War is a racket
by Smedley D. Butler · first published 1935
34% recommend66% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short 1930s exposé by a Marine major general on how corporate and industrial interests profit from war, even squandering war funding. An early look at the military-industrial complex for those questioning war motives.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Brilliantly outlines who profits and who looses from, loosing the dogs of war. A scathing critique on the nature of politics and war profits. Revealing truths about the use of propaganda by war profiteers, and the lack of support for those whose backs are broken by the war machine. This should be required reading for all those who view public office as a fruit machine.
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…Bernays - Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond - Empires: The Logic of World Domination from Ancient Rome to the United States by Herfried Münkler - Smedley D. Butler's War is a Racket (more of an exposé) - In Praise of Idleness by Bertrand Russell (ditto) - Neuromancer by William Gibson
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗…that fights and kills for your nation and government and it can be used to fight wars that are not that important or well thought. If war is not big national emergency, it's probably not a just war. I think 'War Is a Racket' by Major General Smedley D Butler provides ethical solution. When there is a war, you conscript everything, people and profits. If one is not going to war, one works with the same pay as a conscript…
on “Sweden brings back military conscription” ↗It isn't childish. It's the history of the US. From the very beginning to today. But that's the history of most nations around the world. You might also want to check out "War is a Racket" by Smedley Butler. Then you might want to check out why the oligarchs created the US in the first place. Had nothing to do with freedom or liberty. It was about land and wealth.
on “Operation Dark Winter” ↗It never stopped, and the US is one of the worst offenders Check out War is a Racket, by US general Smedley Butler Also the Snowden documents and the whole Asange/Wikileaks case
on “MGM losing up to $8.4M a day due to cyberattack, analyist says” ↗> Also refer to "War is a Racket" (1935)[1] by medals of honor recipient Major General Smedley Butler That is a terrific piece, and one that's had a lot of HN attention: https://hn.algolia.com/?q=War+is+a+Racket Most active discussion,…
on “Soldiers speak out about being blocked from repairing equipment by contractors” ↗…pacified neighbors has any real threats or merely opportunities for cheap labor, market access, and mineral rights abroad. This has been going on for a very long time (read what Smedley Butler said in "War is a Racket"), but after the Iraq War, the credibility of the US should be somewhere in hell.
on “Google Workers Seek 'Red Lines' on Military A.I., Echoing Anthropic” ↗Smedley Butler - War is a Racket. Good quick read.
on “Treason in the Futures Markets” ↗"War is a racket" by 2 time CMOH recipient Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler (USMC) details how corporate interests profit from warfare. http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html When I went through infantry training…
on “Thank You for Being Expendable” ↗They may not be pushing a particular ideology, but to call it benevolent is a stretch. Business is often the main interest. Read "War is a racket" [1] by General Smedley Butler to see how far back this goes. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket
on “Vodafone reveals direct government wiretaps” ↗Also relevant: "War is a Racket", by the WWI-era General Smedley Butler. http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html
on “Use of Drones for Killings Risks a War Without End” ↗Let's not forget the timeless classic by Major General Smedley Butler: War Is A Racket[0]. [0]http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html
on “Military Professional Reading Lists” ↗Americas wars have often been in places that coincidentally favour their local business monopolies. "War is a racket" by Major General Smedley Butler is a good historical primer in this. The wars in Iraq were fairly obviously related to the oil production in this area. If done because of that, then the 3 Trillion (that's…
on “Why do they love electric cars in Norway?” ↗11/22/63, Stephen King War is a Racket, Smedley Butler The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins Mans Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl Foundation, Isaac Asimov
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2016?” ↗It has nothing to do with programming but I find myself rereading Smedley Butler's essay, "War is a Racket", quite often: https://archive.org/stream/WarIsARacket/WarIsARacket_djvu.tx...
on “Ask HN: What essay/blogpost do you keep going back to reread?” ↗One 1930s essay to read before creating war-focused technology: "War Is A Racket By Marine Major General Smedley Butler" https://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html "WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most…
on “Tech’s Military Dilemma” ↗