"Gangsters of Capitalism": Jonathan Katz on the Parallels Between Jan. 6 and 1934 Anti-FDR Coup Plot

We speak to award-winning journalist Jonathan Katz about his new book "Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America's Empire." The book follows the life of the Marines officer Smedley Butler and the trail of U.S. imperialism from Cuba and the Philippines to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Panama. The book also describes an effort by banking and business leaders to topple Franklin D. Roosevelt's government in 1934 in order to establish a fascist dictatorship. The plot was exposed by Butler, who famously declared, "War is a racket." The far-right conspiracy to overthrow liberal democracy has historical parallels to the recent January 6 insurrection, says Katz.
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[@sprybug]

If only people actually knew history and could actually learn from it.

[@blidiascis8646]

@Murals and Music are it for Me Bunny it's discernment between truth and lies...we have been lied to so much it will take time first most important lesson: origins of Communism

[@stickitupyourasteric]

The Crooks will not allow The People to be educated.

[@antennawilde]

Notice what they don't teach in school history, and what they do. It's carefully crafted at the very highest levels of government.

[@mjohnson1741]

@@antennawilde Correct! It's part of a larger agenda. If you ever get a chance look into the deliberate dumbing down of the US education. The US had the best education system in the 1800's and the highest literacy rate and was envied by many. The elites like in this video, Rockefeller, Carnegie etc...employed John Dewey considered the father of the education system to literally destroy it and render it ineffective. The late John Taylor Gatto a former teacher lectured about this and has books about it, very fascinating!

[@gabrielmaroto18]

The entire country does not know the history of this country that is an agenda that is a plot you can’t learn from the past that you are not aware of that a corporate agenda because they don’t wanna pay for what they have done in the past so they’re trying to erase the past the founder of Ford motors funded the Nazis an American citizen an American company funded the German Nazi party for years I just learned that last year

[@tomjohn8733]

General Butler should be remembered as a national hero, and instead of military bases being named after confederate generals, we should name them after loyal Generals like Butler…

[@rb032682]

​@Murals and Music are it for Me - Are you attempting to defend a "Heritage OF Hate!" ?!? The csa was nothing more than a low-life terrorist gang, worse than any ms-13.

[@67tomcat]

Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler is on Okinawa.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

@Murals and Music are it for Me The hearts and minds of the wealthy white slaveholders. Hearts???

[@kathysmith6413]

@Murals and Music are it for Me they were loyal to slavery never to country.

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@kathysmith6413 Why would poor whites want to end slavery? This would create more competition for their jobs and an upheaval of society. The corporations hated slavery because it competed against their interests.

[@lisawalker8014]

Smedley Butler turned out to be a great whistleblower and an American Hero

[@jamesmorett1210]

Lisa Walker Everyone should read " Confessions of an Economic Hit-and-run " by John Perkins and " The Underground Empire " by James Mills these are both true stories that should be required reading

[@jamesmorett1210]

ECONOMIC HITMAN not hit and run !!!!!!!

[@wiiuwiiu2020]

"Fascism is colonialism turned inwards" - Aime Cesaire (perhaps paraphrasing, cannot find exact quote) Butler is no hero, he simply served white supremacy and acted to defend its interests when the outwards monster of imperialism and colonialism was about to eat itself at home.

[@elizabethellis9062]

War is a Racket should be required reading in school.

[@goldilox369]

Agree. 😎👍

[@FASBLAQUE]

Public school is for brainwashing! Not to teach you anything! After the three "R's" everything else is just plain brainwash!

[@gfarrell80]

Agreed.

[@Tron-Jockey]

What they're referring to is the old "American Liberty League" created in 1934. If you search for just "Liberty League" you'll get links to the intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. I'm surprised this author keeps using the wrong term.

[@blackblursliver]

If they did read it they wouldn't fight for the bankers wars

[@ccole1255]

"History may not exactly repeat itself, but it certainly does rhyme." --Mark Twain

[@arndbrack2339]

These are wise words - Albert Zweistein

[@bobbykirl7894]

Literally my literary hero. Thanks for the quote!

[@sheilagavin8281]

Examined all the video footage avail online of Jan. 6th. incident. Imho it appears to be a clumsy & tragic Soros sponsored Deep State/CIA/foreign & domestic paid agents provocateur Psy-Opp. Sad, but very obvious. Smedley Butler is hero.

[@arndbrack2339]

@@sheilagavin8281 You must be a thorough examiner, being able to pinpoint it to soros. Very smart you must be too, and very onesided one might say aswell

[@bobbykirl7894]

@@sheilagavin8281 you did did you? That is very interesting theory. You do know that Smedley was not only a hero, but he stood up against folks like Warren Stephens, the Koch’s, Sheldon Adelson, Geoff Palmer, Steve Wynn, just to name a few. The General was a true patriot indeed.

[@sistitulasi]

In 2008, the financial sector staged a Coup and won, sans military.

[@barbarajohnson1442]

2000, Bush v Gore in Supreme court....Coup

[@rogbrogb5341]

@@barbarajohnson1442 Inter-factional warfare. The Ruling Class stayed in place.

[@barbarajohnson1442]

@@rogbrogb5341 interesting term! yes, I guess you are right-there!

