Big problem Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Take a look at the current debates in Washington, and of course, everything in the media. Only one issue is discussed: the deficit - the least significant issue, but the most significant issue for the banks. The big problem, joblessness, is barely discussed, even though that's what the public wants, as polls clearly show. That's even what the business press supports, but the financial institutions are so powerful that the only issue is the deficit, and this runs right through the intellectual culture.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2012 lecture at University of California, Berkeley, 2012
The speaker argues that media and political focus on deficits distracts from more pressing issues like unemployment, reflecting elite influence over public agenda.
In simple terms: Media and elites focus on deficits, ignoring real problems like joblessness.
Key Takeaway
Question media narratives and seek broader economic discussions.
Themes
media bias
political agenda
economic inequality
public discourse
Mood
analytical
concerned
inquisitive
Type
political
critical
When to use this quote
- news consumption
- voting decisions
- activism
- economic planning
Key Concepts
political economy
media studies
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a media landscape look like without elite pressure?
- How can citizens shift focus to unemployment?
A Different Perspective
Deficit concerns can be legitimate for fiscal responsibility.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
