Search - Noam Chomsky :: Free Market Fantasies Capitalism in the Real World

Find out why Capitalism isn't always good for folks

George J. Kloss | Butler, NJ United States | 05/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great summation of thought on the American "ideal" of Capitalism. Mr. Chomsky says things so well and effortlessly that you drink in the information in gulps. He simplifies and exposes the political system that has used Capitalism to keep people happy and oblivious. His ideas are intense and powerful but easy to grasp and see. You actually see how things like the defense industry; unions and laws have been used to turn America's "Capitalism" into a tool of power and corruption.This is a great introduction to the issue of how the American Government and Corporations have teamed up to use the working class of the USA and other countries. The economy does "well" which makes it possible for the "haves" to get more of what the "have-nots" don't have."

Great lecture, quality issues are overplayed

slain | pennsylvania | 12/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"there are some complaints here about the quality of the recording... well, it's a lecture for crying out loud. this isn't a live recording of music where recording quality complaints would be very reasonable. is the quality good enough to hear mr. chomsky? certainly. in fact, the recording sounds like what you'd expect to hear if you attended a lecture. so it's not a soundboard recording... big deal. as for the actual content of the cd, this is chomsky at his eye opening best. it helps to have a good base in chomsky theories & recent american history, as not all is explained in detail. but overall the lecture is very accessible. surely there is something here to get anyone with an open mind thinking about capitalism & the US role in the world."

Honesty really is a rarity today.

Timothy P. Scanlon | Hyattsville, MDUSA | 05/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If one is looking for an honest assessment of, say, the economy, or of where our country appears to be heading, the "mainstream" media are NOT the source. In fact, that's one of Dr. Chomsky's primary claims; he often refers to government/media plots (without using the word plot.)In this lecture, he refers to the media, while referring to Massachusett's then-governor William Weld as a religious, free-marketer, NOT making reference to Weld's heading to Washington "hat-in-hand" to collect money to make up for the deregulation that over-fished some of the most productive fishing waters off the Massachusetts coast. (There was, of course, an excuse for that over-harvest. In this case, it was an alleged predator--not then, or ever found, but, well, there MUST have been one, right?)I've listened to this several times, often do while doing yard work or other menial tasks seldom undertaken by area Republican "conservatives." Suffice it to say it puts economic myths to rest. If you read the papers, or, even worse, rely on radio or television for information, what you're hearing is of about as much intellectual substance as any fairy tale. However, the vast majority of us do not live happily ever after. This is among the lectures describing why that's true."