I still find fault with
I still find fault with Chomsky’s advocacy for the “lesser evil” as demonstrated in his preference for Kerry over Bush. “No one should delude themselves into believing that they are taking a stand on principle if they help grant another mandate to the radical statist reactionaries around Bush — unless the principle they adhere to is dismantling what remains of the progressive achievements of a century of popular struggle at home, and consequences internationally and for the future that we don’t have to dwell on.” Kerry voted for the war in Iraq and penned part of the Patriot Act.”Anyone who says “I don’t care if Bush gets elected” is basically telling poor and working people in the country, “I don’t care if your lives are destroyed. I don’t care whether you are going to have a little money to help your disabled mother. I just don’t care, because from my elevated point of view I don’t see much difference between them.” That’s a way of saying, “Pay no attention to me, because I don’t care about you.” Apart from its being wrong, it’s a recipe for disaster if you’re hoping to ever develop a popular movement and a political alternative.”Well, we now have had the experience of the second Bush term and now of an Obama presidency. Kerry would no doubt have been an Obama – all promise and little change. Feeding illusions as Chomsky appeared to be doing only leads to the inevitable disillusionment. Chomsky i feel was in error endorsing Kerry. Howard Zinn stated,“I don’t have faith in Kerry changing, but with Kerry there is a possibility that a powerful social movement might change him. With Bush, no chance.”Has it been the Occupy Wall St or the Tea Party which has made Obama change the most. He may adopt the radicals rhetoric but the fundamental changes to his policies on foreign policy and health insurance has stemmed from the right’s influence, forcing through compromise. Would a President Kerry have behaved any differently? Would Chomsky be regretting his position?