Smedley Butler: A Gangster for Capitalism

"I agree with Doctor Hartmann, in the enemy of democracy being capitalism.

Today, even our banking system is predatory, where it used to be a fiduciary arrangement in my youth. In those days, I was allowed to earn interest on my meager savings. Today my small account would have been absorbed by the bank, in fees.

Corporate personhood to me, is like the A.I.D.S. virus, which our body politic 'caught' in 1886 with a corrupt US Supreme Court. The short-term-profit-taking by the elite has drained the working capital which used to support the middle class by providing good paying jobs."

And, as this is Columbus Day Weekend here in the United States, you can see how claiming foreign assets for empire -- is something we all are encouraged to admire. It wasn't the gold he sought for Queen Isabella -- it was for democracy for you and me which made him so famous.

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News & Politics

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• greatbroad
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[babarishka]

We haven't been under a Capitalistic system since the inception of the Fed in 1913. The OWS protestors that are calling for the end of Capitalism are completely ignorant of the big picture. Those "1%" elitist multi-billionaires OWS rails against run things for their own selfish interests and frown upon true Capitalism. As John D. Rockefeller said, "Competition is a sin."

[greatbroad]

@babarishka I'm not sure the OWS movement is about ending Capitalism as you described. My impression is more the end of Crony Capitalism-- the kind where Congress has inside information and does their own personal stock trades. Insider corruption. Personally, I believe corporations are not people and derailed our nation and did that other video...

[DaHonestAbe]

Jules Archer's book about the attempted overthrow of FDR to institute a fascist dictatorship is an excellent read. Thanks for your video.

[greatbroad]

@DaHonestAbe You are very welcome!

[teacupblues]

Thank you for this. Funny that most of the comments do not appreciate the significance of What me Smedley was trying to get us to understand. War is a money making enterprise pure and simple and run by the banks and Wall St.

Every kid in every school should have to study Mr Butler's words. Far more important than the clap trap washed over our young minds. But then if children understood what war was about they wouldn't go and that's no fun!

[AdamsSeed]

I don't think Capitalism is bad. But I do see evil in Government and Capitalism sharing interest.

[davgosan]

@LibertaerUeberAlles FDR made the correct in front the bankers, pecora comission and glass

steagall to stop the fraud. Thus the economy works during 50 years until Nixon broke the gold

std to give the step for new speculation with pretodollar std. Thus we start the new war in middle east without sense, becuase EEUU have the most reserve of Shale Oil enough to provide oil to domestic demand for one century or more. Then EEUU created a dependence of middle east to sell treasury bonds.

[napper6162]

What a beautiful face, beautiful voice, and a beautiful reading of a beautiful speech.

Excellent clip!!!

[greatbroad]

@greatbroad As a matter of fact, papers often wouldn't print my letters against what the White House wanted to do. It is all brainwashing. The War on Drugs (to me) is really about getting all those pot smokers who know the truth that weed isn't dangerous and decide to make their own decisions. That 's why they are so hard on pot heads.

[greatbroad]

@greatbroad The day Ronald Reagan died was a Saturday and we were @ Rumsfeld's D.C. Town home that day. Knowing there would be nothing in the media, I wrote a letter to the editor that was published; but they also published letter to the editor about ME and how what I was doing was wrong.