There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
There is no body of theory or significant body of relevant information, beyond the comprehension of the layman, which makes policy immune from criticism.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that policy-making is open to scrutiny and must be understood by ordinary people.
Noam Chomsky emphasizes that policies should not be beyond the criticism of the general public, as there are no complex theories or information that make them immune to evaluation. He advocates that people have the right and ability to question and critique policies, suggesting that transparency and understanding are essential in governance and decision-making.
Themes
PolicyCriticismUnderstandingTheoryPublicKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
During a town hall meeting discussing local governance.
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There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
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