> She was contemplating why the media were so craven and manipulable (over
> Iraq and the Bushies generally), so I mentioned Chomsky and Herman's
> Manufacturing Consent. Chomsky? she said. Doesn't he do semiotics or
> something like that? Well, something like, I said, generative grammar,
> but he also does political criticism and commentary. Oh, she said. She
> had never heard of that body of work. We live in a small world. Most
> politically aware and intelligent people in this country have no idea
> that Chomsky is even a political analyst.
A Ph.D huh? How does that qualify her as being intelligent and politically aware? In my experience, people who spend too many years in college (i.e. Ph.Ds) are highly indoctrinated and VERY out of touch with the news and popular culture.
You friend lives in a small world. Don't make generalizations about Chomsky's fame based on how little your friend knows about politics.
Chuck0