The Business Plot

[Adil3tr]

The Business Plot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot)


The Business Plot (also the Plot Against FDR and the White House Putsch) was an alleged political conspiracy in 1933. Retired Marine CorpsMajor General Smedley Butler claimed that wealthy businessmen were plotting to create a fascist veterans' organization and use it in a coup d’état to overthrow United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Butler as leader of that organization. In 1934 Butler testified to the McCormack-Dickstein Congressional committee on these claims.[1] In the opinion of the committee, these allegations were credible. One of the purported plotters, Gerald MacGuire, vehemently denied any such plot. In their report, the Congressional committee stated that it was able to confirm Butler's statements other than the proposal from MacGuire which it considered more or less confirmed by MacGuire's European reports.[1] No one was prosecuted.


What do you think?

[Fulanito de Tal]

I agree with that. I can't find where I've read it at the moment. I think it was in Edurado Galeano's Mirrors book, but he's not in the index. Gen. Butler, one of the most honored Marines was very outspoken against what he was used for.

He has a base name after him: http://www.mcbbutler.usmc.mil/

I found this: http://www.fas.org/man/smedley.htm

[Jimmie Higgins]

I think it shows people how much more sever things were in the 1930s. People think think the tea-party represents fascism in the US? I think when you look at the 1930s and that level of polarization in the US, it puts things into some perspective. Yeah we have Glenn Beck, but they had right-wing radio too and armed thugs beating up Okiees and unionists back then - that's what US fascism will look like, not disoriented and confused racist 70 year olds in colonial outfits that we have today.

Today business loves Obama (although they probably have doubts he can still successfully run the country and sell austerity to an angry population) and there is not sector of industry that feels threatened enough to support coup attempts. If there's a huge labor movement in the US, general strikes, sit-down strikes and some on the right and in industry think that Obama is tacitly encouraging it or unable to stop it, then there will be serious coup attempts and serious fascist movements being built.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Imagine if we had a war with Fascist Germany with a sympathetic Fascist USA.

[Nolan]

Imagine if we had a war with Fascist Germany with a sympathetic Fascist USA.


Do you mean if the US joined the Axis? The Soviets would probably have been doomed.

[What Would Durruti Do?]

Do you mean if the US joined the Axis? The Soviets would probably have been doomed.

So in other words, nothing would have been different.

I'm not sure if the U.S. would have joined the Axis even with a fascist regime in charge. The Japanese and German markets were probably much more appealing at the time than the Soviet markets. Take down two at once, then worry about the third later.

[Jazzhands]

Nobody was prosecuted? What the hell? Come on Congress, THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE YOUR JOBS AND MURDER YOU. How was nobody prosecuted?

[Nolan]

Nobody was prosecuted? What the hell? Come on Congress, THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE YOUR JOBS AND MURDER YOU. How was nobody prosecuted?

These things tend to be forgiven for some strange reason. Look at Chavez, he's president now.

[Nolan]

So in other words, nothing would have been different.

I'm not sure if the U.S. would have joined the Axis even with a fascist regime in charge. The Japanese and German markets were probably much more appealing at the time than the Soviet markets. Take down two at once, then worry about the third later.

That's just not how it works.

One, you have the factor of ideology.

Two, it would be a bad idea to go to war with the Axis and leave the Soviets at peace.

The only logical moves would be to join the Axis or try to ally with the Soviets, like irl. The first would be more attractive due to fascist ideology.

[Amphictyonis]

This is part of the NWO stuff where they said the Rothschild dynasty along with other industrialists conspired to take over the state. LOL. I agree with his "War Is A Racket" sepal but he needed to understand industrialists have controlled the state all along. This is just capitalism, not a conspiracy- capitalism is a racket. He should have put that together when he figured out the war for profit game. I'm sure when a politician here and there challenges the 'authority' of concentrated wealth conspiracies do arise with the goal of eliminating or placing the (capitalists) politician back in check.

I can't waist a lot of time seriously thinking about the inner power struggles of the bourgeoisie. One thing the "conspiracy theorists (who support capitalism) have correct is bankers do indeed have power- it's just, more times than not bankers is code for Jew in their eyes. Hell, McDonald's has more power than many small nations.


I read about this coup attempt years back though. I think, if there's any truth to it, it was an attempt by the capitalists to install a stronger anti communist regime. FDR had them nervous with his liberal policies.


I've said many times and read many places, if capitalism is threatened, if it is in serious crisis and a revolution doesn't take place fascism is likely to manifest at the behest of the capitalists so they can maintain their rule/privilege.

From Butler-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket