By extension of liberalism to modern industrial society, Chomsky has in mind (based on other remarks of his) the emergence of concentrated economic power in the form of corporations, etc. That is, classical liberalism concerned itself with the threats posed by concentrated governmental power because private economic power didn't exist in the modern sense; joint-stock companies and the like were only just emerging. So the claim is that the spirit of liberalism is, in the modern era, continued and extended by the libertarian socialists into the economic sphere.
As for human nature, we all have some ideas on what it is or we couldn't form views on much relating to human affairs. I've never understood the appeal of Foucault. Seems to me, accepting his views would logically lead to complete withdrawal from any moral or political activity. Evidently, he didn't quite agree.
Not sure what people tending towards truth and justice could possibly mean but I presume we all see value in publicly asserting what is truthful as best we can. Otherwise there'd be little point in writing.
-- Steve Fake Coauthor, "Scramble for Africa: Darfur - Intervention and the USA" (Black Rose Books<http://blackrosebooks.net/go/fake/products/view/The+Scramble+for+Africa%3A+Darfur+-+Intervention+and+the+USA/32451>) scrambleforafrica.org Coordinator, ideasandaction.info
End of lbo-talk Digest, Vol 1560, Issue 2
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