[@staydismantling9354]

@@barbarajohnson1442 Gore never challenged. Stayed silent. Shows his allegiance with the ruling class’ wants.

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

They've been staging mini-coup after mini-coup since 1934, exploiting every legal & financial loophole to keep their interests, anti-democratic & unconstitutional behavior "above the law". (Crime isn't the issue, only who is allowed to commit it. Sacklers are drug dealers; no jail, no personal responsibility, no wealth lost.)

[@ProfessorxVile]

It still blows my mind that this plot isn't wider known outside the U.S., never mind inside of it

[@zalishaabdool6671]

GREAT HISTORICAL EVENTS/ OF THE PAST/■WAKE UP PEOPLE!!■ WHY...WE MUST PRESERVE? HISTORY...BEFORE LAWS!!...ARE... SCRAPPED..TOTALLY!!

[@mlittlitt]

Because there was no “plot”

[@zalishaabdool6671]

@@mlittlitt In Other Languages... Are Different Words Used And We Get A More Detailed Meanings!!

[@zalishaabdool6671]

@Warrior Class BY ALL MEANS WE MUST DO SO!!!..■HISTORICAL ■MOVIES!! YES SIR!!■ To See Destruction Under☆☆☆☆☆ THE UMBRELLA OF SURVEILLANCE!! AND TECHNOLOGY!!...AND TO RECOGNIZE LOCKDOWNS!!! AND... ■ALL INSTITUTIONS■ AS☆☆☆☆ 《■A SHIP RECKED■》☆☆☆☆☆ 《■WRECKED!!..FOR EVERYONE?.. 《■TO SEE!!.■》☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ THE WORLD'S CHILDREN ARE NOT THERE!!!... 《■IT'S FOR THOSE■》 《■WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE!!■》

[@comingviking]

This is the first I ever heard of it, but I am not surprised. Well, they failed at the traditional coup route, but have since bought government.

[@coquillehome8904]

War is a Racket, by Smedly D. Butler, is a must-read. It is also a very short text. The writing style so direct and engaging, and honest, and feels so relevant to our times. Smedly B. Butler is an American hero. I knew about him as a fromer marine, but in the Corps when I was enlisted in the 80s, he was revered in the USMC history (he is THE model Marine, for real) but interestingly nothing about the coup was mentioned then. I learned about that about 20 years ago when I ordered the book and could not believe his name was not mentioned more in American history. It's good American memory is being refreshed. Now, for the feature film about him...

[@anastar37]

It is relevant to what America has been doing for about 70 years. Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, South & Central American & African countries.

[@gfarrell80]

War is a Racket is great. In the end the fascists did take over in the US. I'd say after FDR kicked the bucket the fascists pretty well took over, although you could make the argument that we were pretty fascist from our founding with not much more than lip service to 'democracy'. Additional reading: Mark Twain, "To the Person Sitting in Darkness", 1901 C. Wright Mills, "The Power Elite", 1956 Michael Parenti, "Dirty Truths", 1996 Naomi Klein, "The Shock Doctrine", 2007

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

@@gfarrell80 I'd go so far as to say that the Confederacy, ultimately, did NOT loose the Civil War nor the Nazis/fascists loose WWII. Quite the opposite of what we're taught in schools or in the movies, they were all integrated into what is today's monopolist power-elite.

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

Gen Milly is today's Smedley Butler.

[@zeppafloyd]

@@sergegainsbourgii1852 I had the same thought. Admittedly, I never heard of Butler until this video. Looks like I got MORE reading to do.

[@cypriano8763]

fascism and capitalism are brothers in arms. we remember

[@tmnt10000]

Next you're going to blame Jewish people for the holocaust

[@FnLn55]

Unbridled capitalism is a devil's bargain - profit above all else, winner take all.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

Capitalism is like a wild horse that needs to be broken for best use by the owner, in this case, the American people.

[@alexcipriani6003]

@@tmnt10000 you said it so..🤷🏻‍♂️

[@FnLn55]

Progressive social democrats believe in capitalism for all, not just the few. Corporate owned politicians from both sides believe in socialism for the rich, unlimited revenue for the military industrial complex, power thru voter suppression, and profiteering thru fear and endless wars.

[@Marxist2]

This is the kind of History we all should know about. Thank you DN for providing it.

[@coreyham3753]

Right on ... this absolutely should be highlighted and taught.

[@nafisaobrien880]

The business plot was covered in the TV series and book, "the unknown history of the USA" produced by Oliver stone

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

Thank you for that information!

[@anastar37]

Oliver Stone's U.S. history documentary is educational and eye-opening.

[@thisbushnell4824]

Those of us who learned of this in our youth have been watching all our lives the glacial-paced efforts to move the nation completely under the control of the industrial barons and their military backers. We have never come closer to that subsumation than we did in the last 10 years.

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

The Reagan years were crucial. Amazing what can be put in motion under an actor-president with alzheimers.

[@LightCrasher]

You sound too optimistic. There is no way to reform this system other than destroying it and build again since its largely supported by rich parasites that harm not just the american nation, but the entire world, holding it back in development throught endless wars. Smedly Butler was right.

[@patshelby9285]

@@sergegainsbourgii1852 actor-presidents with Alzheimer's or some equivalent may be the only people willing to accept such degrading roles..

