War is a Racket/Rev II

Think about this. I know I have.

Who Makes The Profits?

The World War, rather our brief participation in it, has cost the United States some

$52,000,000,000. Figure it out. That means $400 to every American man, woman, and child. And we haven't paid the debt yet. We are paying it, our children will pay it, and our children's children probably still will be paying the cost of that war.

The normal profits of a business concern in the United States are six, eight, ten, and sometimes

twelve percent. But war-time profits -- ah! that is another matter -- twenty, sixty, one hundred, three hundred, and even eighteen hundred per cent -- the sky is the limit. All that traffic will bear. 

Uncle Sam has the money. Let's get it.

Of course, it isn't put that crudely in war time. It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country, and "we must all put our shoulders to the wheel," but the profits jump and leap and

skyrocket -- and are safely pocketed. War is a Racket - Smedley Butler

Click here for the PDF of Butler's powerful work.