War Is A Racket

"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. 

It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico, 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 benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested. 

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could 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."

-Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler 

Why You Should Admire Richard Nixon

Amidst the recent news that LBJ believed Nixon was sabotaging Vietnam peace talks shortly before the 1968 Presidential election – let’s just say that tricky Dick’s legacy as a crook, traitor, and all around vile human being has been sealed.

However, I feel that Nixon was in fact the archetypal American political animal – one in which much of Washington’s current political scum take cue – and one that you too should admire and emulate if you want to be a powerful business man or politician in the modern United States.

Here’s why:

Political prowess – Nixon was not one to be fucked with. If you crossed him you were sure to end up on his enemies list. Yes, he had a fucking enemies list. Not quite as hardcore as Obama’s Disposition Matrix – but scary nonetheless. If you’re an aspiring Wall Street Banker or Congressman, then you should already have one – if not – get to work.

Ruthlessness – The genocidal acts carried out by Nixon during Operation Menu and much of the Vietnam War will forever echo in the annals of history as proof of the existence of Satan. But his ruthless and decisive decision making at the time are characteristics you’ll have to master if you want to get to the top.

Whatever it takes attitude – If you’re not willing to break some laws or some necks during your climb to the top of the mountain of power – then you’d better stay at home. Nixon – as we all know – was all too willing to do a little of both. Just make sure you don’t get caught.

So, there you have it – want to make it big in America? Then you’d better leave your morals and soul at home and do your best impression of our vaunted 37th President.

Truth from the Grave

From John Cusack's IAmA on Reddit a brilliant quote from Hunter S. Thompson;

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world -- a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us. No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. "Well, shit on that dumbness, George W. Bush does not speak for me or my son or my mother or my friends or the people I respect in this world. We didn't vote for these cheap, greedy little killers who speak for America today -- and we will not vote for them again in 2002. Or 2004. Or ever. "Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid rich kids like George Bush? "They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and hate mongers among us -- they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis. And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck them."

Oscar On Mistakes

“Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Sage advice indeed – makes my mistakes – most of which were committed in states of utter inebriation more palatable.

Indeed – they make me a more dynamic person – and what great tales I have to tell my descendants!

I will have to omit various salacious details – of course.