[@patshelby9285]

@@LightCrasher if we cannot reform our nation, it will be the rapacious beast which it's neighbors must end for the survival of all. This zero sum, everything is mine game being run by predatory capitalists is a condition terminal to all.

[@godinapaul2]

I'd argue it's already under their control

[@GrimJerr]

The Business Plot ! Most people have never heard about this.

[@Toneloke-3000]

Yes the industrial robber barons of that era created the 1st Gilded Age of this country. Now our corporate overlords are working hard at starting the 2nd Gilded Age💯

[@bpalpha]

Good ‘ol Prescott Bush! What a shrewd business man, supporting Nazis and all. They were able to complete their goal in Dallas of ‘63. Never been talk of peace since. These are the fools who brought us 9/11. True history. Dulles Bros., Skull and Bones (literally the false flag) and “business interests”.

[@sammyshoubaki8502]

People are sleeping on the wheel

[@AngusAngus]

@@Toneloke-3000 starting?? The wealth disparity now is already WORSE than it was then! It's happening right under all of us, and so many haven't even seen the decades-long trend. Try buying a house and paying off your student loans in a year or two like you could expect to do in 1970 for instance. Impossible for 90+% of all of us.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

@@AngusAngus Absolutely right, Michael.

[@JaZaarMercury]

I thank Governor Jesse Ventura for first informing me of General Smedley Butler and his unequivocal defense of the Constitution. Every American needs to read Smedley Butler's book .

[@thmswalters]

Ventura is another fine example of a real patriot

[@michael-hw1uv]

By the way Leftist's, does the Book include when Democratic Socialists bombed the Whitehouse in 1971? With the same Marxist slogan's? Down with Capitalism, Pay there fair share. Hypocrite's. Seems like the Elites in your movement are making it well. With there millions. And then claiming, Were so oppressed in the land of opportunity . JFK, Democrat. By the way fools, thanks for trashing our Party as we knew you would.

[@glitch-pr3nr]

Remember tammany Hall?

[@Appalling68]

This segment is absolutely fascinating and frightening at the same time. Geezus!

[@sha1658]

And they were never prosecuted. Thank you for reminding the 99% of America that never knew about this. It's chilling.

[@karengrice2303]

The sad reality is that we are in a much worse place today and I wonder if there are any strong leaders to save us from this hell we are living through!

[@janetdouglas1272]

No. Just accept the dominant paradigm of Capitalism forever, which evolves into authoritarian fascism and learn to love your peasant/ slave status.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

I think it helps also to keep up on this corporate takeover with the Hightower Lowdown, that keeps us up to date in concise, easily understood language. I was going to donate a subscription to the local public library but....

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

I think it helps also to keep up on this corporate takeover with the Hightower Lowdown, that keeps us up to date in concise, easily understood language. I was going to donate a subscription to the local public library but....

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

We the people have to speak out and stand up against the corporatism/capitalism that is wrecking our country and planet. No leader is going to do that for us. Through strikes, boycotts, supporting strikers, rallies, work stoppages, meetings with Congress members, voting third party, etc.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

@@stephaniecarrow4898 It's too bad that some people want to support a third party when we still can try to help people like AOC, Bernie Sanders and others who haven't lost that vision of what can be. I think we should wait and see how these next few weeks go before we throw away our chances of destroying the reputations of these GOP traitors, and of corporate Democrats like Sinema.

[@bill8985]

Fascinating. I had heard of this coup - but now I have something to read the details. Thanks for posting.

[@viriathus2802]

Very old news, and has literally nothing to do with January 6th. January 6th was part of a modern day Cointelpro project still ongoing, targeting anti establishment people of both the right and the left. Business coup attempt by Prescott Bush was an actual attempt at a coup. On January 6th, you'll never be able to track down field commanders, a coherent plan to seize power, or any evidence of any kind of an actual attempt at overthrowing the government.

[@anastar37]

@@viriathus2802 I agree.This is a false comparison. If anything, it was the opposite, the poor trying to assert their rights against the billionaire gangsters who run things in both parties.

[@ecamp6360]

One of the reasons Butler should be more relevant today, and the reason the soldiers (Army and Marines) loved him, was that Gen. Pershing put Butler in charge of organizing the transit camps and training bases for the AEF in WWI. He couldn't stop the "Spanish" flu but he did mitigate it and saved thousands of lives.

[@alexandraday6721]

Thank you for this video, still learning everything they DIDNT teach me in school

[@popcycleism]

I applaud general Butler and hope that our modern generals follow suit. How is this story buried?

[@Stop-and-listen]

Our modern generals are part of the MIC.

[@changeshifter4852]

If you want to control who your citizens see as a hero you don't want people having an example of doing the right thing out there. The fact that you have been down this road before and no one was punished is exactly why the whole party is walking this road again. They believe there will be no consequences because there wasn't the last time. Sadly, unless all non Republicans can unite and change the trajectory, they are likely to achieve it as they have made replacing electors and vote counting under their control now. This time they can steal the election legally. The fact that there have been no protests against these new state laws tells me not enough are aware that these new state laws will allow them to change the election results, not defend election integrity. I can't see how people are not livid about it frankly. Those laws need to be challenged and overturned in order to maintain the people's vote in a R run state now, yet I have seen no action yet.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

It's buried by the corporate media. (Infotainment for fun and profit)

[@ZealothPL]

@fkujakedmyname MONEY

[@gothboschincarnate3931]

@@changeshifter4852 I guess you haven't noticed that Christians and republicans are the fascist and have always supported fascism. with help from the corporate democrats of course. Did you you get your head shot of last time? What was it like working for Hitler?

