Summary

According to economic figurehead Adam Smith, “sympathy is a fundamental human trait” (65). According to the “masters,” however, that principle “has to be driven out of people’s heads” (65). Sympathy, or solidarity, is a dangerous trait to the wealthy elite because of the innate flaw that exists within democracy as described in the first chapter- the “tyranny of the majority” (3). Solidarity fuels public welfare initiatives such as education and Social Security, two institutions Chomsky claims are under attack by the wealthy elite. This attack is based on two principles: a general disdain for programs that benefit the public, and, more significantly, a disdain for the very idea of solidarity.

Chomsky believes the public education system is “one of the jewels of American society,” yet like Social Security it suffers from the common right-wing condemnations like the risk of bankruptcy and the need for privatization...