Where to now, modern caesars? (or: from republic to empire…)
Americans haven’t always been so blasé about war profiteering. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously said: “I don’t want to see a single war millionaire created in the United States as a result of this world disaster.”
FDR’s strong feelings about war profiteering were shared by his successor, Harry Truman. As a Senator, Truman had traveled around the country going from one defense industry factory to another to investigate charges that executives were reaping unfair rewards. He later formed an investigative committee that saved billions in military costs. [More…]
That’s from a must-read article by Sarah Anderson, War Profiteer Knows How to Party, which chronicles, among other things, bulletproof vest maker DHB Industries’ CEO David Brooks, whose fortunes have “skyrocketed” (in 2004, he made 133 times his 2001 salary, namely $70million….), and who recently threw a Bat Mitzvah for his daughter Elizabeth, which everyone agrees was over-the-top excessive (guesstimates peg the party bill at $10million; one wonders how Elizabeth, should she wish to, can possibly get out from under that pile…). According to news reports, it was more like a belated party for Mr. Brooks than anything resembling an honouring or coming-of-age ceremony for the daughter…
Meanwhile, here on the planet Earth, in our living room, we’ve been enthralled of late by a viewing of the famous I, Claudius series. Talk about apposite…
Thanks to The Institute for Policy Studies for these links…
Foremost, we muct understand what these types of “caesars” have for half a century fought to protect: Unearned privilege and positive public perception. While no one can separate them from the privilege for it is too far ingrained in the American psyche the perception of the Bush Cheney cabal is at an all time low.
This administration and these times are so disturbing because the Karl Rove’s and Jack Abramoff’s of the world somehow gain a greater voice and access to those who can change the world instead of clear minded brilliant people like your self. This madam is what humanity should be ashamed of.
Cavalor Epthith
Editor-in-Chief
The Dis Brimstone-Daily Pitchfork
“Wrap your fish in Dis!”
Comment by Cavalor Epthith — December 6, 2005 #
Welcome, Cavalor Epthith — that’s quite a name, by the way (and I thought mine was hard to pronounce!)…
You are right in tune with Harold Pinter, whose Nobel Prize acceptance speech makes the same points…
Comment by Yule Heibel — December 8, 2005 #