American foreign policy has always conflated the interests of private capital with those of the state. We’ve gone to war under every name but war to protect or increase private profits more often than any other reason. Sure, there have been ideological drivers—some real, others a mere veneer—but the number of truly humanitarian foreign interventions, free of profit motive, can be counted without taking off your shoes.

The majority of American people get nothing from these wars, despite footing the bill in terms of both blood and money. We might get cheaper energy or a stronger dollar, but the historic levels of wealth concentration and constant cutting of domestic programs to fund a bottomless military budget make it clear that what little trickles down leaves most of us in the red. Yes, sometimes we vote for this. Sometimes we welcome the chance to rally around the flag against a foreign enemy, even when—or especially when—it’s draped over the domestic fist that punches down at home. But if you put these wars to a public referendum, no electoral college funny business, how many would we fight?

In this case, private capital was compensated by the Venezuelan government for nationalized resources back in the late 70s. Yes, the transfer was an unexpected and long tailed mess. There may be legitimate American corporate grievances, just like there were legitimate Venezuelan grievances driving the nationalization. But claiming anything was stolen doesn’t hold up to scrutiny without robbing the word of meaning.

Imagine selling your home to avoid foreclosure because you lost your job. You had reasonable expectations of stability when you made the deal, but things changed because life isn’t fair. You aren’t turned out on the street; you get paid and you move on. Years later, when you’re back on your feet, do you get to wage war on your former mortgage company, your former employer, or the new homeowner? Why normalize behavior abroad for the good of those who have the most things we wouldn’t tolerate at home to benefit the rest of us?