There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
Governments are supposed to lie to their citizens.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Governments often deceive the public as part of their operations.
Noam Chomsky's quote suggests that deceit is a fundamental aspect of governance, implying that governmental institutions frequently manipulate or mislead the citizens they represent. This assertion challenges the ideal that governments should operate transparently, raising questions about the nature of power, control, and the relationship between the state and its people.
Themes
GovernmentDeceitCitizensPowerControl
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about political transparency during a debate or public forum.
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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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