Profits of Power

The International Herald Tribune tells us why there is always so much "bipartisan consensus" on America's militarist empire: because members of Congress own a big chunk of the war machine:

Members of the U.S.Congress have as much as $196 million collectively invested in companies doing business with the Defense Department, earning millions since the start of the Iraq war, according to a new study by a nonpartisan research group.

The story also points to one big reason why the Democrats have been so -- what's the word? remiss? sluggardly? craven? pathetic? -- in their ostensible opposition to the Iraq War:

The study found that more Republicans than Democrats hold stock in defense companies, but that the Democrats who are invested had significantly more money at stake.

As the song says:

Every word of hatred, every bullet and bomb
Puts another piece of gold in a fat cat's palm....
It's serious business
They're serious men
Making serious money
From serious sin

http://www.chris-floyd.com/content/view/1477/135/