202202051034 Aljazeera interview Norm Chomsky [[Noam Chomsky]] [[05-02-2022]] https://www.aljazeera.com/program/upfront/2022/2/4/noam-chomsky-republican-party-has-drifted-off-the-spectrum #Democracy #policy --- ## Is US still a Democracy? We have a mixed form of democracy in US. In some way, quite advance in protective of privilege. On the other hand, political system does not represent population. There are extensive study, which ask simple questions "Whats the relationship between people attitude and own representative". 90% showed no correlations. Representatives listening to other voices, instead of the people. Donors led, to finance the next election. Can predict electability by looking at campaign fundings. Lobbyist crowd the government. Caricature, but not far from the reality. It is a democracy, but system constraint. ## Voting Rights Reformation Voters suppression, and voting rights under attack In the past US use to have two political parties. There have been overlaps. Republican party drifted off the spectrum, 10 years ago, two leading political analyst, [[Thomas Mann, Norman, described the political party have radical insurgency.]] 50 years ago, Richard Nixon, understood republicans more oriented to private wealth. They have to turn other cultural issues, Nixon, southern strategies. Johnson's Civil Rights. Then moved other issues, 70s, Republican Strategies, pretended to be against Abortion, to win over Evangelical votes. Next to gun, and other things. Trump was extreme over this, quite brilliantly, to tap the poison right below the surface taken over the what used to be the Republican Party. ## Is there too much focus on Political Parties? Do people focus too much on being a part of a party? If you go back to the history, before R.P drifted off the spectrum, there were cooperation between the party. But now, R.P ## Manufactoring Consent [[Book Note Manufacturing Consent]] What role does Media play in undermining Democracy in US? One thing they do examine the relation between people voice to representative actions. But framing it as party vs party. When public opinion asked about the government programmes, they are in favor of individual provisions. When ask if they support the programme, they said no. The people don't understand what's exactly in the provision, but because of media, they believe what media portrays. Old technique to divert attention from true enemy. ## What is the way forward? There always reason to be hopeful. Young people who are organised, band together for social issues now. George Floyd, and Environmental crisis.. We must support them. --- - Note to self: