The situation in North America is without doubt revolutionary. The ruling class, the billionaires, the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, can no longer rule in the old way. Their method of rule is no longer effective and their class is deeply divided. All are agreed that their method of rule must change. They just cannot agree on how that method of rule must change.
As well, the working class, the proletariat, is no longer content to be ruled in the old way. They are demanding change. As they put it, they have woken up. Countless people who were formerly apathetic are now taking an interest in their lives, holding their leaders accountable. It is not just in the political arena that they are active. They are also demanding change in the trade unions, sports clubs, sewing circles and various working class organizations.
The revolution is being led by working class and middle class women in the United States. These people refer to themselves as Americans, so I will use that terminology, even though it is not exactly precise. The important thing to bear in mind is that American women are spearheading the revolution and it is spreading around North America.
It is not by chance that the latest revolution is being led by women. The fact is that many working class leaders, including the leaders of unions, have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, so to speak. They have been helping themselves to money that belongs to the members. As well, there is a stratum of the working class which is reasonably well off, highly skilled and quite well paid, at least compared to the vast majority of workers, and they would prefer to keep things just the way they are. They are not at all anxious to rock the boat. These workers are not revolutionary, at least not yet. As the revolutionary motion gains strength, we can expect these workers to jump on the bandwagon. It is perhaps not too surprising that most of these individuals are men.
This stands in stark contrast to the vast majority of workers who are barely scraping by, living from pay check to pay check. These are the working people who are most vocal, those who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We can only stress the fact that they are being led by women.
These workers are determined to set up a socialist republic, but are not sure how to do it or the form it should take. Happily, we can compare the approaching American revolution with the preceding Russian revolution of November, 1917. We can expect the approaching American republic to take the same form, as the situation is quite similar.
In 1917, Russia was not one country but an empire, ruled by a monarch, a Czar, the rough equivalent of an emperor. This particular Czar, Nicholas Romanov, was related to the monarch of Britain, among others. At that time, the Romanov family had been ruling Russia for hundreds of years, and in fact they ruled with an iron hand. As the Russian empire ruled over a great many people of various nationalities, and not just people who considered themselves Russian, an iron hand was indeed needed to keep these various peoples in their place, under the rule of the Russian Czar.
As for those who wonder why these nationalities are not merely referred to as countries, the answer is that there is a difference between a country and a republic. A republic has a democratically elected government and does not recognize a monarch, whereas a country may or may not recognize a monarch. This means that the United States is a republic, while Canada is a country, as it recognizes the Queen of England as the head of state. This is a mere remnant of colonial rule, and must be abolished.
Now the situation in America is quite similar to the situation in Russia 1917. In February of that year, the monarchy had been overthrown and the bourgeoisie, the capitalists, had assumed undisputed power. The country of Russia was then officially a republic, as it no longer recognized the Czar as the head of state. On the other hand, it remained an empire as it continued to rule over various nations.
It was only in November of that year that the working people, which is to say the proletarians and poor peasants, led by Lenin and the Marxists, carried through the revolution to its proper conclusion, overthrew the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, and established a socialist republic. The various nations which had been ruled by Russia achieved independence as well as socialism, and established independent socialist republics. They then came together to form a Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in that Soviet means council.
Each socialist republic was supremely well aware that it was absolutely necessary to join together with other socialist republics, as a means of defending themselves against the anticipated attacks of the neighbouring capitalist countries. The experience of the Paris Commune of 1871 left no room for doubt on that score. The uprising of the workers of Paris had been crushed with the utmost brutality.
This brings us to the American empire, which also rules over various republics. Aside from the colony of Puerto Rico, these republics have been grouped together in the form of states, and for that reason, it is necessary to list them. No doubt most readers find such lists to be boring, similar to a laundry list, but the Americans living in those states may find this to be interesting.
The two other colonies ruled by the Americans are Hawaii and Alaska, which are states in name only. Then in the north east of the country, that which is commonly referred to as the continental United States, we have the New England states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The addition of New York and New Jersey comprises Greater New England.
Diametrically opposite to the north east we have the south west, a part of the country which was taken from Mexico and for that reason is referred to as the Spanish south west. These include the states of Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, and at least parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma.
In 1861, the southern part of the country broke away to form the completely reactionary republic of the Confederate States of America. This gave rise to the American civil war of 1861-1865, and the eleven states which comprised the Confederacy were Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia and Louisiana. All of these states practiced slavery.
There were also five other states which practiced slavery but did not separate from the union, that of Delaware, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland and Missouri. These are referred to as the border states.
The south is considered to comprise the states of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
Then there are the east south central states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The bible belt states are composed of Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.
In 1803, the Americans purchased the Louisiana territory from France, so that part of the country has a strong French influence. That resulted in the creation of the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and parts of Colorado, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana.
