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Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies

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Of all the articles and books of Chomsky that I have read, Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies is without doubt the most exhaustively researched (and footnoted), the most logically structured, and the most convincing. Chomsky reminds us that the majority of the populace rely on the various media institutions for their information about political affairs; both domestic and foreign. One can only hold an opinion on a topic if one knows about the topic. So take, for example, the popular myth of the 'persistent Soviet vetoe' at the UN during the cold war. Why do people believe the USSR was constantly vetoeing any and every Security Council Resolution? Simple! When they did, it generated front page condemnation. When the US or the UK exercised their right of veteo: silence. As Chomsky notes, during the years of 1970 and 1989 the former Soviet Union veteod 8 resolutions. The US veteod some 56. This is what Chomsky refers to as Thought Control. Unless the public examine the factual record of the UN themselves, they will never come by this information, (at least not in the mainstream press). So although Chomsky's title may appear somewhat paradoxical, or oxymoronic, a moments reflection on such facts shows it to be, in fact, extremenly pragmatic and truthful. The question is, have you the honesty and sheer guts to question yourself and challenge the information which has contributed to your beliefs? The crux of Chomsky's argument is that propaganda is to a democracy what violence is to a dictatorship. Chomsky points out that, in fact, propaganda is, contrary to popular postulations, more important and vital to a democratic society because people still have some rights. That is, since people can talk, the powers that be must ensure that only the correct words come out of the peoples' mouths. In a dictatorship it does not really matter too much what people think; for whatever they may think, they have to do what they are told, by pain of death. In countries such as the US (and the UK) other, more subtle, methods are required. People often critisise Chomsky for the sources of his information (the copious footnotes). No such critique can be levelled at this work. Chomsky's sources are declassified internal planning documents, naval proceedings documents, and the very institutions he examines, New York Times, Washington Post etc. If there was one Chomsky book I would suggest you to read, this would be it.

I am influenced by Chomsky more than any other political philosopher (although he seems to encompass much more than a mere career categorization). I've studied him on and off for the past five years, and I find it harder and harder to rely on mass media (TV, radio, movies, increasingly more of the internet) for any information. It's like lost innocence. One can never look at these things the same after reading Chomsky.

In this book, he tackles these themes, but concentrates a great deal on U.S. international relations. The equation is basically this: corporations control the government and own the media. U.S. international relations are directly affected and influenced by the whims of multinationals; namely the desire for [inexpensive] production and [inexpensive] resources, exploiting civilians and foreign lands to achieve these means. The government is in the pocket of the corporations.

The ordinary American has little say. We may vote; but we vote for one party; solely representing the interests of the rich, and the huge corporations.

That's a bit of Chomsky in a nutshell. This book supports these arguments with EXHAUSTIVE research. I admit, I found it exhausting to read, but not from lack of interest. He is detailed; which makes his arguments valid. He uses countless examples, all supported by the contradictory historical actions and propaganda of U.S. foreign relations; where the government lies to the public via the media. There are so many quotes and supportive examples that the bibliography could be 40 pages long!

So, I love Chomsky. However I really don't like reading him; but I try. I find the easiest way to get the big picture of Chomsky's views is by watching the documentary, Manufacturing Consent, reading Z Magazine, and also "The Real Story" series of transcribed interviews with Chomsky.

Perhaps I'm just a lazy reader. However I think this book legitimizes many of Chomsky's views, in a dense, detailed, way. But without these supporting examples and quotes, his views couldn't be seen as valid.

On the whole, this book is disappointing and greatly inferior to Chomsky's similarly theme-ed Manufacturing Consent. Necessary Illusions amounts to little more than an updating of media duplicity in mainstream coverage of Central America and Israel. From the title, I expected a more systematic analysis of methods, mechanics, and reasons that operate behind media coverage. Instead, Chomsky offers a loose model of journalistic propaganda and a few methods for detecting its presence, viz. the Comparison Method. However, the model is neither detailed nor a really very useful one. Thus at a time when tv's propaganda function, for one, is becoming clearer to the public, Necessary Illusions fails to deliver much beyond the usual case studies familiar to Chomskyites. Important as this empirical work may be, especially for newcomers to Chomsky, what is needed is a more thorough-going model of how raw news gets processed into self-serving policy reinforcement. In short, a better model of the communication industry's ideological function.

It's surprising that someone as skilled at theorizing as Chomsky appears to shy away from this next logical step to his many invaluable case studies. Americans by and large recognise that despite being "free", the popular media is not to be trusted. Now we need be persuaded why this is so. Perhaps Chomsky doesn't want to risk credibility by pursuing more abstract formulations where researchable fact is less immediate. Whatever the reason, in this book he has clearly debunked some of America's most prestigious and self-serving institutions, which is always a worthwhile read.

