The main mineral in your cellphone, coltan [a black metallic ore], comes from the Eastern Congo. Multinational corporations are there exploiting the very rich mineral resources of the region. A lot of them are backing militias which are fighting one other to gain control of the resources or a piece of the resources.
Noam ChomskyWhen people know we are ready to use nuclear weapons, they're going to back off if we do something aggressive. So basically, nuclear weapons are always being used.
Noam ChomskyBoards of directors are allowed to work together, so are banks and investors and corporations in alliances with one another and with powerful states. Thatโs just fine. Itโs just the poor who arenโt supposed to cooperate.
Noam ChomskyThe United States is a very insular society. Most people know very little about the outside world and don't care that much. They're concerned with their own affairs.
Noam ChomskyIn many respects, the United States is the freest country in the world. I don't just mean in terms of limits on state coercion, though that's true too, but also in terms of individual relations. The United States comes closer to classlessness in terms of interpersonal relations than virtually any society.
Noam Chomsky