The Las Vegas Democratic presidential debate is now behind us, and one more political farce is a bit of history. The capitalists are doing their best to divert the revolutionary movement, using these ”debates” and ”town halls” as ”smoke and mirrors” to distract the working class, if you will excuse the metaphor. Such metaphors must be used, in order to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat, to the level of Marxists. At least, the most advanced members of the proletariat must become class conscious, as the less advanced have the utmost respect for such people. It is up to middle class intellectuals, either current or former members of that class, to bring this class awareness to the proletariat. With that in mind, feel free to use metaphors, especially sports metaphors, as most working people are familiar with sports. Also, repetition of the scientific terms, as we all learned the alphabet through repetition. Try to communicate with people in an entertaining manner, as most political articles are a crashing bore.
Bear in mind that the revolutionary motion is in ”high gear”, which means that countless people, those whom were formerly apathetic, are now rising up, taking an interest in politics, determined to make a difference, looking for leaders and disappointed in the current crop of candidates for the presidency. Who can blame them?
This in no way changes the fact that the working people, members of the public, both proletariat and middle class, are closely watching those political spectacles. As that is the case, it is up to class conscious people, and especially Marxists, to use these as examples to help raise the level of awareness of the public. I can further suggest avoiding the use of the word masses, as most people find the word rather offensive. Such people tend to refer to themselves as common people, or rank and file.
The latest debate in Las Vegas, in preparation for the Nevada primary, was entertaining, if nothing else. The journalists are reporting ”sparks flying”, and one of them, an individual whom has managed to maintain his sense of humour -one of the few- compared this to ”Titanic meeting the iceburg”, in that Bloomberg was the Titanic and Senator Elizabeth Warren was the iceburg. Well done! Now if only Leftist writers could learn to communicate in that manner.
The journalists are also quite gleefully reporting that Bloomberg is worth 60 billion, so that he is one of the richest men in the world, and not just America. He was formerly the mayor of New York City, and used the police tactic of ”stop and frisk” against ”visible minorities”, which is to say ”people of colour”, either Afro American or Hispanic, otherwise known as ”black or brown”. He is reported to have endorsed ”redlining”, and is considered to be a racist and a misogynist, which is likely true, just as it is true that most common people are not aware of the meaning of the word misogynist.
Most people are aware of the meaning of the word racist, and misogyny is nothing more than prejudice against women. Then again, some people distinguish between sexists, those who are prejudiced against women, and misogynists, as those who are even more despicable. Apparently Bloomberg is one of the more despicable.
It is such terms which should be explained to working people, if only because it has their attention.
In fact, Warren was quick to point out that numerous women had accused Bloomberg of sexual assault, and he had ”paid them off”, in that he had given them cash in return for signing a ”non disclosure agreement”, or ”NDA”. She further suggested that he should release those women from such an agreement, and of course he refused. This is not to say that Warren is necessarily the brightest of the presidential candidates, just that she has the best handlers.
It is notable that one of the candidates accused Sanders, a self described ”Independent Socialist”, of believing that ”capitalism is the root of all evil”. It should be pointed out to working people that this is one of the favourite tricks of the capitalists, or at least of their supporters, to accuse someone else of believing that which they know to be true!
It is an over simplification to say that ”capitalism is the root of all evil”, but as we live in a class society, it is not much of a stretch. Of course the candidate who accused Sanders of believing this also believes this, just as the capitalists believe this, but are not about to admit it, just as they are not about to deny it. This is a fine example of ”moving to the centre”, otherwise known as ”straddling the fence”, and should be pointed out to the working class.
The same candidate who made that accusation, against Sanders, also accused Bloomberg of thinking that ”money is the root of all power”. As Bloomberg is extremely wealthy, a member of the bourgeoisie, that is very likely also true. He very likely does believe this, and as we live under capitalism, we can all see his point. All working people can testify to the fact that money is power!
The fact that Bloomberg is being put forward as a candidate for president, as an alternative to Trump, is significant. Both are members of the same class, the bourgeoisie, and one is every bit the racist and sexist as is the other. Bloomberg does not even have his name on the ballot in Nevada, yet participated in the Las Vegas debate. The fact that this makes no sense is an indication that the bourgeoisie is desperate, unsure of how to proceed.
Bloomberg and Trump are members of the same class, the bourgeoisie, and could be twins. One is every bit as sexist and racist as the other, completely devoid of principle, technically referred to as opportunists. In other words, they are typical members of the bourgeoisie, completely reactionary. These are more technical terms with which the working class must become familiar.
