The role of the state

[Max Sawicky]

> You realize, I hope, with what distaste he defends the liberal
> social-democratic welfare state.  He does so because, contrary to Jim
> Baird's claim, he thinks the corporations, the state, the media,
> etc. *are* the cage (not outside of it), and that since destroying the
> cage is at present not possible, he concentrates on expanding the
> floor of the cage.

In other words, he has enough common sense to curb his
ideology.

I have no idea of Chomsky's anarchist philosophy, but
I have to acknowledge that he is one of the most useful
and productive sources for liberals and radicals of all
types.  In this sense, his social-democratic impact is
far more important than his philosophical stance, so
there is something to the idea that his anarchism is
not very relevant to his contributions, most of which,
by the way, do not hinge on him being able to count.

MBS