NSE #33 | Noam Chomsky with Paul Mattick

Legendary linguist, author, historian, and political commentator Noam Chomsky joins the Rail community for a hopeful discussion on democracy during the pandemic and beyond. A thoughtful leader in political discourse, Chomsky chats with the Rail’s Field Notes editor, Paul Mattick and engages with some of our audience members for an unforgettable discussion. In response to the imminent crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brooklyn Rail shifted our operations online. These New Social Environments provide a place to have vibrant conversations in a time of great physical distancing.

Here’s a look back at an interview with Chomsky and Mattick from our Dec 16–Jan 17 issue, directly after the Trump election, “Work can be undertaken to create an authentic independent political party, a real party, based on popular participation from the ground up, not a top-down candidate producing organization like the two official parties, working from school boards to state legislatures and beyond. Not easy in the regressive U.S. political system, but not impossible. The labor movement can be rebuilt, as has happened before after sharp declines. Major efforts have to be undertaken to bring the general public to understand the real reasons for their plight, and the possibilities for radical social and political change to construct meaningful popular control of all institutions—in communities, in the workplace, in the larger society, and on to the international order. No slight challenge, but the stakes are very high: literally, the survival of organized human society in any decent form.”⁠

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[AudioPervert]

"if we let them forge the future world..."
Alas they already have... Thank you Noam Chomsky for a lifetime of honesty and clarity. Long Live !!

[tomkelly]

I got a Noam Chomsky book out of the Baltimore County Public Library in high school because I knew his name from a NOFX song I liked in middle school. I remember reading the word capitalism several times without having any idea what it meant, which feels ridiculous now but I was just a bro who slept through all his classes and dreamt about all the tricks I wanted to learn on my skateboard. Eventually, after reading the word probably 20 times, I decided I had to stop being lazy and finally look capitalism up in the dictionary. I'm 28 now and I just finished reading the three volumes of Capital this past summer in quarantine as well as Paul Matticks Essays on Capital. Anyway the real hero of this story is Fat Mike from NOFX. Interview him next. Lol.

[octavioboris]

A TRUE TEACHER AND THE THE GREATES PROPHET OF OUR TIME! DO I NEED TO SAY MORE?

[elainemaldonado]

This human being is GOD sent to open up our eyes and see as a whole what is really going on not only in the United states but of the world Amazing so much knowledge and wisdom

[ruthdenova]

Professor Noam Chomsky a universal intellectual, a legend and my brother; who professes the truth to the people of the mind, who gives vision to others to know the reality of the evil powers of evil politicians and their accomplices and, their evil avarice for world domination.
All my respects and my profound gratitude to you
Sir Noam Chomsky.

[sureshthulsi]

Invaluable insight and vision for a better society.

[travismalone]

The part about the Davos conference at 24:55 is absolutely captivating.

[troy]

Thank you, Brooklyn Rail, for this wonderful presentation. Excellent format, thoughtful discussion, well executed.

[gortagnan]

Is it possible to provide sub titles or links to This or other words written up (esp’ those of N.C.) as although I have a reasonable broadband, it is very sad and important to me to ‘hear’ his revealing breakdown of what is really going on globally...I apologise but wonder who else has this problem of hearing the whole session ??

[e.a.wtzipporah]

Great interview everyone should listen to him

[kenelkind]

Our only hope for leaving something positive to our progeny is Groovism! As a globally given, instinct driven, belief system, with a mission of uniting humanity globally, we believe this as fulfilling the foreseen epiphany!!

[DownMichael]

He is my teacher. I may initially disagree but eventually I agree with him.

[Dream-bebe]

....The race to the abyss ... more funding to the already bloated military... the present ludicrously called free trade ...get rid of the malignancy in the White House 😝...I just love how he dissects complex topics and subjects so eloquently I can listen to Prof. Chomsky for hours 🙏🏽😍

[siriusvenus]

Circa 3 years ago I had a "dream" that I was teleported to a 5-Star General (US) group of men, wearing military uniforms stackked to their chins with various highest medals of honor. Trump was there. I saw them and began singing "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath. The generals began laughing as did Trump, except for one of the men who glarred at me in what appeared to be a confused mixture of affirmation and sublimated rage (or memorries of that song perhaps). One or ttwo weeks later, a military Bill was approved allowing a huge multi-billion $ increase in military spending and for the branches of the US military. My singing this song brought on only laughter from these military commanders. They treated this sentiment like a joke. I should really say that I was teleported to these men but not transported by what ensued. My sense of the situation was that Trump brought me forth to protest what probably was a conditionality of Trump's ascension into power. The governing military leaders exerted pressure to get huge excessive increases in military spending, not Trump deciding that this was the best course of action. When people "blame" Trump for his decisions, it's also prudent to look beyond the easily blamed leader and ignore the forces behind many of these decisions. To obtain power at that high level, means having to accept conditions from the groups supporting the ascension to power and giving way to what they want. Power lobbies and other groups are examples of this kind of give-and-take. The military is by no means "innocent" and Trump is far from being the sole guilty party. That is what is missing from the larger, general dialogue and I think should be more addressed when critiquing a situation so multi-faceted.

[kennethmarshall]

I can’t believe that in 2020
he’s still the go to man for political analysis

[kennypyper]

Does anyone know where one finds the info Noam gets his hands
On . where do you begin to find the. Stuff he can find .

[n.j]

As a Chinese in Israel, I have to say Pro. Noam Chomsky understand worldwide humanities, but he doesnt really understand the China government ambition or huge plan. It is very difficult to really understand the country from medias. It is a very good case study to learn about difference among nation, culture, country, government, controllers., and about how people strive under Pyramid structure.
For what has happened and is happening, no countries could run from it.

[edward]

Seriously, "the most noted linguist in the world", can't find an AV tech intern who can help him with a microphone that works!
The irony.

[sonnycorbi]

MR. CHOMSKY - I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME - EVERYTHING YOU SAY COULD BE PUT INTO ONE LARGE BOOK - INSTEAD OF ALL THESE BOOKS YOU’VE WRITTEN - WOULD YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME TOWARDS ONE ESSAY ON PLEASANT THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN - JUST ONE -

I HAVE THE UPMOST ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR YOU - BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH -

I SHUDDER TO THINK IF DOCTOR KRAUSS, YOUR ANOINTED DISCIPLE, (OF WHO I ABSOLUTELY ADMIRE AND LOOK UP TO), SHOULD SEE THE COMMENT I JUST POSTED -

[addis]

@1.28 he talks about the reason of trade war is because of envy of technological development which can develop poor countries