Noam Chomsky critiques societal perceptions of crime in his work "Class Warfare: Interviews with David Barsamian." He highlights the irony of focusing on minor offenses, such as a young person possessing a small amount of cannabis, while ignoring larger systemic issues. Chomsky questions why such trivial matters are seen as significant problems in society.

Chomsky's observations reveal a gap in the understanding of crime, emphasizing that societal reaction often exaggerates the importance of petty crimes. He encourages a re-evaluation of what constitutes a real issue, suggesting that the focus should be on more substantial social injustices rather than criminalizing youth for minor infractions.