Lecture on US Political and Foreign Policy

Introduction by the Host

Evening gathering at Burlington City Hall.
Introduction of N. Chomsky from MIT, a prominent intellectual voice in America.
Highlighting the importance of vocal individuals speaking out on vital issues.
City’s effort to bridge the gap between local and national/international developments.
Recent local governmental opposition to President Reagan’s policies on Nicaragua.

Unusual Low Participation in Politics: Compared to other industrial democracies, US has significantly lower political participation, evident from voter turnout.
Disenfranchised Voter Demographics: Non-voters are socio-economically identifiable, often belonging to groups that would support labor-based parties in Europe.
Ideological Rigidity and Uniformity: The US media and political system reflect a rigid and uniform ideology, excluding any labor-supportive organization.

Historical Development: The PR industry emerged to control public opinion, perceived as the only real threat to major corporations and the state.
Government Propaganda: Originated significantly during WWI, aiming to shape public opinion on issues like entering the war.
Engineering of Consent: Post-WWI, figures like Edward Bernays and Walter Lippmann emphasized manipulating public opinion as essential in a democracy.
Comparison to Totalitarian States: Propaganda's importance is heightened in democratic societies to ensure public opinion aligns with leadership interests.

Similar Ideological Control: The liberal West's political strategy shares similarities with Leninist vanguard principles, promoting an educated elite shaping policy irrespective of public understanding.

Omitted War Actions: Mainstream retrospectives omit the actual aggressive actions and real motives behind the US involvement in Vietnam.
Misconception of Noble Intentions: Media frames the war as a noble but blundered effort, ignoring extensive military documentation showing strategic interests.
Public vs. Educated Opinion: General public sees Vietnam War as immoral unlike the educated class, emphasizing the disparity in class consciousness.

Long History of Intervention: Chronic US intervention and influence in Central America for control over resources and political stability in favor of US interests.
Recent Activities: The 1980s escalated US-backed repression in El Salvador, with methods resembling those from Vietnam.
Contemporary Propaganda: Similar strategies of defining the spectrum of permissible discourse, limiting debates to acceptable terms by the state.

Debate Among Critics: Hawks and Doves debate within a restricted frame to reinforce the basic principles of US foreign policy, excluding alternatives from public consideration.
Public Awareness and Misalignment: Despite a sophisticated propaganda system working well within educated elite circles, there remains significant public misalignment with the official narratives.

Role of Media: Key in setting the parameters for debate and perpetuating ideological control, ensuring the media narrative aligns with state interests.
Intellectual Disobedience: Contrary voices and critical perspectives, though present, are often marginalized and not part of mainstream coverage.

Emerging Movements: Noticeable shifts in public awareness and activism, despite the pervasive media influence and systematic suppression of dissenting narratives.
Examples of Resistance: Increasing participation in movements and protests against US foreign policy, indicating a significant albeit gradual change in public consciousness.

Need for Honest and Courageous Efforts: Emphasis on the necessity for comprehensive understanding and proactive efforts to challenge established power structures and propagate real democratic values.
Future Prospect: Critical evaluation and action to change both foreign and domestic policies, addressing underlying issues of class disparity and political representation.