Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) by Noam Chomsky (PDF)

Description

These interviews, conducted in 1993 and 1994, touch on a range of domestic and international topics from corporate welfare and free trade to gun control and religious fundamentalism

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Noam Chomsky is Institute Professor of Linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the author of many books on U.S. foreign policy.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I did not like this book.

⭐… then this is not it. It can’t be. Noam Chomsky, who has been exposing the lies of entrenched governmental and corporate power for half a century, gives snapshots of complex cases (due to the wide-ranging nature of this short volume) and does not go into the detail to make any of it convincing in itself. This is necessary given the scope of the slim work, but he makes enough points, as any skillful seminar lecturer would, for the thoughtful and serious student to follow themselves. He points the way, we must follow This short work, published in 1994, shows both his command of information (he and his researchers keep voluminous records of the abuses of power by those groups, often culled from quite public sources), his commitment to reason, and his refusal to downplay anything. Criminality is criminality, regardless of the perpetrators. For readers who believe that the United States (its government and power centers in business and finance) are forces for good in the world, this book will come as a shock. For those who have been, like Dorothy and her Oz friends, looking behind the curtain, this will show that, as FRELIMO and other fighters for independence across southern Africa said then, “A luta continua.”

⭐This is an interesting pamphlet of interviews by David Barsamian with Noam Chomsky, which covers a wide collection of topics from defective democracy, health care, religious fundamentalism, the CIA and the media.The central thrust of these interviews focuses on the corporatization of our democratic system. In one interview, Chomsky cites Thomas Jefferson’s warning or fear, made at the end of his life, stating, that, the elites, aristocrats, “fear and distrust of the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes.” Democrats on the other hand, “identify with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise, depository of the public interest.” What Jefferson was saying is that the people should have the reigns of power; we should be in control, and not the centralized, powerful elites. Jefferson’s greatest fear was the “banking institutions and monied incorporations” (big business) and if they were allowed to influence politics, they would eventually run the entire show, benefiting the few at the exclusion of the majority. It is here, throughout this text, that Chomsky offers several examples how corporate America and big business internationally, influence our democratic system where, economically the “little guy’ suffers while big business gets bigger as our basic wages plummet. In other terms, the rich get richer, the gap between rich and poor widens and only the few benefit.One has only to look at the statistical indicators of countries around the world, comparing rich and poor sovereign states to see that nothing is changing for the better in developing countries but steadily getting worse, while the small percentage of rich countries, ironically exploiting these poorer countries, are improving their wealth. The gap is widening, particularly over the past thirty years, doubling the wealth in the top twenty percent, while the low twenty percent has become much poorer. These statistics speak for themselves, and there are reasons for this dramatic shift in wealth.Politicians’ incestuous connection to the corporate sector is well documented. Tax breaks for the rich, while the man or woman on basic wages supporting a family can pay, in some cases, more tax than a CEO. Our politicians for the obvious reasons protect the corporate sector: campaign contributions, personal investment, etc. Jefferson’s fear and warning in the early 19th century against banking institutions and monied corporations involvement in politics has been realized.Chomsky, in most cases, backs his arguments with statistical data and historical documentation that can be researched and checked by any interested individual. His words are never rhetorical, ad hominem arguments or self-righteous condemnations to push a personal agenda. He speaks about fact, revealing injustice and at times crimes against the common citizen that should not be ignored. This little book is a good starting point for further research into economic and international affairs.

⭐I disagree with Chomsky on many fronts to the point of irritation, finding that his research appears to consist primarily of what he reads (e.g., without talking to people more in the know), his opinions are slanted towards the most negative/conspiracy theory perspective (e.g., his interpretation on p. 56 that Clinton’s encouragement of people to go to church is “…straightforward. If people devote themselves to activities that are out of the public arena, then we folks in power will be able to run things the way we want”), and he generally complains without recognizing the full picture (for instance, his prediction on p. 20 that Alabama’s offering tax breaks to Daimler Benz would have negative consequences for most of its citizens, despite more recent aftermath reports that Alabama significantly benefitted) or offering a better alternative. But this book is a good readable summary of some of his views, and he does have a few good points (such as, how people are distracted from participating in democracy–though Chomsky misses the extent to which less intellectual people are not interested in participating–and the extent to which people need to organize to get political power (though the list of organizations at the conclusion of the book is wide-ranging, and emphasis is placed upon the groups’ stated missions without recognition of their tactics, some of which are highly questionable).

⭐Chomsky and I disagree on a lot, but he offers some compelling insight into the organizations that usurp modern democracy. Organizations such as the CIA and the media, for example. He also has thoughts about gun control, fundamentalism, and even sports.I’d reccommend it for anyone interested in wanting to know more about the world around them, or about Chomsky’s views.

⭐This book is made up of interview with Noam Chomsky. The book was edited and published in 1994 which makes it old. However, I do believe that it’s relevant today and not much has changed when it should have. The book consists of several facts and he tells us where he’s getting his information from which is helpful when doing your own research. I recommended this book to those whom are interested in learning about the secrets and lies that we hear everyday.It’s a short book and readers should have an open mind while reading it.

⭐he never fails to amaze me. chomskey is the middle-man between near-unobtainable knowledge and the interested public. Anyone who wants to really know the truth and not just a bunch of impartial, unjustified and most often distorted lies, pick up a chomskey book and read.

⭐Really good value.

Keywords

Free Download Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) in PDF format
Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) PDF Free Download
Download Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) 2002 PDF Free
Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) 2002 PDF Free Download
Download Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series) PDF
Free Download Ebook Secrets, Lies and Democracy (The Real Story Series)