Noam Chomsky: Capitalism Private

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying Capitalism values profits and devalues costs and risks by making them socialist. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“A basic principal of modern state capitalism is that costs and risks are socialized to the extent possible, while profit is privatized” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is criticizing how large corporations operate within capitalism. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky argues that under “modern state capitalism”, corporations socialize costs and risks as much as possible – things like environmental damage, health impacts, and economic downturns are often offset by public funds and programs.
• However, profits generated from economic activity remain firmly private, pocketed by corporations and shareholders rather than being shared more broadly.
• His view is that this system privatizes rewards while socializing negative externalities, allowing corporations to reap gains while risks and burdens are pushed onto society, taxpayers, and future generations.
• The overall message is one of economic criticism – Chomsky believes this model of capitalism encourages irresponsible business practices by removing incentives for corporations to minimize social and environmental costs, since profits remain private while risks can be offset by public support

Noam Chomsky: Fund Elections

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying that publicly funded elections are the only way to get the corrupt money out of politics. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“Our only real hope for democracy is that we get the money out of politics entirely and establish a system of publicly funded elections” — Noam Chomsky

According to Noam Chomsky, publicly funded elections can help remove corrupt money from politics by taking the power of money out of the hands of special interest groups and putting it back into the hands of the people.

This can help ensure that politicians are accountable to the people, rather than to wealthy donors and corporations. By removing the influence of money from politics, publicly funded elections can help create a more democratic and equitable system

Noam Chomsky: Political Toothpaste & Cars

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying that we should understand we are sold politicians in the same manner and by the same people that create consumer advertising. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“It is important to bear in mind that political campaigns are designed by the same people who sell toothpaste and cars” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is drawing a comparison between political campaigns and commercial advertising/marketing campaigns. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky notes that the same public relations/advertising professionals who design campaigns to promote consumer products like toothpaste and cars are also the ones shaping political campaigns.
• His implication is that political campaigns have adopted similar persuasive techniques as commercial advertising – focusing on branding, slogans, targeted messaging and image cultivation rather than substantive policy debates.
• Chomsky believes this has made political discourse and elections resemble consumer culture, where personalities and superficial tactics take precedence over serious discussion of issues.
• The overall message is one of criticism towards the commercialization and trivialization of politics according to Chomsky, which he sees as reducing democratic processes to marketing ploys designed more to sell candidates as products rather than have meaningful discussions on programs and ideas.

Birthday December 7, 1928

Noam Chomsky: Parties in Corporate Pocket

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying once elected, politicians protect the wealth of corporations that helped elect them. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“Concentration of wealth yields concentration of power, particularly so as the cost of elections skyrockets, which kind of forces the political parties into the pockets of major corporations” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is linking wealth inequality to the outsized political influence of large corporations. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky argues that as wealth accumulates within a small segment of the population and economy, it concentrates political power among this wealthy minority as well.
• He notes that the rising costs of elections, especially for high offices, effectively puts political parties in debt to large donors and deep-pocketed backers like major corporations.
• Chomsky’s view is that this quid pro quo dependence on big business funding undermines democratic representation, as politicians are pressured to serve the narrow interests of their financial sponsors rather than ordinary citizens.
• The overall message is one of criticism towards the corrupting role of corporate money in politics according to Chomsky, which he believes undermines political equality and accountability as economic inequality rises within society.

Noam Chomsky: Don’t Invest It, Profit

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying those with money to spend more often choose to make money on financial deals to profit from those funds. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“Corporations have money coming out of their ears, they’ve got huge profits. But they don’t want to spend it, they don’t want to invest it. They would rather profit from it. Financial institutions don’t produce anything, they just shift money around and make money from various deals” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is criticizing how large corporations and financial institutions handle their profits. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky observes that corporations and banks have immense profits but are reluctant to reinvest that money into productive activities that create jobs or economic growth.
• Instead, they prefer to simply profit from the money itself through financial maneuvers rather than using it to meaningfully expand business operations and production.
• He also notes that financial institutions in particular do not directly produce goods/services – they primarily make money through speculative trading, lending, and various deals within the financial system rather than investing in new ventures.
• The overall message is one of economic criticism – Chomsky believes these entities prioritize profits for their own sake over using profits to boost the real economy through job creation and innovation, which he sees as a wasted opportunity that does not serve the interests of society overall.

Noam Chomsky: April 15 Celebration Taxes

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying if Americans realized how taxes support our democracy, April 15 would be a day of celebration. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“April 15th. In a functioning democratic society that would be a day of celebration, the day you hand in your taxes. You would be saying: ‘Alright, we got together, we worked out some plans and programs that we think ought to be implemented and we’re now participating in providing the funding to get these things done.’ That’s a democracy” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is contrasting how April 15th (tax day in the U.S.) is viewed versus how it could be viewed differently in a truly democratic society. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky argues that in a well-functioning democracy, tax day would be a day of celebration rather than dread, where citizens see paying taxes as a positive civic duty.
• People would feel engaged in the democratic process of collectively deciding on programs and policies through their elected representatives, and taxes would be a way to actively participate in funding those joint priorities.
• His view is that a democracy should empower people to have a real voice in how their tax money is spent, so they view payment as investment in initiatives they support rather than being detached from the process.
• The overall message is Chomsky’s belief that greater citizen participation and control over budget decisions could change the current antagonistic view of taxes into one of civic participation and investment in one’s own governance.

Noam Chomsky: Precariat, Precarious Proletariat

Noam Chomsky Money Quote saying there is a term used to apply to ever more of the working class which are under attack by corporate business interests. Noam Chomsky said:
 

‘Precariat’ of the core labor force, the ‘precarious proletariat’ suffering from the programs of deunionization, flexibilization and deregulation that are part of the assault on labor throughout the world — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is referring to the growing global “precariat” class of workers who lack job security and stable livelihoods. The best interpretation is:

• Chomsky uses the term “precariat” to describe the contingent, temporary or insecure segment of the labor force whose positions are precarious.
• He argues this precariat class has expanded as a result of deliberate policies of deunionization (weakening unions), flexibilization (just-in-time scheduling with no guarantees), and deregulation of labor protections.
• These neoliberal reforms have transferred risk from employers to employees according to Chomsky and created a vulnerable proletariat lacking benefits or protections formerly provided by unions.
• The overall message is one of criticism – Chomsky views the rise of precarious work as part of a coordinated global effort to disempower organized labor and increase corporate control over the workforce by undermining stability, protections, and bargaining power for workers.

Noam Chomsky on Class Mobility

Noam Chomsky Money Quotation saying working hard is no longer a guarantee you’ll get rich if you start poor now – in film ‘Requiem for the American Dream’. Noam Chomsky said:
 

 

“Part of the American Dream is class mobility. You’re born poor, you work hard, you get rich. It’s all collapsed” — Noam Chomsky

In this quote, Noam Chomsky is commenting on the diminished reality of the “American Dream” of social mobility through hard work. The best interpretation is:

• The American Dream traditionally promised that through dedication and effort, people could rise above their socioeconomic class at birth and achieve prosperity.
• Chomsky argues this dream has largely “collapsed” as social mobility has declined and the gap between rich and poor widened.
• His view is that the class one is born into now more strongly determines their economic outcomes and opportunities rather than individual initiative and labor alone.
• The overall message is Chomsky’s belief that entrenched inequality and lack of opportunity have undermined the once attainable promise that hard work guarantees upward mobility and fulfillment of the American Dream for all.