This is merely a partial list of the states which have been grouped together and identify with each other, to a greater or lesser extent. The American government has broken down the country into geographical areas in a different manner, so that for example, the Pacific north west includes the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and southeast Alaska. Then there the east north central states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Of course, there are other areas of the country which are grouped together, more or less at the whim of the American government, those who act at the behest of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie.
Even a cursory examination of the list reveals a considerable overlap. Even so, we can expect various socialist republics to be created from these states, and parts of states. It is very likely that people who live in close proximity, in various parts of the country, and whom have a great deal in common, will band together to form a socialist republic.
The Spanish south west stands out with striking clarity. Those people have maintained their language and culture and may well establish their own Spanish republic. It is reasonable to expect them to have close ties with Mexico, if not to rejoin the country.
The southern states are also quite distinctive, and as several of them broke apart once before, may well do so again. The difference is that the next separation could well result in the creation of a predominantly black republic.
This brings us to the country of Canada, that which is not a republic, as it recognizes the British monarch as the head of state. We can also expect this country to fall apart, to form separate socialist republics, as the revolution spreads to this country. I use the word republic, as most Canadians do not want to be ruled by a monarch, and that includes the British monarch. This is especially true of the province of Quebec, which is predominantly French, and the French have dealt quite severely with their French monarch many years ago. They have no desire to replace a French monarch with a British monarch. Then too, no doubt the British monarchy wants nothing to do with any socialist republic. The nobility is similar to the capitalists in their passionate, undying hatred of socialism. Such people are not entirely stupid, and socialism is the worst enemy of both capitalism and the nobility.
To the east, we have the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and they consider themselves to have a separate identity, and in fact did not join Canada until 1948. They will likely form a separate republic, as Canada breaks up.
Then there are the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, which have a great deal in common.
As previously mentioned, the province of Quebec is without doubt a separate country contained within the borders of Canada. It has its own language, French, and its own culture. It certainly has no desire to recognize the British monarch.
The province of Ontario can also be expected to form a separate republic.
To the west, we have the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Another republic in the making.
On the west coast, we have British Columbia, including Vancouver Island. It remains to be seen if Vancouver Island chooses to remain part of British Columbia.
That brings us to the territories of Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories. They may be considered to be colonies of Canada and none too happy with this. Who can blame them?
In Russia, immediately after the October revolution of 1917, the newly created independent socialist republics came together to form a union of socialist republics, quite reasonably called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR. They were supremely well aware that the neighbouring capitalist countries would go to any length to crush them, if for no other reason than that the capitalists consider socialism to be contagious. In this they are correct. Once workers of other countries see how well workers fare under socialism, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, then they too are anxious to establish their own socialist republic.
We can expect the socialist revolution in North America to follow the trail blazed by the Russian revolution, as independent socialist republics are created.
No doubt the people who will be forming these socialist republics will pay no attention to the artificial way in which the governments have grouped them. They will band together according to the interests they have in common, with no regards as to state or provincial boundaries. After these independent socialist republics have taken shape, we can expect them to come together to form a union of socialist republics, just as they did in Russia in 1917. Precisely how many socialist republics will form and the form of the unions of socialist republics remains to be seen.
It is possible that the American independent socialist republics which will soon take shape, from the ruins of the United States, will all group together to form a separate republic, a union of American Socialist Republics. Or perhaps the Spanish Southwest will choose to rejoin Mexico, for example. It is reasonable to expect the revolution to spread to Mexico, so that union becomes more plausible. Then too, the parts of the country which have a strong French influence, such as Louisiana, may be expected to bond closely with Quebec.
The same is true of Canada. As the country breaks up, it is to be expected that the newly created areas will cut all ties with the British monarchy, and establish true socialist republics. It is very likely that people will pay no attention to provincial and territorial boundaries, those which have been forced upon people by the Canadian government, at the direction of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, of course. The precise number of republics which will soon be created remains to be seen, as does the manner in which these independent socialist republics come together to form unions. There may be several, although it is possible that all the republics, which will form from both countries, could come together to form a Union of North American Socialist Republics. The working people of North America will decide, as the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, will be crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
At that time, after the socialist revolution, after the billionaires have been overthrown, we will then have to face the problem of crushing the bourgeoisie with sufficient enthusiasm, in order to avoid the mistake the Russian workers made. In Russia, the capitalists have managed to return to power, if only temporarily. We will have to avoid that mistake.
On the other hand, the revolutionary movement may well spread to Russia and the Russian workers may well show us how to correct the mistake they made. The next Russian revolution may well be right around the corner.
In the mean time, we can best educate the working people with slogans, which is a start:
Workers of the World, Unite!
Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!
Scientific Socialism!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 