[@pluribus_unum]

Jonathan and Amy, you had me at, "war is a racket..."

[@pluribus_unum]

What a great turn of phrase at 13:41 ( quote context starts at 13:21): "...the forgotten marginalia of American history..." - Jonathan Katz

[@charlesbrowne9590]

I worked as an engineer for a large military contractor for 30 years. I remember sometime in the early 90’s televisions were installed (ceiling mounted) in every hallway of every building on our campus. Fox News was turned on and it was never turned off. Draw your own conclusions.

[@barquerojuancarlos7253]

@@charlesbrowne9590 ... Interesting. According to reward-winning investigative journalist Robert Parry (now deceased, but his website, Consortium News, continues today), it was Lockheed Martin who lobbied for the expansion of NATO in the 1990s, much to the consternation of Russia

[@charlesbrowne9590]

@@barquerojuancarlos7253 I have visited the Consortium News website and read the Wikipedia article on Mr. Parry. Mr. Parry enjoys a good reputation, but that reputation does not extend to Consortium since his death in 2018. I cannot discover the identities of Consortium’s present editors. They write favorably about Steve Bannon which is evidence against them. There are two issues: unsustainable yet increasing global and US debt, and unsustainable yet increasing pollution and atmospheric greenhouse gases. The two problems are closely related. There are three possible policy responses to the first problem: one is to “print” money, another is to default (what is the third possible response? it doesn’t matter). The Democrats do not address the issue and essentially offer the policy of following the path of least resistance which is a “print-as-you-go” scheme [not the best word]. The Republicans are flirting with default, and may talk themselves into a corner with their threats of not raising the debt ceiling. Either policy will result in catastrophe. Russia has no exports but fossil fuels. Without income from fossil fuels the oligarchs have no way to pay off their military. Thus did the Russians - and perhaps other oil exporting countries and oil companies - begin their campaign of climate disinformation. The campaign was successful and expanded into other areas. Our oligarchs must pay off our military. Their plan is to dismantle the government, except the DoD, and siphon every tax dollar to the military. They have convinced a large number of useful idiots to call themselves “libertarian” even as they support authoritarianism. Most of them are religious fruitcakes lost in a maze. I suspect that in 50 years our environmental problems will be chronic and acute. The right wingers around the world (a personality type, not an ideology) will blame everybody but themselves. Nuclear war will commence, and that will be the end.

[@sheldonbodryn1003]

@@charlesbrowne9590 The Fargo VA was like that when Trump was in power.

[@Madronaxyz]

Smedley Butler is the most decorated general the Marines have ever had. He was raised by Quaker parents. He also wrote a great book, which is still in print. It's been a long term best seller. War is a Racket is a well written, entertaining book. I couldn't put it down.

[@josephc28]

He was ahead of his time. This book was published in 1935, long before today's modern military industrial complex.

[@zalishaabdool6671]

@@josephc28 Thanks..It's Like The Likes Of Great Journalism!! 《■Or Say..Great News!!■》

[@foodparadise5792]

I would say it's educational instead of entertaining.

[@carla2012app]

this video has educated me-----I had never heard of this person, nor did I know about the book. I really enjoy history, so this will be going on my list of must reads.

[@safiyyaali6892]

Thanks for being concise, focused, clear in your presentations when compared to most news agencies. Bert Simon

[@michael-hw1uv]

By the way Leftist's, does the Book include when Democratic Socialists bombed the Whitehouse in 1971? With the same Marxist slogan's? Down with Capitalism, Pay there fair share. Hypocrite's. Seems like the Elites in your movement are making it well. With there millions. And then claiming, Were so oppressed in the land of opportunity . JFK, Democrat. By the way fools, thanks for trashing our Party as we knew you would.

[@jamesmilichich6693]

A friend of mine who as a boy witnessed the Bonus Army march on July 28, 1932 in Washington D.C. Their demonstration was crushed by MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton. My friend recalls that they were on horseback.

[@rogbrogb5341]

James Milichich Huey Long: "I think you should issue a statement immediately, saying that you are in favor of a soldiers' bonus to be paid as soon as you become President." Roosevelt: "I am afraid I cannot do that because I am not in favor of the bonus." Roosevelt again: "I am the best friend the profit system ever had." The "savior" of "the system of private profit and free enterprise". From Lance Selfa's book "The Democrats". FDR finally used the New Deal to save capitalism.

[@jamesmilichich6693]

@@rogbrogb5341 Yep. I left that out.

[@dbarker7794]

@@rogbrogb5341 Look what happened to Huey Long.

[@ey67]

True

[@johkupohkuxd1697]

​@@rogbrogb5341 FDR was deluded. He prolonged the depression and certainly wasn't a universal friend of capitalists. Thats why the Business Plot and the American Liberty League were conceived.

