Cuba's survival in the face of US aggression is nothing short of astonishing. The US has a long history of wanting to dominate Cuba, going back to the 1820s. After liberating itself from Spain in 1898, Cuba became a virtual US colony plagued by corruption, mafia influence, and brutal conditions for the majority of the population. Despite facing constant attacks, including bombings and invasions, Cuba has managed to survive and develop remarkable achievements. Its health statistics are better than those of the United States, and it has built an impressive biomedical system. The US imposes strict sanctions on Cuba, forcing other countries to comply out of fear. The fact that Cuba has not only survived but thrived in many aspects is truly remarkable. The European Union and Latin America are limited in their ability to trade with Cuba due to US threats. The violence and brutality of the United States are evident in its actions and the widespread opposition to its sanctions.
Noam Chomsky joins Tyler to discuss why Noam and Wilhelm von Humboldt have similar views on language and liberty, good and bad evolutionary approaches to language, what he thinks Stephen Wolfram gets wrong about LLMs, whether he’s optimistic about the future, what he thinks of Thomas Schelling, the legacy of the 1960s-era left libertarians, the development trajectories of Nicaragua and Cuba, why he still answers every email, what he’s been most wrong about, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded February 27th, 2023
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