Forum Post: Noam Chomsky on Capitalism and Anarcho-Syndicalism

Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 16, 2012, 4:38 p.m. EST by struggleforfreedom80 (6584)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el1CdxiDo6M&feature=player_embedded

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[-] 1 points by francismjenkins (3713) 12 years ago

I like this point of view, but when we toss out language like workers are slaves (and disparaging the idea of renting ourselves out), I'm afraid it probably sounds like a gross exaggeration to most people. I mean, all sorts of enterprises exist, worker owned, co-ops, partnerships, etc. We can always try to establish a business (including borrowing from these more democratic models), but isn't it also true that some people gravitate to conventional jobs because they don't want to take the risk and do the hard work that it takes to become successful in business? Or maybe the like mobility and they don't want to get tied down.

Some people freelance, own sole proprietorship's, etc., but some people are satisfied merely punching the clock as they say. So while I agree with most of Chomskey's philosophical positions, I also think we run the risk of sounding pretentious when we disparage what most people view as a valid life choice, working for someone else instead of operating their own enterprise.

So I think when presenting these ideas, we should probably always keep these factors in mind, and exercise tact and grace (and tailor our language appropriately). I think we also run the risk of sounding lazy, when we say things like humans should have more leisure time. I do believe humans should have more leisure time, and even the presumption that one must sacrifice their personal lives to become successful in business is probably something we're just indoctrinated to believe (I mean, there's certainly no law of nature demanding we forego pleasure if we want to get together with others and start an enterprise), but of course perception is everything (and there haven't been many successful "unpopular" revolutions in history that I'm aware of) :)