Noam Chomsky: Donald Trump is a Distraction

[bucolic_frolic]

[Varaddem]

1. Brilliant

I’ve noticed that some of these huge changes are only getting a few minutes of air time. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[alwaysinasnit]

2. This is what we have to keep in mind and not put all our hopes on Mueller and the

mid-terms. The Republican know this and likely are planning/working to nullify our hopes. Can we start creative discussions about Plan B, Plan C, etc. just in case the Mueller investigation/mid-term elections don't pan out?

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Surely some have thought of such plans

but not me, I've not had time ... what have you in mind?

[alwaysinasnit]

6. There is material out there that says it only takes about 3.5% of the population to topple a

dictator.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/01/worried-american-democracy-study-activist-techniques

This may provide a start on ideas we can use to mobilize just enough people in an organized fashion to effectuate change. I am just starting to look into this stuff and would like to work with anyone on how we can build a unified movement.

Any thoughts?

[bucolic_frolic]

7. I would say

don't restrict your efforts to online isolation, there are surely constructive groups already in most any county in America, there are women's groups, #MeToo, environmental groups, union and workers groups, and Democratic Party county committees. Join one or two, attend local events. One person is but an idea, but two people can change the world. In this time of nearly full employment, party volunteer hours are in short supply for sure, so it's a great time to reach out to them. While people have diverse views on what to do and how to do it, finding folks who work toward the same goals is empowering.

[pecosbob]

3. Every act of this administration needs to be undone

[bucolic_frolic]

5. It's all tainted with illegitimacy

Things have happened that would not otherwise have occurred

[Honeycombe8]

8. I remember a warning he gave after 9/11.

He was being interviewed...I think on Charlie Rose show. The drum beats were going on about invading Iraq. Chomsky spoke about that being foolish and irresponsible, partly because Iraq was no threat. That the two greatest threats to the world at that time were Iran and North Korea, and their nuclearization. He said that a war with Iraq would distract from those two threats and serve no purpose to help with terrorism, anyway.

Well, we know what happened. We destroyed Iraq, killed tens of thousands of people. It made terrorism worse, since it opened the area to terrorists (that Saddam Hussein had been keeping at bay). And Iran and N Korea got further along in their nuclearization efforts.

Noam Chomsky is a very smart man. He describes a terrible situation...I see it clearly, when he explains it.

I hope there's a way out of this. I hope and pray that Trump is indicted or impeached. I hope we win the Blue Wave so we can take back Congress.

Thank you for this video! Where did you find it?

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Just use the YouTube

Once it gets accustomed to a few of the ones you watch, it just pops up a new batch everytime you visit the site. Membership not required. And it mixes old ones with recent ones, as well as ones that happened just minutes ago.

[Honeycombe8]

11. Oh, yeah. I use Youtube all the time.

I don't get things THAT interesting. Guess it's ME! Thanks.

[pecosbob]

9. A problem from my perspective vis-a-vis posting here and DU's stated goals

Last edited Fri Jul 13, 2018, 10:18 PM - Edit history (1)

We're watching a struggle play out between Capitalism and Democracy. Democracy strives to coexist with Capitalism while Capitalism strives to eradicate Democracy. I say for the umpteenth time, courting having another post hidden, Dems are complicit and need to cleanse themselves of corporate ties and the dirty money that allows them to pull strings.

[zentrum]

13. Thank you.Agree.

Good Luck here.

[KPN]

16. FYI -- there was an excellent opinion piece in Bloomberg News this morning (7/14)

regarding capitalism and it's likely political future. In a nutshell, the younger the American voter, the lower the likelihood of a favorable view re: capitalism; and the reverse re: socialism. The article includes poll data supporting this. My take away: if we can just keep democracy breathing and alive long enough, capitalism will eventually get reined in and replaced with western European-style socialism.

I'm not a subscriber so I can't get back to it -- used up my free access -- to get and post a link and excerpts here. But it is well worth the read for those who do have access.

[YOHABLO]

12. He's right: put the clown show, the shit show, out there for everyone to entertain themselves

vis a vis TRUMP, and in the mean time, the Republicans are dismantling our Democracy and our country.

[Drake Notthesinger]

14. "Elysium"

The rich and powerful will be just fine!

[McKim]

15. We Need More of This

We need more of this information to get out into the world. I would like to see less reaction to to
Trump’s antics and deeper thinking like this on this website. Let’s think strategically for the long haul.