.

[B. P. R. D.]

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. yes...google Smedley Butler

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Right. He saved the day.

[htuttle]

3. Major General Butler is the nation's greatest unsung hero

They don't mention him in history class, because he had this annoying habit of telling the unvarnished truth:

From a speech he gave in 1933:

War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its "finger men" to point out enemies, its "muscle men" to destroy enemies, its "brain men" to plan war preparations, and a "Big Boss" Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism.

(much more at link)
http://www.fas.org/man/smedley.htm

Here's a video tape (that I've never seen) about the plot, and Butler's part in stopping it:
http://www.ihffilm.com/r547.html

From the description:

In 1932, while many Americans felt it was the way out of the Depression, a powerful group of financiers and industrialists saw the New Deal as a threat. THE PLOT TO OVERTHROW FDR reveals this group's plan to either overthrow the newly-elected president or force their agenda on him. They intended to use a paramilitary organization of disgruntled WWI veterans inspired by Marine General Smedley D. Butler to coerce the government. But Butler, discovering the details of the conspiracy, blew the whistle, triggering a Congressional investigation. Leading scholars, historians and government officials reveal the details of one of the most bizarre schemes in American history. B&W/Color, 50 minutes.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Every single marine can tell you who Smedley Butler was

they learn about him in boot camp...the just can't tell you about this aspect of his career.

[htuttle]

6. He was the most decorated Marine in history at the time of his death

Too bad so few listened to what he said.

[Pierre Trudeau]

5. read "The Corporation"

by Joel Bakan.

This essential book includes a summary of this attempted coup by a coterie of corporate titans aginst the FDR administration, which was foiled by celebrated WWI hero and veterans' advocate Smedley Butler.

I highly recommend this book; it analyses the origins and nature of modern corporations, and their legal standing as "persons", and it concludes that corporations are inherently psychopathic.

[mopinko]

7. i was just talking about smedey

and wondering if his book is still in print.
can you recommend a book, or whatever about the plot? i have heard about it, but don't really know the deal.