No doubt the bourgeoisie, the ruling class, is worried. They are aware of the revolutionary movement which is sweeping the country, and are doing their best to combat this, to divert it onto some harmless motion for paltry reforms. Even though the journalists are using such words as revolution and socialism -words which were formerly forbidden- the word ”secession” is still not allowed to be used.
The journalists are supremely well aware that the country is deeply divided, about to break apart, but are not allowed to say this. They are professional people with their ”ear to the ground”, so that they listen carefully to that which common people are saying. They are well aware that, for example, the state of California is close to breaking apart, and may form as many as five separate states, possible separating from the union. The state of Texas may also secede, and numerous other states are making similar ”noises”.
Without doubt, secession is merely a step upon the road to socialism, as to separate from a capitalist country to form another capitalist country is merely to ”go from the frying pan into the fire”. The very act of secession will provide people with a feeling of empowerment, which is precisely what it is, and they will then take the next step of overthrowing their capitalists and establishing a socialist society, in the form of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. As that is the worst night mare of every capitalist, there is a good reason for their concern.
In the mean time, the capitalists are trying to focus the attention of the public on the primaries and ”town hall meetings”. Trump has the bright idea of encouraging the voters to vote in any and all state Democratic primaries, regardless of the party to which they are registered, in an effort to confuse the issue and hopefully block the nomination of Sanders.
As voting is part of the democratic process, I think that is a fine idea. The more people who become politically active, if only on the level of exercising their democratic right to vote, the better. That is at least a place to start.
As I write this, the journalists are also reporting that an old ”associate” of Trump, Roger Stone, is being sentenced, much to the irritation of Trump. He personally interfered in the case to the point of insulting the prosecutors, the jury and even the judge. The prosecutors resigned in protest, the Attorney General bowed down to Trump and recommended a lighter sentence than the one which was recommended by the prosecutors. But now the newly appointed prosecutors are recommending the original sentence, as they maintain that a ”substantial period of incarceration is appropriate”. It is also reported that the judge tends to agree with the stiff sentence, if only because Stone was convicted of witness tampering, in that he threatened witnesses. As she just passed down a sentence of forty months, which is considerably less than that which the prosecutors recommended, but far more than the defence called for, it is clear that she too is defying Trump.
The fact that the new set of prosecutors have stood up to the Attorney General, and by extension Trump, is significant. As well, the federal judge is also holding her ground. It is an indication of the strength of the revolutionary motion.
No doubt there are many Leftist people, including Marxists, who are of the opinion that such little details as debates, town halls and court cases, are not worth discussing. They may want to focus on revolution and socialism. To such people I can only respond that we must ”play the hand we are dealt”. It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism that the working class must emancipate themselves. The well meaning members of the middle class cannot do this for the working class. Instead, it is up to middle class intellectuals to bring to the working class the awareness of themselves as a class, to raise their level of awareness to that of the level of conscious people, that of Marxists. The best way to do this -if not the only way- is to explain to the working people, in words they can understand, on subjects which concern them, the facts that classes exist and are in constant conflict. We do not get to choose the issues which are of concern to the proletariat. These issues can only serve as particulars, examples of the conflict between the classes. Marxists must use the particulars as examples to drive home the general.
Another particular is the fact that Trump can, and likely will, pardon Stone, regardless of the sentence which the judge hands down, which we now know is that of forty months in prison. This can be used to drive home the point that the judicial system is part of the state apparatus, which was set up to protect and serve the ruling class, the bourgeoisie. The laws do not apply to the capitalists, merely the working people. It is part of their method of rule. Regardless of what they say, the bourgeoisie are indeed ”above the law”.
It is my most fervent hope that a great many members of the working class will read this little article. As well, I am hoping that many middle class intellectuals will also take note. I have deliberately used various metaphors, which almost everyone can understand. I am also hoping that such intellectuals will carry the message in much the same manner.
On that subject, the American women in particular have proven themselves to be excellent organizers. I was deeply impressed, just as I was impressed by the same skills of the students. May I suggest that you form an alliance, of women and students, and do it again. We can only hope that a great many men join the cause. May I further suggest the goals of flooding the two mainstream political parties with Leftist people, as card carrying members, and of passing a Constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College. Past experience has proven, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that you can do this, almost immediately, even before the fall elections. Assuming that is the case, it will make these fool primary debates completely pointless.
That fact alone may serve as an inspiration. May I suggest that marches and demonstrations should carry banners and slogans which read:
Abolish the Electoral College!
Join the Two Parties!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Scientific Socialism!
Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 