Requiem for the American Dream

In the September 2016 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, Graham Allison and Niall Ferguson insisted that the President of the United States needs a so-called "Council of Historic Advisors." The CHA, so the acronym goes, would, perhaps, follow in the footsteps of Michel Foucault or the late Howard Zinn, a good friend of Noam Chomsky's, and look upon history as the sage benevolently guiding today's affairs. In other words, the question drawn would be whether to study history for the sake of memorizing facts and data, or whether to dig into the haystacks to find the infrastructures that were better once upon a time and reimplement them today; to realize the predicaments that once reflected the severest of human vices and apply the morals they bred in the now.Part history lesson, part political commentary, part autobiography, Requiem For The American Dream is supposedly the last forthcoming interview of the greatest intellectual thinker of our time: an impression of the United States of yesteryear--where solidarity informed society's actions and a high collective consciousness fueled countless sociocultural progressions--complete with laments on how the "Masters" have greedily manipulated the circulation for their own benefit. Our subject, Noam Chomsky, has mentioned in previous lectures that there is no need to dig deep for reserved information, as the details being sought are usually right there on the surface. But beneath Requiem's very own surface, which already is profound in its own right, lies a display of just what Allison and Ferguson and Foucault have been advertising: instructions on how to stop mourning the wrongdoings of a few, and how to start reenacting those facets of our infrastructure that were healthier and more productive several decades ago.All the same, Requiem does focus on the wicked few sitting, quite literally, atop the highest 1/10th percentile of the country's wealth, dismantling any remaining potential for an immigrant to come to the U.S. and fulfill the American Dream: a life of social mobility, wherein one can find a steady, decently paying job, build a middle-class house, buy a car, and provide a well-rounded education for one's children. With ten "principles" organizing the behavioral traits of those few at the top, Chomsky reflects on the hypocrisy wherein their hero is Adam Smith and they, nevertheless, exercise the "vile maxim" against which Smith warned, namely "all for ourselves and nothing for anyone else." Nor do the "Masters" entirely follow James Madison's guidelines, i.e. a cycle where power and wealth feed each other, but one where democracy also reigns; in other words, Chomsky's first grief is that these few vehemently do not like democracy, for democracy gives power away to the masses--what good would this do them?Shedding light on the irony whereof institutions write the laws that are supposed to constrict them; where those at fault for a failed system find a way to "shift the burden" onto the masses; and where there is legally no constraint on "buying" elections, Chomsky echoes a sorrowful sentiment on the unbound, escalating greed that wealth and power conceive. It's not enough that the two are one another's parasites, but the product stemming forth from them reflects money's unrestricted power of speech.Sure, the presence of unions has dropped drastically in the last few decades; likewise does Gillens report that 70% of the population has no way of influencing public policy. But if there is one lesson with which to come away from this film, and this, according to one Yale professor, could be likened to the golden rule summarizing Tolstoy's War And Peace, it is Zinn's reflection that "what matters most are the countless small deeds of unknown people who lay the basis for the significant events that enter history."With special thanks to Jared P. Scott and Kelly Nyks for their directorial vision, Requiem For The American Dream should turn its viewers into a bigger, more public version of Allison and Ferguson's closed "Council of Historic Advisors." For it is up to us, the majority, to learn the facts visible right there on the surface, and to use them to stir change and move society forward.

Was very interested to learn more about Chomsky. I know he is revered. Now I wonder why.I was actually shocked by how unbalanced and, frankly, intellectually dishonest the film is. When he, I assume intentionally, misinterpreted Adam Smith the second time I knew something was up.It is just a series of cherry-picked and too often misrepresented situations and statistics. It is not worth the effort, but it would be easy to counter or at least offer an alternative and more plausible perspective to the majority of his assertions.His lack of misunderstanding of markets is just plain puzzling. The film is over 1 hour long and about America’s supposedly failing system. Yet, the words “individual rights” do not come up once? Does he not understand that America is not just a democracy but one resting atop protected individual rights?I do agree that concentrated wealth fueling concentrated power is an issue that continues to grow. It is a very important issue we need to address as a people. He places the blame entirely on the wealthy. What about a government all too happy to be corrupted and violate its charter? Not nearly enough said there.

SUGGESTED VIEWING:Requiem for the American Dream is a documentary/interview with Noam Chomsky. He explains - logically and dispassionately - what the corporate class has done to this country, and explains, in detail and example, the ruination of the United States. Please, folks, I cannot emphasize too strongly what an important film this is. Here is a link to order it off of amazon. There is a jolly good reason why Noam is never invited to appear (or is never even mentioned in passing) on the corporate (so-called "liberal") media - not even on PBS. The people who own this country don't want you to even know his name. Everyone needs to see this one.Tom Degan

When Noam Chomsky is being interviewed I wonder who is polishing his shrine to Lenin.His views are *horribly* skewed against free market capitalism without any fundamental facts to back. His upbringing is rooted in anarchism and far-left socialists. Do you have the slightest clue how much good capitalism has done to lift more of world out of abject poverty than any shade of socialism? Good, because Noam doesn't. He's a disgusting socialist / borderline anarchist.He needs to stick to what he knows best - linguistics.

Dear Amazon friends, we are indeed fortunate to have such an elder intellectual statesman in our midst offering us alternative explanations to world events and policies so different to the mainstream media. Long may he be with us.John Barnes,Bangkok Thailand

Everyone should be watching this right now. Chomsky presents thoughtful and thought-provoking ideas about where we are as a nation in relation to where we've come from. Things have changed, and we need to realize it so that we can prepare and respond appropriately. Power is more concentrated in the hands of the wealthy, and wealth is more concentrated in fewer people. Consumerism and divisiveness have become far too pervasive and do not promote freedom. We live in a time of unprecedented inequality, but as the editorial review says, this documentary is "a potent reminder that power ultimately rests in the hands of the governed." There is still hope, but we must open our eyes and stand up for the values that are the foundation of our nation.

Lucid, powerful, persuasive and timely documentary about how we got to where we are now.

This should be part of the high school curriculum.

Gut und fundiert argumentiert. Bestätigt leider die aufkeimenden Zweifel. Nach Jahrzehnten eigener "Anglophilie" - nunmehr die Ernüchterung. Sollte zu Lehrveranstaltungen an Gymnasien hinzu gezogen werden. Es ist keine primitive, tendenzöse "Abrechnung" mit dem Kapitalismus wie wir es sonst von linken Medien her gewöhnt sind, sondern eben eine kühle Erklärung des Trends der zur Gegenwart führt.

Ou est passé l'esprit révolutionnaire français? Dans le boite à con style PS ou XBOX surement. Comment détruire le service Public? Demandez à nos politiques, vous commencez par baisser son financement il ne fonctionnera plus les gens s'énerveront ils voudront autre chose c'est la technique de base pour privatiser. Et voilà maintenant on s'attaque aux mutuelle un gros scandale et bientôt vos retraites les banques ont gagné car vous avez perdu. Réveillez vous il n'est peut être pas trop tard qui sait...

***