Hidding in Plain Sight
Today's post is one that I share with great respect for the people who work tirelessly to help and support the citizens of this country. However, January 6, 2021, was a turning point in modern history. Regardless of how that event made you feel, you knew citizens in this country had reached their breaking point. The partisan divide is now narrowing, and unless you are part of the 1%, you feel the extreme tension. The truth is, we've been here before, and I'm betting you've never heard the whole story.
To begin with, one of the most astonishing-but often overlooked—events in American history occurred in 1933, during the early days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency.
As the nation struggled to recover from the Great Depression, a covert plan to overthrow the elected government became real. At the heart of this plot was retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, a highly respected war hero who had earned two Medals of Honor for his service. The plan? Install Butler as the head of a fascist (a dictatorial leader, a centralized autocracy, and the suppression of opposition) authority and force President Roosevelt out of office.
Death of a Salesman
Moreover, the conspirators were not fringe radicals but some of the wealthiest and most influential businessmen in America. According to Butler's sworn testimony, a bond salesman named Gerald MacGuire, acting as an agent for powerful financial interests, approached him.
MacGuire explained that a well-funded group was organizing a veterans' army to mirror Mussolini's Blackshirts—and they wanted Butler to lead it. The purpose of this paramilitary force was chillingly clear: to launch a coup d’état against President Roosevelt and replace him with an obedient military dictator.
All in the Family
Notably, Butler did not go along with the plan. Instead, he exposed it. In 1934, he testified under oath before the McCormack–Dickstein Committee (the forerunner of the House Un-American Activities Committee). His courageous testimony revealed that the coup had serious backing, with funding allegedly coming from Grayson M.P. Murphy, a financier with close ties to J.P. Morgan & Co. Butler stated that MacGuire boasted of a $3 million war chest, ready to be deployed for this anti-democratic cause. Consequently, this was no idle threat—it was a real danger to the republic.
Additionally, other names and institutions surfaced as potentially involved in the conspiracy. The DuPont family, one of the most powerful industrial dynasties in the country, was strongly implicated. Known for their hostility toward Roosevelt's New Deal policies, they had reportedly funded pro-fascist veterans' groups and political organizations.
Furthermore, later journalistic investigations—including reports from the BBC and The Guardian—suggested that Prescott Bush (my blog on the Bush family), father of President George H.W. Bush and a partner at Brown Brothers Harriman, may have had indirect ties to the fascist movement in Europe and possibly to the Business Plot itself. While his direct involvement remains speculative, the banking firm's connections to Nazi Germany raised serious questions.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt III with his mother, Ethel du Pont Roosevelt, and his grandfather, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the White House Christmas celebration in 1941.
You can't touch me...
Equally important, the group of men evaded prosecution for the plot. Although the House committee confirmed that evidence existed to support Butler's claims, it ultimately downplayed the event and allowed it to fade into obscurity. Many historians believe that this was a deliberate move to protect the reputations of the nation's economic elite. J.P. Morgan & Co., the DuPonts, and others had too much influence, and revealing their role in an attempted fascist coup could have caused public outrage—or worse, destabilized the already fragile economy.
Does this sound familiar? In the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco found that the crisis cost every American approximately $70,000 in lifetime income. Likewise, the sheer size and interconnectedness of major financial institutions meant that prosecuting them could have had severe negative consequences for the national and global economy, a concern acknowledged by figures like former Attorney General Eric Holder. Meanwhile, the only person to serve jail time was Egyptian-born Credit Suisse executive Kareem Serageldin.
Business Plan?
Subsequently, the American Liberty League, formed in 1934, emerged as a public-facing political organization for many of the same anti-Roosevelt forces. Though the Liberty League promoted itself as a constitutional watchdog, its membership included many of the same industrialists and financiers who were hostile to Roosevelt's reforms. This overlap further strengthens the case that the Business Plot reflected a broader elite effort to undermine or even replace the democratic process.
In conclusion, the 1933 Business Plot remains one of the most disturbing episodes in U.S. political history, precisely because authorities buried it. It highlights the fragility of democracy, especially during periods of economic and political unrest. General Smedley Butler's unwavering patriotism and refusal to betray the Constitution prevented the United States from descending into dictatorship. His brave decision not only preserved Roosevelt's presidency but also safeguarded American democracy, which was under serious threat at the time.
Ultimately, the Business Plot still teaches us a relevant lesson today: democracy is not a given. It must be at the forefront of each American's thoughts. Primarily, when power and wealth are used to manipulate or destroy the very institutions that hold the republic together.
A silent Hero
At its core, the Business Plot was a well-financed plan to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install a fascist-style government in the United States. As a result, the traitors aimed to use veterans, especially those suffering during the Great Depression, to form a private army that would march on Washington and either force Roosevelt to resign or act as a figurehead while the real power shifted to a dictator-like "Secretary of General Affairs."
To be clear, the wealthy elite took inspiration for the model from Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Nazi Germany. Likewise, the veterans' organization would be a paramilitary force, possibly 500,000 strong. Back in the early 19th century, armies had the power. And, in the eyes of the traitors, a toy tiger like Smedley Butler would act as the military leader of this army and later as the head of a puppet government. As a result, the wealthy hid their true power, thus starving the people of equality and going undetected.
A double Medal of Honor recipient, Smedley Butler.
Compare & Contrast
To begin with, when we compare the political landscape and corporate influence in 2025 to the fascist coup attempt of 1933, we uncover both striking differences and unsettling similarities. While the methods have evolved, the ultimate goal remains the same: maintaining elite control at the expense of democratic governance. The key distinction is who is wielding the power.
