Chomsky comes out against NSA surveillance

[Enrique]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/19/nsa-surveillance-attack-american-citizens-noam-chomsky

The actions of the US government in spying on its and other countries' citizens have been sharply criticised by Noam Chomsky, the prominent political thinker, as attacks on democracy and the people.

"Governments should not have this capacity. But governments will use whatever technology is available to them to combat their primary enemy – which is their own population," he told the Guardian.

In his first public comment on the scandal that has enveloped the US, UK and other governments, as well as internet companies such as Google and Microsoft, Chomsky said he was not overly surprised technology and corporations were being used in this way.

"This is obviously something that should not be done. But it is a little difficult to be too surprised by it," he said. "They [governments and corporations] take whatever is available, and in no time it is being used against us, the population. Governments are not representative. They have their own power, serving segments of the population that are dominant and rich."

(...)

[darkangel218]

1. I didnt expect any less of Mr Chomsky

Anyone in their right mind would be against national surveillance.

[xchrom]

2. Du rec. Nt

[corkhead]

3. time to throw Chomsky under the DU bus

[Egalitarian Thug]

8. I saw him being thrown under there four years ago. That's the problem with having

so many people down here, it's almost impossible to keep track.

Is there anyone, other than republicans of course, still on the bus?

[MineralMan]

4. You go, Noam!

No much interest in linguistics these days, I suppose. Politics, however, is always of interest. As a "prominent political thinker," you might as well write about this. It's easy stuff, too, unlike linguistic theory. Have fun!

Libertarian anarcho-syndicalistic socialism needs all of the "prominent political thinkers" it can muster.

[Enrique]

5. he is 85 years old

whatever you think of him, he is a hardworking guy. I see interviews and question-and-answer sessions where I can imagine how old it must get to him, you can see how tired he looks and yet he keeps doing them. And he puts a lot more thought into it than a lot of people I see. I know someone who emailed him and he actually answered her at length. I've read he spends hours every day answering such emails.

[MineralMan]

6. Yes. I'm aware of his age, thanks.

While I found his linguistic theories very interesting in my college days, I'm less fond of his political views, in much the same way as I am not fond of the views of Ron Paul (pbuh).

[leftstreet]

14. You're comparing Chomsky to Ron Paul? Are you high? n/t

[MineralMan]

15. Am I?

I don't know. It's possible, though.

[LWolf]

7. Did anyone think he would be FOR it???

He is correct.

[RoccoR5955]

10. If Chomsky was for it

I would have thought that he had some sort of brain incident, or something.

No, he would NEVER be for NSA snooping, because if they have files on anyone, they have a HUGE file on him!

[RitchieRich]

12. saw him speak at FAU a couple years ago

it was inspiring, also very sad as so few students stayed for the whole thing.
I would hold him as a definition of selflessness and of patriotism.

The title did seem a bit confusing. It seemed to imply that it was unexpected.

[LWolf]

13. That is sad.

He has so much to offer the next generation.

[allin99]

9. how racist of him

maybe he should join the racist aclu organization.

[ctsnowman]

11. K & R

[Flying Squirrel]

16. What took him so long? n/t