[@garysantos7053]

The American Liberty League fought the New Deal labor and social legislation. The American Liberty League was an American political organization formed in 1934, primarily of wealthy business elites and prominent political figures that called upon businessmen to defy the "National Labor Relations Act", hoping the Supreme Court would declare it unconstitutional, and led "educational campaigns" against social security, unemployment insurance, minimum wages, and other New Deal policies.

[@angeladansie4378]

Sounds just like ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) of today

[@Bhatmann]

They’ve relocated to Davos Switzerland.

[@FASBLAQUE]

@@angeladansie4378 It just evolves into something bigger. That's all, because we allow it!

[@FASBLAQUE]

@@Bhatmann Where they got their money hidden, huh?

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

Proof of the longstanding economic addiction to un/underpaid labor/resources. Far from what we learn to call in school "capitalism".

[@poncedeoly469]

good job DN. this needs to be known to everyone in the US. Imagine if the US sided with Germany

[@liegesaboya8265]

(....) Imagine if the US sided with Germany and If the URSS hadn't fought the Germans . The war would last even many years more with millions of Americans and it's allies dead .

[@liegesaboya8265]

@@jmvpams1380 Americans and NATO countries are fighting the Russians for years , (the cold war) ,which hasn't ever stopped . The same with Cuba , Venezuela , Iran etc . In a certain point of view with all the world , exceptions being NATO countries . Even these ones looks like occupied by USA , as Germany . In this very moment thousands of westerns , shareholders of the MIC are dreaming with a war in Uckraine

[@liegesaboya8265]

@@jmvpams1380 I've made my point more clear over there. English isn't my mother language ; sometimes I realize how I can put my ideas more clear . In fact I'm learning English in the KZbin . Also a little bit of French

[@Tron-Jockey]

It's "American Liberty League" not Liberty League. The event is also known as the "Wall Street Putsch" and the conspiracy actually began in the Summer 1933.

[@user-fx4qz8pt3w]

Or Russia today

[@numbersix8919]

In his lifetime, Butler was the most highly decorated Marine in history. His book is great.

[@satevo462]

I've known all of this information for well over 20 years yet here we are again, right back in the same predicament.

[@FASBLAQUE]

Because people won't wake up!

[@yunix2396]

I am so happy to see someone make mention of Butler and him exposing the Business Plot. I read about it in The Plot to Overthrow FDR and in Knowing Betters' video A Veterans Warning. This needs to be known.

[@grmpEqweer]

The podcast "Hell of a way to die," which uploads on KZbin, also did a 'cast on Butler.

[@bernardsosa8808]

At the end FDR gave up creating the privately owned federal reserve. It was the coup de, etat to the progress of the Republic, and creating wealth and power for bankers.

[@tonywords6713]

Had the book pre-ordered for a while now. Glad Butler is finally getting his day

[@Dahlen4Dummies]

Thank you Democracy Now! for doing such an important story.

[@michael-hw1uv]

By the way Leftist's, does the Book include when Democratic Socialists bombed the Whitehouse in 1971? With the same Marxist slogan's? Down with Capitalism, Pay there fair share. Hypocrite's. Seems like the Elites in your movement are making it well. With there millions. And then claiming, Were so oppressed in the land of opportunity . JFK, Democrat. By the way fools, thanks for trashing our Party as we knew you would.

[@rb032682]

@Democracy Now! - Thank you for this video. The actual film with Butler speaking does eliminate any claims that Butler's words were twisted or falsified.

[@rb032682]

Thank you, Jonathan Katz.

[@bonniebabird]

How many Americans never learned this history??! THIS is why TRUTH in education is vital, not censure.

[@christophercisper4518]

It’s also very interesting how you don’t mention that those people that worked so hard to overthrow the government under FDR managed to manage this pandemic and make lots of money they also managed to make a lot of money during World War II and managed to remove Wallace from the FDR ticket and install Truman who was most likely their guy so …. One has to ask themselves what side are we really on?

[@haleybrown2836]

What side are we really on? Money and Profits! That is why Capitalism and Poverty go hand in hand - poverty makes people work for substandard wages and in dangerous conditions.

[@infiniteeternities2683]

Amazing, I shared with 20 people. Keep that stuff coming please and thank you. Love, Light and Elevated Vibrations to all!

[@D.A_1988]

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

[@evgeny9965]

“Old gimlet eye” a true American hero.

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

The fascinating thing here is how so much of this plot failed because they had amateurs run the operation before the existence of a national security state.

[@ey67]

True

[@kaizersouza1562]

"War is Racket" by General Smedley Butler is another good read.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

The sociopaths would destroy everything than let people know real freedom and prosperity.

[@TommyShlong]

There's a lot here I never learned in HS or college about early 20th century American history. The parallels with today are remarkable to say the least. As someone said, and I'm horribly paraphrasing; if we don't know our history we are condemned to repeat it.

[@aaronnichols9444]

Served as an infantry Marine in Port Au Prince Haiti during Operation Secure Tomorrow 2004. The Haitian people are victims of corruption, both inside their own government as well as horrific US foreign policy in the region.

[@bj-th7ul]

Presentations like this and many of the related comments impress me much more than hearing what people like Cruz, Pompeo & others have to say on Fox and the comments there. thanks for sharing

[@Seekthetruth3000]

Beware! DN spins the news in favor of the left.