In 1933, it was a bold, direct attempt to seize power through military force. In contrast, 2025 reveals a more refined strategy—one that operates within legal frameworks, using legislation, financial systems, and digital platforms to influence government policy and public perception.
To clarify, in 1933, wealthy elites attempted to overthrow the U.S. government by organizing a fascist coup by force and installing Major General Smedley Butler as a puppet dictator. This move was illegal, extrajudicial, and explicitly anti-democratic. It relied on brute force and the mobilization of military veterans as a paramilitary force.
Smedley D. Butler gives a few off-the-record answers to Senator Homer T. Bone (right), member of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, before which Butler appeared today to oppose the 1938 $1.1 billion Naval Expansion Bill. Butler declared that the people will "turn on the bill," and in all probability, the proposed new navy will never be built
Get out of jail free card
Conversely, by 2025, corporate influence is not only legal but also supported by all institutions. Lobbying, campaign finance, dark money, and revolving doors between corporations and federal agencies have become normalized channels of power. Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs shape elections, while corporations quietly write legislation behind closed doors. Click here to view the breakdown of PACs since 1944. Today, there is no need for a military coup; the system has been quietly captured by money and influence, often with public consent or indifference.
Furthermore, legal consequences—or their absence—highlight another key difference. Authorities never prosecuted the Business Plot in 1933, which revealed early signs of elite immunity. Although General Butler's testimony was credible and confirmed, no one was ever held accountable for the events that occurred. Unfortunately, the buried plot and the powerful walked away unscathed.
By comparison, in 2025, laws against corporate crime technically exist, but their enforcement is mainly symbolic. Massive companies in Big Tech, Big Pharma, and finance routinely violate regulations, but penalties are often negligible—mere cost-of-business fines.
Further, regulatory bodies, such as the SEC, FTC, and DOJ, are frequently underfunded, politically influenced, or outmatched by armies of corporate attorneys. This results in a two-tiered justice system: one for average citizens and another for the ultra-wealthy and well-connected.
Anti - Trust
Meanwhile, in 2025, recent legislative actions have significantly reduced funding for key regulatory agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with the 2025 budget decreasing by $200M. The Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division has a decrease of $192.8 million, which is 33% less than the President's proposal and a 17% decrease from FY2024.
Additionally, a provision in the appropriations package caps the DOJ Antitrust Division's budget at $233 million, redirecting any excess premerger filing fees to the DOJ's general fund. This change undermines the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, which allowed the division to retain these fees to support its operations.
Finally, and to a lesser extent, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These cuts have raised concerns about the government's ability to enforce antitrust laws and protect consumers effectively (See Google). In summary, recent legislative actions have curtailed the resources and authority of key regulatory agencies, raising concerns about the future effectiveness of antitrust enforcement and consumer protection in the United States.
Just as important, the consequences for democracy are profound. In 1933, the threat to democracy was immediate and obvious—a direct replacement of the Constitution with a dictatorship. Americans would have lost their freedoms overnight.
The rich get richer
In contrast, the erosion of democracy in 2025 is more insidious. Techniques such as gerrymandering, voter suppression, corporate media consolidation, and the manipulation of public discourse through data mining and algorithms have created an illusion of democratic choice. Increasingly, citizens feel that real power resides with unelected corporate entities rather than with elected representatives. In effect, democracy is still present—but only in name.
Additionally, the relationship between business and government has undergone a fundamental shift. In 1933, corporate leaders feared Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies (social security, job creation, and reforming the banking system) because they threatened their wealth and autonomy. The coup was their radical solution—a last resort.
In 2025, there will be no need for such drastic measures. Many corporations and government agencies are now intertwined. Former CEOs sit in cabinet positions, legislation is written by industry lobbyists, and public policy often mirrors corporate agendas. Government contracts enrich private companies, and enforcement agencies look the other way. This public-private symbiosis undermines accountability and leaves the average citizen without representation. For insight on President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill that is now the law, read my blog here.
No NRA required
Equally important is the evolution of public awareness and resistance. In 1933, most Americans never heard of the Business Plot. Authorities swiftly covered it up, and the media quickly moved on.
By 2025, public awareness of corruption is at an all-time high, but so is public indifference. Misinformation, hyper-partisan division, and a surveillance culture have made it difficult for grassroots resistance to organize effectively. Many citizens feel disempowered, overwhelmed by the sheer complexity of modern power structures. Meanwhile, the tools of control—AI, predictive analytics, financial systems—grow ever more sophisticated and detached from public oversight.
Notably, the tools used to manipulate power have undergone significant changes. In 1933, the plotters needed guns, generals, and brute force to overthrow democracy. In 2025, power is in algorithms, lawyers, and legislation—all cloaked in the guise of legitimacy.
Multi-Earth Dimension
The Business Plot failed because it was too visible and required mass betrayal by the military. In contrast, today's control systems succeed precisely because they are invisible, operating within legal boundaries and using democratic language to mask anti-democratic outcomes.
In conclusion, the difference between 1933 and 2025 is not about whether democracy is under threat—it's about how that threat is carried out. In 1933, it was a one-time coup attempt; in 2025, it's a slow-motion capture of institutions, economies, and public trust. The battlefield has shifted—from the streets to boardrooms, courtrooms, and data centers. But the motive remains: preserving elite power at the expense of the people.
However, fear not. You need only recognize the abuse of power by the elite few. And I will remind you that when you see what is going on, but not entangeling, you change everything. You see, you can't change the people on this planet. You raise your frequency and change the planet you live on. As a result, you exist on the parallel Earth where you match frequencies. Enjoy the ride!
