great forgotten misfits from the past #1

Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, originally uploaded by John Barleycorn.

Number One in my new collectors series of Great Forgotten Misfits from the past is Major General Smedley Darlington Butler who, by the time of his death (June 21, 1940), was the most decorated U.S. Marine in history. He came forward to Congress in 1933 to reveal a coup d'etat plot against President Roosevelt sponsored by big-money interests. He was twice the recipient of the Medal of Honor, one of only nineteen to be so honored. As a testemony of his career in the U.S. military and as a "high class muscle man for Big Business" he wrote "War is a racket" in 1935. Some quotes from this very interesting man are:
"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and 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 benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902 - 1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested."

"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."

Could you find a better candidate for the Number One position in my collectors series of Great Forgotten Misfits from the past? Major General Smedley Darlington Butler was a true american hero and misfit! He clearly showed that the neoliberal and conservative assertion that "democracy always follows in the fotstep of capitalism" is pure bullshit. Capitalism doesn't care the least about democracy or tyranny. It cares about profits. If the profits are made in a democracy or with the help of brutal military force doesn't matter. Let Major General Butler be remembered.