure their own slice of the pie, others denounce and are called polemicists. I'm british and I've resisted misused power my whole life.

Original50 Says:

Nov 8, 2009 - I worked for MCI. Remember them? The corrosion of personal integrity is heavily influenced by the potential advantages to be gained, the likelyhood of being caught and also the presence of like-minded persons around you. Yes, it is actually silly to 'expect' morailty. If such a concept were plausible, we wouldn't need enforcers like the police or the SEC. Try and be socially aware when you own a ranch as big as Alberta, like inmate #56022-054 (Ebbers) did.

cubichita1 Says:

Nov 11, 2009 - Very interesting! I truly enjoy and admire the clarity of this thoughts. The way Chomsky orderly arranges ideas and supporting elements. Funny though... I find common aspects on the dictatorship I lived in my country (Cuba) and American Political and economical System. It's only curious to me because the two were supposed to be antagonic political systems. Not so at all.

pnggolfer9 Says:

Nov 14, 2009 - If I were Chomskty I would want to punch this guy in the face, man he is annoying. But anyways, he redeemed himself when he ask what Chomsky would tell students who might watch this video

aristopus Says:

Nov 14, 2009 - Where did they pick up this stuttering interviewer? Annoying as hell.

rrreee2 Says:

Nov 14, 2009 - I hate this guys voice so much, he has the worst voice, talks slow in a way. Typical professor maybe. Kind of sound like has has a booger in the way down his throat, a little shaky and slow

loturos Says:

Nov 15, 2009 - you should know that the guy is in his 80's. he also doesn't want to use emotional cues to try and convince anyone, just facts.

oneki Says:

Nov 16, 2009 - Could not be more correct. It is the same in my experience. the political systems may seem so different but when you live in them and look closely, some weird similarities seem to emerge and it sometimes freaks me out. Even, when you leave in supposedly "benign democracies" like Sweden / Denmark. i have lived in russia, Germany, Uk and Nigeria... they all seem weirdly alike. Well, maybe it just me.

dinomand Says:

Nov 16, 2009 - Its just you.. That would be my geuss,, There are similarities, but that is true of all systems, and that is mostly due to being made by people, and people are pretty much the same. What makes them different is mostly coincidence. But dude,,, Russia and the Uk , damn,, they are about as far apart as can be, and both being kinda democratic !!

oneki Says:

Nov 16, 2009 - Have you lived in both systems??

samerk321 Says:

Nov 16, 2009 - @pnggolfer9 at what time did he say this?

dinomand Says:

Nov 17, 2009 - No,, but have visited both and I live in denmark,, and they are just worlds apart.

oneki Says:

Nov 17, 2009 - Well, I guess different people experience different things :) I lived in in russia as a student for 7 years and worked there for a year. And I have been living and working in the uk now for 6 years. the similarities seem so apparent from social issues, to people's perception of their politicians. the whole news media making everything seem so negative, but my experience on the street are of people who are unbelieveably lovely and much more. i guess there might be more our indivdual experience

cubichita1 Says:

Nov 17, 2009 - Well, yeah! In both places, Cuba and US. The media is strongly manipulated in the best interest of the state and the "VIP" people in power. The rights and needs of the general public aren't being represented. There is absolutely no transparency on the way government operates. And most importantly a "regular citizen" has very little power, if any, to really organize and fight effectively to achieve the so desired changes! In Cuba was Castro and allies, in the US f... evil corporations.

dinomand Says:

Nov 18, 2009 - On that we agree Oneki people do experience things differently, My interest are political and economic and I tend to se differences in those areas. Social issues just dont register as loudly with me, but you are sertenly right when saying that peoples perseptions and thinking, hopes and fears are very simmilar around the world..

asf4321 Says:

Nov 21, 2009 - dr. chomsky... whether you like it or not... you are my hero

ComradeFlorian28 Says:

Nov 21, 2009 - If Chomsky did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him

adeadlysniper Says:

Nov 24, 2009 - This may seem odd, but I was wondering if anybody knew any other authors who write about the same issues as Chomsky (social-anarchism, US foreign policy, workers' solidarity, etc). I know it's a vague question, but really any names would be great. Thanks.

sisyphusdy75 Says:

Nov 24, 2009 - Howard Zinn and Barbara Ehrenreich