[@FASBLAQUE]

@@Seekthetruth3000 😂You're a trick for the corporate elitists, you idiot! WORK, CONSUME, OBEY! ZOMBIE!

[@Seekthetruth3000]

@@FASBLAQUE The corporate elitists are mostly woke, leftists!

[@staydismantling9354]

@@Seekthetruth3000 I disagree and this is such a stupid fucking argument. We live in a duopololy, with both sides EQUALLY being in cahoots. ‘Nuff said

[@staydismantling9354]

*duopoly

[@nab626]

Oh the history that we were never taught.

[@daveme7]

At least when I was in in 1990-1995, He was still a celebrated officer in the Marine Corps as there is also a small base in Okinawa named after him. Oh yes, he was also one of two Marines who won two Congressional Medals of Honor...and survived. Chesty Puller is the most celebrated Marine with five Navy Crosses. Literally carried out what many officers and NCO’s did to earn their blood stripe and that was leading from the front, never the rear. It had been said that he would find the most forward visual and listening post. When a Marine shared that this was a OP, been known for Chesty Puller to disagree and telling those on duty that this was the new location of his HQ.

[@roymerritt9927]

I'm familiar with it because I did a tour on Okinawa as a member of the Army Security Agency at Torii Station there and as well in SEA. I didn't know about General Butler then, but have since heard and read a lot. He was a remarkable general officer and a hell of a leader whose men would do anything for him.

[@ninat4869]

I just viewed a sappy documentary on the Dupont family. They were shown as a shy, quiet family. You'd never have known Dupont's position on a coup from that doc. Nobody making that much money off the ppl is ever for the ppl.

[@cheri238]

This was a great one, I left a comment when you had this on. Smedley Butler" War is a Racket." Futhernore I bought Jonathan's books. Thank you, Amy, Juan and Jonathan.

[@faharoon357]

I learn about this back in college. I took a history elective at The University of Chicago. We were given the paper copies of General Smedley's speaches and analysis of them from Chicago professors from the time. Some of this was also covered in the book Dope Inc. by the LaRouche organization.

[@staydismantling9354]

fascinating, I hope I’ll be able to attend The University of Chicago soon when I apply

[@faharoon357]

@@staydismantling9354 . My best wishes. It will be a unique experience. If you are lucky you will never leave. 😄. If you were a Geekoid in highschool and found yourself not fitting in, then you will find yourself among peers at Chicago.

[@clarkpalace]

First good thing i have ever heard about larouche

[@nancylevine2776]

Another must read for me.

[@LabGoats]

FDR didn't go far enough. That's why we are where we are. Like MLK said: "In America we have socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for the rest of us." It's time we change that. Capitalism is socialism ONLY for the rich. Socialism is socialism for everyone.

[@wordgeezer]

Thank you for broadening the perspective on General Smedley Butler. Jan 6 was merely the work of a comic book villain.

[@enathanielg]

Jan. 6 is the most hyped event in American history next to the Boston tea party

[@carla2012app]

@@enathanielg did you watch this day unfold in real time? I did. It wasn't hype, it was real and horrible. I couldn't believe what was happening to our country. A coup attempt is not just "hype." It is deadly serious, and must be acknowledged, and dealt with, or we will see this again in the next election.

[@weisemari]

I love this episode. What a man he was, that General Smedley Butler!

[@mutterslog785]

and 80+ years later corporations are trying to do it again. When will we deny their influence of our government?

[@aliceputt3133]

This is the History that needs to be taught.

[@davidhollingsworth1847]

Add to the fact that FDR proposed the Second Bill of Rights during his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 11, 1944. Needless to say, it did not go far, unfortunately.

[@randyosborne310]

We've got bigger problems. I pay $800 a month for Bronze health insurance. Meanwhile the Politicians voted themselves PLATINUM Health Insurance. Where is the red hot spotlight on this?

[@kathysmith6413]

sorry dear, that is an individual problem and while i agree it is a major issue, this is more about the complete destruction of US democracy, if that happens there is no hope for any laws that will benefit anybody outside the richest 10%. at that point you will forever be working for slave wages with no hope for anything. you know like Germany in the mid 1930's with all the concentration camps, forced unpaid labour and executions without trial.

[@whygohome172]

@@kathysmith6413 as long as there is no socialism because that scares people.

[@Toneloke-3000]

The corporate capture of this country and most of the world are the same problems in the healthcare industry it's called Big Pharma or what I like to call the 2nd Gilded Age.

[@pluribus_unum]

It's the same problem, just a different consequence.

[@leprehune4106]

@Murals and Music are it for Me it's the fault of neither. Our Healthcare problems are systemic, and reach far beyond any one administration.

[@leealexander3507]

While I am familiar with this part of our history I had never heard his speech to Congress before.

[@Homeschoolsw6]

Thanks. " War is a racket " is one of the most important books of the 20th Century. Smedley Butler was an actual Hero.

