Supposedly a Chomsky quote

Economics Political Theory
1

I’m not in favor of people being in cages. On the other hand I think people ought to be in cages if there’s a saber-toothed tiger wandering around outside and if they go out of the cage the saber-toothed tiger will kill them. So sometimes there’s a justification for cages. That doesn’t mean cages are good things. State power is a good example of a necessary cage. There are saber-toothed tigers outside; they are called transnational corporations which are among the most tyrannical totalitarian institutions that human society has devised. And there is a cage, namely the state, which to some extent is under popular control. The cage is protecting people from predatory tyrannies so there is a temporary need to maintain the cage, and even to extend the cage.

Beneath that on reddit I found this priceless exchange:

  • We need a state to get rid of the problems caused by the state!

  • Of course! That is why we elected Obama, to fix all the problems Bush created!

  • If we reelect obama, do you think he can fix the problems created by first term obama?

2

Reminds me of two of my favorite Mencken quotes:

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

And…

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.

3

Certainly not one of his best quotes.

4

Tyranny is not possible where you can walk away from the other party.

Corporations rely entirely on voluntary exchange.

Tyranny therefore is something a company can never institute, only a state can.

And while we’re on the topic, fuck Chomsky. He’s an idiot.