A Hell of a Profit

Capitalism is compatible with war. Capitalists thrive on exploitation and war turns out a high number of victims. Certainly the arms industry directly profits from war, but investment opportunities in general are greatly enhanced by the prospects of conquest and plunder. War enabled many American companies, for example, to expand into Europe after World War Two. The reconstruction of Europe created a boom economy that lasted all the way to the early 1970's. War also forces the population into a more submissive posture, which makes it desirable for people in positions of power. The Patriot Act of 2002 stripped Americans of many of their constitutional rights and allowed an unpopular president to secure a second term of office. Perhaps Lyndon Johnson could have done the same to stay in power during the Vietnam War, but to his credit, he retired in 1968. Capitalists want us to believe that we go to war to protect big business. They do this by presenting our victories as a triumphs of capitalism over the enemy. Of course, that is not why we fight. We fight to protect our homes and our loved ones from an outside threat, perhaps because we find unfettered corporate greed to be enough of an internal threat. It is not amoral to look upon war as an opportunity to exploit victims and increase profits. Such an attitude is immoral.
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