Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws. Citizens are not supposed to know what their government is doing to them.

The quote by Noam Chomsky critiques the relationship between governments and their citizens, suggesting that governments often view their own people as a threat that must be controlled and kept in the dark. Chomsky argues that this mindset leads governments to take extreme measures to protect themselves, including enacting state secret laws that prevent citizens from knowing what the government is doing. By withholding information and maintaining secrecy, the government can more easily carry out policies that might be opposed by the public if they were fully informed.

Chomsky’s statement reflects his broader critique of government power and authority, particularly in democratic societies where there is supposed to be transparency and accountability. He suggests that the more secrecy a government imposes, the less it is truly accountable to its citizens. By making certain actions and decisions off-limits for public knowledge, the government effectively diminishes the ability of citizens to make informed decisions and hold those in power accountable for their actions.

The origin of this quote can be found in Chomsky's extensive body of work on political theory and his criticisms of the military-industrial complex and government manipulation. Chomsky has long argued that governments, especially in capitalist democracies, often act in their own self-interest, sometimes at the expense of the public good. His writings focus on how governments use secrecy, propaganda, and information control to maintain their power, especially when pursuing agendas that may not align with the public’s best interests.

Ultimately, Chomsky’s words serve as a warning about the dangers of excessive government secrecy and the erosion of democratic principles. He stresses that a government that operates in secrecy, with limited citizen knowledge of its actions, undermines the core values of freedom, transparency, and democratic participation. For Chomsky, true democracy requires an informed citizenry that can participate in government decisions and hold leaders accountable.