QuoteProject
Policy is largely set by economic elites and organized groups representing business interests with little concern for public attitudes or public safety, as long as the public remains passive and obedient.
Noam Chomsky
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Policy decisions often priorititize the interests of the wealthy and powerful over public safety and opinion.

In this quote, Noam Chomsky emphasizes the influence of economic elites and organized groups in shaping policies that largely ignore the public's perspective and well-being. He suggests that as long as the general populace remains passive and obedient, those in power will continue to disregard the public’s needs in favor of their own interests.

Themes

PolicyElitesPublic SafetyEconomic InterestsPassivity

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a debate on public policy reforms.

More from Noam Chomsky

There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
The 'free-floating intellectual' may occupy himself with problems because of their inherent interest and importance, perhaps to little effect.
Noam ChomskyRead
If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
Noam ChomskyRead
There are very few people who are going to look into the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster;' instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do.
Noam ChomskyRead
The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
Noam ChomskyRead
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.
Noam ChomskyRead

Similar quotes

There’s no doubt that there’s some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t like the idea of a black President.
Barack ObamaRead
Traitors who prevail are patriots; usurpers who succeed are divine emperors.
Gore VidalRead
In the United States large corporations control some members of Congress. All this does is delay the corporation’s funeral at our expense.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn’t have it, either. Government office should be received like a child’s Christmas present, with surprise and delight. Instead it is usually received like a diploma, an anticlimax that never seems worth the struggle to earn it.
Orson Scott CardRead
What I have come to realize over the twenty years when I have worked in different roles as a legislator is that no legislation is as good as the enforcement of it.
Margrethe VestagerRead
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.'
Theodore RooseveltRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.