Smedley Butler was one of the most decorated Marines in U.S. history.
He received two Medals of Honor, one of only 19 Americans ever to do so.
He spent thirty-three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to Major General.
In 1935, he wrote a book called War Is a Racket.
He said:
"I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."
One of the most decorated Marines in American history said this.
In 1935.
It is not assigned reading.
The football stadium still says, "Thank you for your service."
But the general who explained what that service was actually used for is still kept outside the official mythology.
@1ssve "Urgent" is usually the result of an overcommitment to a customer - made by a salesperson or manager. Someone who doesn't have to do the actual work.
@Bloke_Baz And keeping up with the latest buzzwords. In a Dilbert cartoon Wally gave a weekly status report that was nothing but corporate phrases - celebrated diversity, leveraged synergies, etc. Dilbert whispered "You goofed all week, right?". Wally just grinned...
@joni_askola If I were the leader of a foreign country, Caligula's departure would be welcome. It wouldn't be enough to restore trust, though. Any electorate that can put such a person in power - twice - can repeat that mistake again. And what does the blue team have to offer?
@MykhailoRohoza And old Hermann got the last laugh. Before they could execute him, a cyanide capsule was smuggled to him by a prison trustee. He cheated the hangman.
@omgsidewalks One of my former bosses had worked for a major defense contractor back in the day. She said all their new projects were started with a pep rally of sorts in which the employees were given a ridiculous deadline and told they were already behind schedule. Yay corporate culture!
@JamesTate121 Between that and the Tax Reduction Act of 1986 (most of the deductions that helped the middle class went away), St. Ronnie KO'd the American economy for most of us.
@BigDawg31779 Aggression and rudeness are often taken as signs of strength. Hitler was a weak pathetic little bastard too. His big mouth made him seem like a stongman, and that got him elected.
@OrevaZSN When I worked at Walt Disney World as a consultant, I read in the company newsletter how well the parks were doing and how high the stock was climbing. The employees were paid sub-par wages and had to read this shit.
@mcsquared34 There will NEVER be enough for them. Henry Ford made the first honest billion. A reporter asked him how much money he really needed. "Just a little more.", was his answer.