Noam Chomsky: The Passing of William F. Buckley | Big Think | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Noam Chomsky discusses his limited interaction with William F. Buckley Jr. and criticizes both Buckley and the so-called conservative movement.

Key Insights

• 🫥 Noam Chomsky had a limited interaction with William F. Buckley Jr. on the talk show "Firing Line."
• ⁉️ Chomsky questions the appropriateness of labeling Buckley as a conservative intellectual and critiques the neo-conservatives.
• ❓ Chomsky identifies Reagan's actions and beliefs as contradictory to conservatism.
• 🍉 The term "conservative" is disputed by Chomsky and he argues it does not correctly describe figures like Buckley, the neo-conservatives, and Reagan.
• ❓ Chomsky considers the neo-conservatives as extreme radical nationalists who should not be associated with conservatism.
• 🇨🇫 Chomsky highlights Reagan's support for military violence, destruction in Central America, and violation of legislation in South Africa.
• 🇱🇧 Reagan's endorsement of Israeli atrocities in Lebanon and advocacy for government intervention in the economy go against traditional conservatism.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How was Noam Chomsky's experience appearing on William F. Buckley Jr.'s talk show?

Chomsky's appearance on "Firing Line" had no particular significance to him, and despite Buckley's promise, he was never invited back.

Q: How does Chomsky view William F. Buckley Jr. and the conservative movement?

Chomsky acknowledges Buckley's reputation as a witty, articulate, and knowledgeable figure within the conservative movement, although he personally disagrees with this assessment.

Q: Who does Chomsky consider as Buckley's successors in the conservative movement?

Chomsky refers to the so-called neo-conservatives, such as Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Pearl, and Dick Cheney, as Buckley's successors. However, he criticizes them for being extreme radical nationalists not truly aligned with conservatism.

Q: What is Chomsky's opinion of Ronald Reagan's presidency?

Chomsky sees Reagan as a president who supported military violence and destruction, violated legislation, endorsed atrocities in Lebanon and South Africa, and favored large-scale government intervention in the economy, making him far from a conservative.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Noam Chomsky appeared on William F. Buckley Jr.'s talk show "Firing Line" once, but there was no significant impact.

• Chomsky describes Buckley as a leading figure and intellectual of the conservative movement, although he disagrees with this assessment.

• Chomsky criticizes both Buckley and neo-conservatives for their extreme views and actions that go against true conservatism.