From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Fri Nov 19 2004 - 16:19:03 GMT
Hi Mark,
> On 16 Nov 2004 at 21:59, Sam Norton wrote:
> I was interested with something you said (while I was lurking and
> occasionally reading the archives) re Chomsky, to the effect that he
> didn't comment on other countries, he just wanted to make the US
> better. I think that's right - although the context which he ignores
> does need to be reapplied in decision making.
>
> msh says:
> Well, this isn't quite what he says... <snip>
> I think Chomsky sees his work as an attempt to
> provide a badly needed counterpoint to the prevailing winds.
I didn't think what you wrote did disagree with my point (which I was assuming was actually *your*
point originally! Don't we get inward sometimes?) Chomsky is concentrating his criticisms on the US,
his own country, for very valid reasons. My point was that those in positions of decision-making
have to get dirty hands; that is, it can sometimes be the highest Quality decision available to
carry out a course of action which in and of itself is profoundly flawed. I would put many of the
decisions in WW2 under that heading. That doesn't do away with the need for honest and informed
criticism both at the time and afterwards, as that is what will generally raise the Quality level of
the options available (often the biggest failure is one of imagination, IMHO) but if you are forced
to an _in_extremis_ decision favouring, say, US culture (however immoral) against Wahhabism, then I
know which I would choose - principally because the possibility of DQ improvement is so much greater
in the US. (Of course, it's then a very loaded question as to what counts as 'in extremis' - I
think a plausible case could be made for saying that Bin Laden etc is not. But that's a whole other
conversation.
But your point about the 'prevailing wind' is an interesting one. I know many commentators who say
the 'prevailing wind' is leftwards (eg in the media) rather than rightwards (other institutions?).
Is there any way that you know of for assessing that? (Other than 'Manufacturing Consent', of
course).
> I don't know how deeply your interest runs, but you might want to get
> hold of Understanding Power. It's an easy read, as it is a
> collection of informal talks and interchanges with all kinds of
> regular folks. There's an additional 500 pages of notes, references,
> and analysis available free, online at UnderstandingPower.com. This
> PDF file alone is an invaluable reference source.
I've started rummaging. Thanks for the link.
Sam
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