Propaganda and the Public Mind Book

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Issues it covers: Activism and public outcry against the MIA, as well as a description of what the MIA means (note: you can find a better description of the MIA and WTO challenge in David Suzuki's new book, "Good News"); history of America's involvement in East Timor; discussion of the land mines, agent organge, dioxin, and napalm (see Sandra Steingraber's "Living Downstream" for important scientific look at what dioxin actually does to the human body - rest assured it is not good); the privitization of the Internet; critique of modern economic theory; an analysis of international debt peonage; as usual, discussion of America's dirty roll in Guatamala and other Latin American coutries; analysis of intellecutual property/patenting rights (better discussed in "Against the Grain," by Lappe); critique of the Health Care system; interesting biographical information (e.g., he taught Hebrew out of his house in the early days); penetrating discussion of Amartya Sen's book, "The Black Book of Communism" (if Communism is responsible for 100 million deaths, how many deaths has capitalism claim?? -- very original stuff here); interesting facts about Plan Colombia (slightly different version of what he says in "Rogue States"); critique of the UN and Nato; discussion of the Isreal/Palestine issue (his unstated speciality); a critique of media propaganda and Freedom of Information Act (What freedom? What information?); critique of privitization (in schools, in the health industry, etc.); very fascinating analysis of "socialized risk" and "externalized debt," that is making the public pay for things it didn't purchase, ask for, or need in the first place; analysis of the meaning of Seatle Riots; and facts on American aid to genocidal or human-rights-violating nations, among other things.

One of the world's foremost linguists, Chomsky explains how language has been used to serve the interest of the individual presenting a message. This tendency has been enhanced manyfold with the inroads of technology, from radio on to television, to the current period of cable TV and a never ending procession of talking heads seeking to entertain more than intellectually enlighten. Chomsky illustrates how Newt Gingrich and his Contract with America public relations campaign sought to manipulate minds through the use of supercharged terminology in a manner that he contends would have left British political visionary George Orwell roaring with laughter.

A thorough reading of this work attunes one to how Chomsky approaches his research, and how those interested in researching important political topics might proceed on their own. On the subject of international politics, particularly military actions, Chomsky relies significantly on Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. He devotes strong emphasis to the East Timor tragedy and the appallingly insignificant attention it received from the mainstream media. Chomsky also laments how little attention was given to the assassination of Bishop Romero in El Salvador compared to any putatively comparable events occurring in nations of the former Soviet bloc or Cuba.

Chomsky leaves no doubt that he is his own person. Contrary to a criticism made of him that he is an ideologue first and always without a consciousness toward pragmatic political considerations, Chomsky makes the point that voting considerations need to be oriented toward a practical result. A decision can be made to support a particular candidate not because Chomsky holds a basic affinity toward him, but because a practical goal can be realized by supporting that individual.

Chomsky's encyclopedic mind and affinity for research are communicated impressively in this series of interviews with Barsmaniam. He communicates the need for the interested political participant to observe the entire picture after undertaking research.