He's done it again. Chomsky's shown that we live in George Orwell's "1984", where only the Party is the true custodian of democracy; where we're trained to forget whatever to whatever is necessary to forget, to draw it back into memory at the moment when it is necessary, and then promptly to forget it again; to be aware of the complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies; to consciously induce unconsciousness, and then to forget the act of hypnosis we've just performed on ourselves...

In "necessary illusions", Chomsky squeezes into 136 pages (excl. appendices) the whole theory of how the world works. The problem I have with this man is that his writings are an accurate description of reality.

Another excellent work of his (which complements "necessary illusions") is "Year 501: the conquest continues", in which he scholarly describes the emperor's new birthday suit.

Noam Chomsky's poltical works analyzing the media and power in the twentieth cen. continually wipes away the bloody political lies commonly accepted and distributed by the mainstream news media outlets (perhaps by all of the outlets, but the most egergious one of all being the paper of record the; New York Times) to reveal the startling truth of the corruption, hypicrosy inherent in a highly industrialized society (like the U.S.'). He argues, as in most of his works, that propaganda is very much alive and extremely sophisticated. It is a "necessary illusion" kept up by the elitists (politicians both republican and democrat, corporations,newspeople, scholars that serve the ruling class etc.) to limit the collective voice of the "people". It is necessary to deliberately mislead us with second hand facts and knowledge that do not challenge us with the veracity of news or the so-called official truth espoused in them. Everything that will be said by the news establishment will ultimately conform to the government/business line of what *should* be the truth . One of course, need not guess as to why "they" want to shut "us" up--because the elitists need the tacit consent of a passive and uninformed public to perform the duty of running a corrput nation. That is essential in running a business like America. It's terrifying to learn of all the terrorist and unconstitutional acts that the manufacturers of the official agenda don't want revealed . All of the reasons why one should think twice about the concept and existence of "democracy and freedom" in America are summoned such as: drastically low presidential election turnouts, the concept of polls (to gauge the public's level of unrest), what deserves media attention (personal tragedies, concentration on the individual's point of view). After finishing the book I felt strangely isolated and at the same time empowered. This book will really have one asking about the very nature of what America REALLY stands for--big business interests. This book demonstrates in blunt and certain terms that the present political/social crisis that has existed since the founding of the public relations machine during Truman's administration can not be ignored any longer. The style is easy to follow given the high level of scholarship involved in the book, although the reality of the situations that Chomsky describes can seem surreal and certainly nightmarish at times.

"They who have put out the people's eyes, reproach them of their blindness." ~ John Milton

This was released in 89', the end of the Reagan/Bush era, and offers an insightful outline of then-versus-now contrast. Many similar behind the scene names and fear-based strategies. The specifics have changed, yet the song unfortunately remains the same. Chomsky demonstrates our democracy's historical need of "containment of the enemy" [a populace in which free voices have the capacity to resound] through imposed and vested interests, and through a pervasive media propaganda model, which, as adjuncts of government, manipulate a collective turning of an onus blind eye from the crimes, atrocities, familar ideologies, preferences and prefabricated belief structures of the favored state.

As usual, the unyielding Chomsky wields an elementary punch of fact-packed, deep-impressioned, miles-back swing. It's quite astonishing to read such blatantly anti-democratic {compared to the widely adhered to definitions and perceptions of democracy} quotations from prominent historical political figures who formulate policies designed to advance and serve oligarchic interests through deceiving the people, and diminishing their capacity for involvement and of having a direct hand in the shaping of public policy.

"Necessary Illusions" is an essential read in the canon of what Chomsky refers to as necessary "intellectual self-defense courses" to counter Power's perilous necessary illusions which menace our representative form of government, human rights here and abroad, and, realistically, the fate of our species and the planet.

If you ever wondered where the news go that don't make it into the headlines - read this book!
I found the facts presented in some passages hard to believe, but Chomsky (as usual) has included a very comprehensive list of references that makes it rather easy to see that the claims made are well substantiated - an important fact if you are faced with critics who themselves spill unsubstantiable vitriol.
As usual: five stars for Chomsky.

This time Chomsky takes on the mass media, showing how in even democratic societies, newspapers and magazines are just propagandist tools for the big business advertisers that support them. As always, biting, backed up by endnotes to hell and back, and most importantly, truthful.

This Chomsky book, while tough to get through at points (have a dictionary on hand), is an absolute must if you are interested in learning how to "read" the mainstream news.

Facts are given and cited. And Chomsky, as always, asks readers to draw their own conclusions. I drew mine. This was the first book of his I read, but it wasn't the last.

Brilliant and insightful. I am a conservative rightwing voter but Professor Chomsky insight into power and the control of and by the media is truly frightening. Don't believe what you are told by the media. Do be fooled by the propaganda machine. Everyone should read his books regardless of your political or religious views. Yes, I am still a conservative rightwing voter but much better informed and aware.