[@g.anthonybenjamin281]

I ordered this book a few days ago; it arrives today. Excited to read it and nice to see this interview

[@jones1351]

It’s funny, this morning I was entertaining the thought of 2 different paths a government could take. One in which the interests of business and the profit motive supersede that of the working class (of all colors, genders etc). The other, would be just the opposite - people over profit. The former, I surmised, would find its way to fascism, while the latter to a social democracy. And then I saw this. I’d heard of this attempt to overthrow the democracy but had no Idea how deep and broad it went. We’re still facing a showdown between democracy and greedy profiteers. But this time we have no Roosevelt. We have no Smedley Butler. We are really living in dangerous times. But the mainstream media are… well, let’s just say ‘Don’t Look Up’ (RIP morning show) is a good movie. I look forward to reading this book.

[@briankoski817]

I need to do both... Read this book and watch 'Don't look Up' for shits&giggles. Thanks.

[@clarkpalace]

We have miley. We have many

[@beadmecreative9485]

Imagine celebrating people like Smedly D. Butler with statues rather than celebrating slavery with statues of slavers

[@ey67]

True

[@gs8099]

Absolutely fascinating, jaw dropping!! Thanks Amy

[@DennisHall-iv6cr]

If evil is allowed to prevail, then villainous people will write the history of the time, making themselves out to be paragons o virtue. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that truth and justice triumph.

[@garyray9277]

Why isn't this more known ? Why isn't this talked about in school and debated on the airways?

[@jamesblankenship5439]

The most enlightening video I have seen for a long time. Very informative. Thank you.

[@susanbengston3208]

WOW!! Thank You Jonathan Katz!! Amazing American History SO Pertinent To Our Current Political Situation!!

[@AndiKat-Tarot]

At 65 yrs. Old I frequently was bored with history classes. Since our new threats on our democracy have begun, I can’t stop watching these types of videos. The similarities to recent characters is stunning and frankly scary. Thank you so much Democracy Now.

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

Alfred P. Sloan the man literally has his name plastered over MIT and many other research institutions

[@haroldplante8287]

Love you, Ms. Amy! You're a national treasure! Good job!

[@Seekthetruth3000]

She spins the news in favor of the left.

[@earthlingjohn]

As with all "news" the carefull listener hears nuggets of gold which lead those willing to continue digging to the treasure of truth

[@anatacle5903]

History is so important to preserve. Thank you!

[@rustworker]

Smedley-Butler’s book “War is a Racket” is brilliant, and quite short. He gives actual figures of businesses making soaring profits during the war. That’s during the first World War. He was way ahead of his time.

[@JorgeFlores-ox4pr]

My hero for years. Oorah!

[@progressivedragon6664]

One of the crimes is we spend all her educational years of elementary school and middle school and high school learning about the revolution and the British war in the French war, always running out of time by the time we get to World War II so that we never learn about heroes like this. History in high school should start at world war two, and assume that we already learned the other basics by middle school

[@MseeF]

Those who were behind these evils, I suspect to be the very same who were behind slavery and apartheid; thus proving that such systems were never meant to benefit those that gained from them but perpetuated uncertainty, differences, lies and vulnerabilities.

[@lupemerrit]

I’ve read the book. Outstanding work! We need more Smedley Butlers.

[@Bisquick]

Mostly on point but I'd say there's a more complex parallel, in the words of Marx, _"Hegel remarks somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce."_ To say that we live in a "liberal democracy" is equivilent to saying we live in a bourgeois dictatorship. Indeed there are 2 bourgeois factions duking it out under the banner of "democracy". If we want to even use these terms as they might be obfuscating more than they are clarifying, but if we do, the reality is we're already "fascist", as Robert Paxton defined it in the Anatomy of Fascism, the suppression of the left amidst popular enthusiasm. The "left" in this country is an insular virtue-hoarding (shoutout to Catherine Liu) collection of consumer-minded liberals/neoliberals that have (and this is the important, really the _only_ distinction between these people and any _actual_ left) assumed and embraced the very core cause to all of this through enforcing a material organization that descriptively necessitates gradually declining material conditions, aka CAPITALISM. Controlled opposition essentially, and you can see this split from its very -counterrevolution- founding, the constitution itself merely a brokerage between Hamiltonian eastern banker finance capital federalists and Jeffersonian land-owning slave-holding yeoman farmer antifederalists with an explicit intent to stave off what both bourgeois "factions" agreed was an _actual_ threat: democracy (see: Federalist 10 for example by Madison, makes this pretty clear). These people wrote this stuff so far up their own asses they knew at some level that "factions" would be a problem (like no shit lol) but, in the typical liberal fetishization of "the market" and their own assumed status as philosopher king aristocrats, ie their conveniently already well-established social postitions, assumed their personal "virtue" 'noblesse oblige', self-evident by their property ownership and dominion over black, poor, and indigenous people, would transcend it. Turns out that isn't a thing. Oops. Our "democratic" false dichotomy is between the international mainly finance-capital (as Marx appropriately called it, "fictitious capital") technocratic fascism which embraces all the abstractions/superstructure of capitalism and the more authentic/honest embrace of capitalism at its base exploitation with land/extractive national capital (see: base/superstructure), that faction of course leaning into that arbitrary/circumstantial "divine right" to the maximalist grotesque degree (hence all the racism bs and whatnot), the strain in Germany being the more authentic/honest (but equally grotesque obviously, not trying to be normative/flattering when I say that) ultranationalist embrace of, and this is my main point here, maintaining capitalist power relationships between capital and labor. The US post-WWII essentially absorbs the structures of fascism, hell _literally_ absorbing the nazi leadership with Operation Paperclip and the ratlines into south america (incredibly useful for the CIA's Operation Condor campaign, see: Klaus Barbie in Frace - as briefly mentioned here - also Bolivia, Otto Skorzeny basically a nazi james bond, Paul Schafer in Chile, et al). In other words, the nazis didn't really lose, the victory of the capitalist class is necessarily, descriptively, the zero-sum defeat of the working class. *_*cue Are We The Baddies? sketch_**

