"All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume"

Noam Chomsky's quote is a commentary on the power of the media and pop culture to form popular opinion. He suggests that these forces are continuously attempting to make people feel powerless which their only role is to accept choices and take in items. This implies that the public is being controlled into thinking that they have no control over their lives which their only function is to consume. This is a hazardous message, as it can lead to an absence of important thinking and an absence of engagement in the political procedure. Chomsky's quote is a cautioning to be knowledgeable about the power of the media and popular culture, and to be conscious of how they can shape our beliefs and opinions. It is very important to be an active individual in the political procedure and to think critically about the messages we are exposed to.