Ah. So he lied about taking the train and it being slower than he expected, but (Ithink he said) 15% faster than decades ago? Or was it some other made up thing that slipped past me?
On a side note, should I hide my disappointments in other things that haven't played out as I'd like in this country?
It's not just that we 3rd world, but Chomsky tells us that our government is just a series of "four year dictatorships".
We are victims here in America, suffering from incredible poverty and political oppression. Or so I hear.
To quote myself...he's sitting in an air-conditioned room, wearing machine-stitched clothes, surrounded by books, near indoor plumbing, eating complementary food, filling his plump over-nutritioned belly, looking through scientifically-designed glasses, talking with freedom of speech, at an age far beyond historical human life expectancy, and he has the nerve to call the nation around him a third-world country.
It's not often that I've been more disgusted at a human being than I am by that piece of **** after watching that clip. I normally reserve wishes of death for mass murderers, rapists or child molesters, but in his case...since he has no respect for the world around him and the centuries of research, life's work, scientific progress, revolution and bloodshed that created the chair upon which he sits to spout those words...I am glad he won't be alive much longer.
Yes, and that's putting it rather nicely. There are "Third World" countries that do better economically and socially. Where average life expectancy is higher than in the US, with better and more equitable healthcare.
He moans about about how a train line has gotten only a bit faster, but he is nice enough not to mention that the main reason the US even has a "high speed" train is because the US government has borrowed a lot of money... from Third World countries.
Ah. So he lied about taking the train and it being slower than he expected, but (Ithink he said) 15% faster than decades ago? Or was it some other made up thing that slipped past me?
I never said he lied about his train trip, but he has lied before for the sole purpose of making either the US or Israel look bad. I guess that technically makes him two-trick pony.
When Chomsky does an economic analysis of US HSR I'll give a damn what he thinks we "should" have.
Why are you asking me? Personally, I find those who do nothing but bitch about the way things are without offering a practical alternative intolerable.
I never said he lied about his train trip, but he has lied before for the sole purpose of making either the US or Israel look bad. I guess that technically makes him two-trick pony.
When Chomsky does an economic analysis of US HSR I'll give a damn what he thinks we "should" have.
This is where I went wrong. I thought we were talking about a video clip. I didn't do the homework to figure out I should critique the messenger instead of the message. I came into the discussion without the required background or bias. It's really not about trains at all is it?
"Nationalism was a disease I knew intimately as a war correspondent. It is anti-thought. It is primarily about self-exaltation. The flip side of nationalism is always racism, the dehumanization of the enemy and all who appear to question the cause." - Chris Hedges
To quote myself...he's sitting in an air-conditioned room, wearing machine-stitched clothes, surrounded by books, near indoor plumbing, eating complementary food, filling his plump over-nutritioned belly, looking through scientifically-designed glasses, talking with freedom of speech, at an age far beyond historical human life expectancy, and he has the nerve to call the nation around him a third-world country.
It's not often that I've been more disgusted at a human being than I am by that piece of **** after watching that clip. I normally reserve wishes of death for mass murderers, rapists or child molesters, but in his case...since he has no respect for the world around him and the centuries of research, life's work, scientific progress, revolution and bloodshed that created the chair upon which he sits to spout those words...I am glad he won't be alive much longer.
Btw has anyone been to an Indian reservation lately? The place truly looks like a third world country. I said this in another thread and I'll quote it again, if you went to a rez in South Dakota and went to Turkestan next week, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Yes, and that's putting it rather nicely. There are "Third World" countries that do better economically and socially. Where average life expectancy is higher than in the US, with better and more equitable healthcare. Some third world countries have better social safety nets. His machine-stitched clothes were quite likely made in a Third World country. He probably could get his scientifically designed glasses a lot cheaper if he ordered them over the internet, from a Third World country. Some of his food was imported from Third World countries. He moans about about how a train line has gotten only a bit faster, but he is nice enough not to mention that the main reason the US even has a "high speed" train is because the US government has borrowed a lot of money... from Third World countries.
I doubt that man is in his 80s. I even doubt that man is going to make it into his 80s. A person who is healthy for an 80 year old is going to look similar to Noam Chomsky.
If everything he said is true (it is to a limited degree) that does not change the fact that many countries traditionally called "Third World" are doing fairly well, and in some aspects better than the US does. If that's because the US helped them, thank you very much.
...using techniques and medicines developed in the US. ...partly subsidized by US foreign aid payments. Using technology invented in the US. ...developed, pioneered, and inhabited mostly by interests based in the US ...made using technology invented in the US. ...having been factory-farmed and shipped by US-based companies. In exchange for development assistance and technology from the US.
Sorry, Checkmite. I don't see the relevance. Conditions in the US shouldn't be compared to conditions in Third World countries, because the US has improved the conditions in Third World countries but not to the same degree in the US itself? Is that the argument?
Some Third World countries have taken the lead medical development (India for example). Those countries with better social safety nets than the US tend not to receive a lot of US foreign aid payments; they may receive a lot of US foreign oil payments. Third World countries didn't provide loans to the US in exchange for development assistance and technology; they mostly did it in exchange for interest on their US government bonds.
To quote myself...he's sitting in an air-conditioned room, wearing machine-stitched clothes, surrounded by books, near indoor plumbing, eating complementary food, filling his plump over-nutritioned belly, looking through scientifically-designed glasses, talking with freedom of speech, at an age far beyond historical human life expectancy, and he has the nerve to call the nation around him a third-world country.
It's not often that I've been more disgusted at a human being than I am by that piece of **** after watching that clip. I normally reserve wishes of death for mass murderers, rapists or child molesters, but in his case...since he has no respect for the world around him and the centuries of research, life's work, scientific progress, revolution and bloodshed that created the chair upon which he sits to spout those words...I am glad he won't be alive much longer.
I won't go so far as to wish for his death, but I can easily get on board with your anger at his utter cluelessness. The guy's an blasted idiot for saying that. He's got no conception of what a 3rd world nation is really like, and to make that judgement based on a freaking train ride is utterly contemptuous.
He's soft and spoiled. That's the bottom line. I wouldn't say I hate the guy, but I can't help but feel a thread of contempt for him after watching that.
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