[@joblyth2835]

‘Everybody Knows’, Leonard Cohen, the good guys lost

[@erinmcdonald7781]

You've given one of the clearest explanations of US capitalism and our "two party" system. Thank you.

[@castillogrande8926]

Smedly Buttler is the very definition of an "anime redemption arc"

[@SuperTonyony]

Wage slavery IS slavery. Workers should own and control the means of production.

[@evettelarson2634]

We need more Smedleys.

[@tonyscott8495]

Thank you guys I learned something new today

[@robertpiver6280]

Wow.....I remember a couple of the high school faculty being outspoken about what was never mentioned or touched on in history text books,let alone covered...this is one small huge and critical component.I suspect that living in a mainly republican state adds to why this small piece of the record has not been popular dinner conversation around here either...I'm ashamed that I didnt know

[@patrickjenkins6383]

Beyond.."Fascinating." Thanks to the staff at Democracy Now. 😎

[@NoName-zm1ks]

And FDR did nothing, which led to what we have now-an even more powerful military/industrial/civilian government complex.

[@Andrew19036]

Mr "War is a racket." My favorite Marine.

[@Lamin_G]

_They tried to storm the Parliament in Paris to prevent the handover of power to a center-left prime minister._ - Democracy Now I can see more parallel between the 1934 Paris riot and the Washington 2021 Jan 6th riot than the 1934 coupe plot against FDR. The attempted coupe was an outright organized plan by a highly coordinated small team of people with various interests. The 1934 Paris riot and the Jan 6th Washington riot, on the other hand, were more of loose coordinations between right-wing groups and individuals, in concert with individuals who got caught up in the spur-of-the-moment.

[@sergegainsbourgii1852]

Same people; Vichy France+ Nazis/fascists +the Confederacy, self-proclaimed conservatives or traditionalists, did not loose the wars against them, but were integrated into today's power-elite. US history is taught to obfuscate this.

[@dkevinwalker]

I read "War is a Racket" when my draft status was 1-A. I was prepared to serve like my dad, who volunteered in January 1942, at the beginning of WWII. I read Smedley Butler's seminal anti-war reading when the Vietnam War took a turn for the worse. We witnessed the hasty evacuation of U.S. military personnel and various interrelated NGOs. We saw on the evening news when Saigon was ultimately overrun and captured. After all the blood and treasure, an inglorious moment.

[@mickeywood3012]

Smedley Butler also served as Police Chief of Philadelphia for a short while during Prohibition. They (Gangsters) couldn't bribe him so they got rid of him sending him back to the Marines.

[@jabbermocky4520]

Fortunate that Butler had a Quaker upbringing. The conscience implanted in his youth overcame his military ambition, in the end. We are lucky that it wasn't completely extinguished in rich men's wars.

[@lanygrand6696]

As they Say in french : "Jamais 2 sans 3". The third attempt "coup d'État" on USA soil will succeed!!!

[@philbob_d9254]

AMEN. It takes some digging, but this nails it. It's been this way for thousands of years.

[@kaninma7237]

Smedley Butler, a largely unknown American hero. US educators need to change that, although the United Oligarchs of America will strongly oppose that.

[@orion6704]

It is happening again

[@Jay...777]

Type in, everything is a rich mans trick full documentary then scroll down a bit till you find one that's 3hr27 and is by a guy called conolly

[@svonkarmo433]

*General S. Butler is a true gentleman that God gracefully lent to us.* He is my hero. May he rest in peace. He had done his share to fight evil in this world.

[@schoolcoach1]

THIS>>>THIS IS WHY I LOVE Democracy NOW!...and now Jonathan Katz!

[@vthilton]

Sharing, Justice and Peace for All.

[@rogerhull5632]

They should have fully investigated and prosecuted then. Government should fully investigate and prosecute now.

[@sionnachmacbradaigh1010]

Exactly. Had this been investigated, there would have been a powerful prescedent for action.

[@satevo462]

Smedley Butler, one America's greatest heroes, and one of Capitalism's greatest monsters.

[@raymundogonzalez6450]

Yes ! but at least he unmasked that MIC he served ( maybe ? he didn't realized until he was old enough) Anyway He left a legacy and an Open eyes Book for new Generetion( Shoupd be read it at all Hight Schools of USA)

[@satevo462]

@@raymundogonzalez6450 Absolutely. War is A Racket should be required reading. I don't blame him for the things he did as a marine. At least he warned the rest of us about the capitalist war machine. And, you know, stopped an F'ing coup.

[@The10thManRules]

Wow. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@lupemerrit]

Unbelievable! I just finished reading the Smedley book. Loved it.