The President, The Pandemic & the Election
We are in “unchartered territory,” as the media incessantly remind us. We are on the eve of an election amidst a pandemic. The president has declared in advance that the election is a “hoax,” it is “rigged.” He would not even commit to saying he would honor the outcome. “We’ll see what happens,” he says. He knew early on how deadly the coronavirus was, telling Bob Woodward it’s a “killer“ and a “plague.” And yet in public continued with happy talk: “It’ll just go away…It’s fading…And we have it totally under control.” In addition to a colossal Covid-19 failure, he has whipped some of his supporters into a frenzy. Vigilante groups, men with guns, threaten to kidnap governors. Things are not just getting “curiouser and curiouser” as Alice would say but more and more dangerous.
Interview by David Barsamian.
Speaker
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky, by any measure, has led a most extraordinary life. In one index he is ranked as the eighth most cited person in history, right up there with Aristotle, Shakespeare, Marx, Plato and Freud. His contributions to modern linguistics are legendary. In addition to his pioneering work in that field, he has been a leading voice for peace and social justice for many decades. Chris Hedges says he is “America’s greatest intellectual” who “makes the powerful, as well as their liberal apologists, deeply uncomfortable.” The New Statesman calls him “the conscience of the American people.” He is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT and Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Haury Chair in the Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona. At 95, he continues to inform and inspire people all over the world. He is the author of scores of books, his latest are Consequences of Capitalism, Chronicles of Dissent and Notes on Resistance.
Jody in upstate New York –
I listened to Noam Chomsky talk about President Trump and his talk was very insightful, informative and educational. Trump has been a very scary president but no where near as scary as the political system that allowed him to become president—someone so incompetent and unqualified and hateful and self consumed—thats really really scary.
melissa d martin –
I listen to Noam on WAMC public radio. Our earth is slowly disappearing. We need to support local small farms. Changing our lifestyles is one of the steps towards restoring the soil. He is brilliant. Thank you!
In gratitude
Melissa Martin
Dandelion Hill Farm
hmettee2 –
Noam Chomsky keeps exceeding himself with his analyses of the “Good Ship America”!
Elaine –
I listened to this last night on my local public radio station (WAMC). It was brilliant. Every person in this country needs to hear it.
Jerome R Cronk –
Everyone should read this.
lizannm –
Alternative Radio is my gateway to an educational understanding of US and global concepts and catastrophes. Noam Chomsky explains and puts critical facts into focus. In this interview, he confirms that our constitution was once progressive but now this document enslaves us. I never knew the history of our Senate. This explains a lot. What was not good about the Senate when it was created is now far worse. A democracy must evolve if a society is to survive and the constitution should be interpreted by modern thinking. The news focus is on the election and the pandemic and far more critical dangerous realities are not front and center where they need to be and those are the climate catastrophe and the threat of nuclear war. I also am very fearful of what Trump will do if he loses the election but still has 3 months in office to unleash his impulsive anger to destroy whatever he can in the US and around the world.
Connie Hudgeons –
I’ve been a Chomsky fan since 1973 when I heard him at Southern Illinois University. I am always amazed at his analytical depth of thought and his ability to put the “puzzle” together for those of us who only wish we could think like him. Thank you for sharing this interview with one of the world’s great intellects. Of course, if you listen to AR, he’s really only preaching to the choir. Long live Chomsky!