After reading through Chomsky’s 10 principles I was able to
see just how important his explanation of the principles were. Personally I
found his 5th principle, of attacking solidarity, to be most
intriguing. Chomsky believes that the only way people will go after issues like social
security and public education is by taking away the idea of caring about others
out of people’s heads. Understanding just how hard it is to expect change or
want change when people are so emotionally attached. It is hard to go after issues like public education and social security since it affects so many families, but in
the end for things to get better as a whole a change needs to be made.
I also found an article about a debt free college
option that reminded me of how Chomsky discussed how college was basically free
in the 1950s yet it's impossible today. In
Chomsky’s 5th principle he discusses how with the G.I. Bill and
other public funding the U.S. was able to make college basically free, and yet
now that we are much wealthier than in the 1950’s we have serious experts who
say its impossible to make college free. Purdue University is trying to take a
new approach to let students be debt-free. The program is for juniors and
seniors who can apply for an income-share agreement that makes the student
promise a share of future earnings in exchange for cash. However, unlike most
loan situations students currently face if a graduate earns nothing they pay
nothing, and all contracts last no longer than nine years. The biggest concerns
for this new debt free option is creating competition with the government, and
only having poor performing students go after this option.
Chomsky’s principles make a lot of good points, and seeing
the current changes in the country I think we can benefit from these principles a little bit. The program Purdue University is starting is in no way
attacking solidarity like Chomsky wants but I do think it is a step in the
right direction. Taking the control out of the parent’s hands and into the student’s
shifts the responsibility of the debt after college with a program like this and can hopefully move towards making changes with issues like social security and public
education. All of Chomsky’s principles are thought provoking we as a society just need to take the
time to try and make a change for the better even if it isn't easy.
Sources:
I was also interested in how Chomsky's 5th principle could serve to better society, although I think more can be said for just how important it is to utilize objective reasoning. The 5th principle essentially translates to being unafraid to step on someone else's toes. Sometimes we must realize that it is a necessary means to the end. For instance, it may cause extra work for an older employee to adapt to a new software system once you drop a legacy system. That may make the current worker feel like their work is less valued and they are outdated, but the fact of the matter is that no company can afford to sit still during a time like the 21st century, where advancements come much quicker than ever before. It may be a consequentialist way of thinking, but Chomsky is right to oppose any self-imposed limits for the sake of public perception.
ReplyDeleteThe 5th principle can't serve to better society unless those in control give that up for the greater good. What the 5th principle do is set up a false narrative so that arguing against it is somehow un-American (for example) or to attack others for having wrong opinions. The more you do that, the more people will speak in soundbites; it distracts us from the hard work of discussing the hard issues. It's not just public perception if it affects your behavior. Good discussion.
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