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...Senate Doc. # 259. The 65th congress(:)...The coal…

“...Senate Doc. # 259. The 65th congress(:)...The coal companies made between 100% and 7,856% on their capital stock during the war (to end all wars, WWI). ...The leather people sold your Uncle Sam hundreds of thousands of saddles for the calvary. But there wasn't any calvary overseas!” quote by Smedley Butler
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“...Senate Doc. # 259. The 65th congress(:)...The coal companies made between 100% and 7,856% on their capital stock during the war (to end all wars, WWI). ...The leather people sold your Uncle Sam hundreds of thousands of saddles for the calvary. But there wasn't any calvary overseas!”

Smedley Butler

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

War profiteering inflated company profits dramatically, while resources were misallocated to unnecessary military supplies.

In simple terms: War boosted profits unfairly.

Key Takeaway

Question economic motives of war.

Themes

war economics exploitation politics

Mood

critical informative

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

  • historical analysis
  • policy critique
  • economic ethics
  • military spending

Key Concepts

profit motive misallocation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What safeguards prevent profiteering?
  • How can resources be better allocated?
A Different Perspective

Not all wartime production is essential; some is wasteful.

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