The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum. That gives people the sense that there's free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate." [Page 234]
Or, as I keep telling my wife, "If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you."
Chomsky’s ideas become, if anything, more relevant as time goes by. For example, twenty years ago he pointed out that in 1970, about 90% of international capital was used for trade and long-term investment - more or less productive things - and 10% for speculation. By 1990, those figures had reversed. Speculation continues to increase exponentially and we're paying the price now for not heeding him them.
Après moi, le déluge!
