FOLLOW THE MONEY

By: Bill Schoettler

December 30, 2023

This phrase has become famous…because it is true and valid. If you are wondering why something happens in the world, follow the money. That is, find out who profits from the “thing”, and who (which individual or group of people) benefits financially from the outcome. That’s the way you find out the whys about the world. This is especially true about politics and the bedfellows of politicians. Why was any particular law passed…what are the special provisions buried within that law? Look for the people, organizations, and countries that benefit from the passage of that law and you can begin to unravel the why of the law.

How does this work? Well, consider the current big money pit for the United States. The war in Ukraine. There would appear to be absolutely no benefit, economically, philosophically, or any other way of participating in this war, participating by sending lots and lots and lots of money to Ukraine, that the United States of America benefits.

Okay, we are causing trouble to Russia. But Russia is practically a third-world country with a poor economy and poor people. Ukraine had the potential to be reasonably rich, producing grain for most of Europe. We, the USA, don’t need the Ukraine crops. Ukraine is run by a dictator, Zelensky, who has virtually banned religion, stifled dissent, quashed human rights, and 10 years ago would have been condemned by the US as a disfavored nation.  So, who is getting rich from the war?

We know that when Biden was VP his son was financially involved with Ukraine. So involved, in fact, that some in the Ukraine government began investigating how Hunter Biden, a lad with virtually no academic credentials [other than being the son of the Vice President of the United States], was being paid large sums of money. Biden, then the VP, called the Ukraine government and promised to cut off aid to that country if the investigation wasn’t quashed.  What’s even more astounding is that Joe Biden bragged about using his office to interfere with the functioning of a foreign government. It is of little interest, however, that Joe Biden, whose entire adult life was spent as a politician, somehow acquired 3 residences and takes expensive vacations.  Follow the money.

While we’re on the subject of war, ask who it is in the USA that benefits from war. The soldiers? Professional military personnel love to practice their trade. Also, in wartime promotions are more rapid. But we’re not involved in a shooting war other than by helping to supply and pay for others to do the shooting. So the military contractors who make the guns and bullets are happy to make money.  We don’t want to forget the middlemen, those who do the brokering of arms and equipment.

Who benefits if the war continues? All of the above. But what if a new President were to step in and decide, for whatever reason, to stop the war…or at least withdraw US support for Ukraine? The moneyed interests who are profiting would be upset. 

Who has talked about stopping the US support for Ukraine? None other than the current front-running (so the polls tell us) candidate who might win the next election. If we follow the money here, we might discover that many people and organizations that might otherwise be considered either Republicans or classically considered conservative would benefit if Biden were to continue as President and Trump would lose. 

Trump had 4 years to demonstrate his program as President. During that entire time, he was vilified, attacked, prosecuted, betrayed, and subverted by members of the opposition as well as by members of his own party. Then he lost an election. Since losing, Trump has traveled the countryside giving speeches and talking about how he would operate a new Presidency if he were to be elected in 2024. His promises plus his record plus the fact that he is really pissed …all combine to scare the shit out of the Democrats and even many Republicans.

Am I stating this too forcefully? I doubt the language will be foreign to most, but I want to make a point here. Trump becoming the next President of the United States will upset many people, companies, politicians, and members of the government who are not elected but count their paychecks as symbols of their support for the current administration. If you follow the money here, you will be depressed if you are a Trump supporter because the deck is stacked against him. Follow the money. 

What to do? Depends on how much you value your freedom to seek employment based on your talent and ability, how you view the insanity of the so-called climate crisis, whether you believe electric cars are the salvation of civilization, what your pronouns are, and a host of other idiotic nonsense that currently infuses our society. It also depends on what kind of country you seek.