Autonomous Movement

The current revolutionary movement has many people confused. In particular, the younger generation has never seen anything quite like this. This is not too surprising, and we cannot blame them for this, as nothing like this has happened in their lifetime. They are simply too young to have experienced the revolutionary motion of the nineteen sixties, commonly referred to as the ”sixties”, let alone remember it. As that is the popular term for that time period, I will continue to use it, at least for the purposes of this article.

It was a decade of great social change. At the beginning, girls were taught ”home economics” in school, in preparation for a life as a dutiful house wife. Most girls grew up with a ”hope chest”, in which they gathered various articles, such as dishes, so that they could bring something to a marriage. The newspapers carried ”help wanted” sections, one for men and one for women. Of course, women were expected to work for lower wages than men. The careers of women were strictly limited, although one of the highest of the respectable positions, which was open to them, was that of an ”executive secretary”. Then too, women were allowed to work in law enforcement, but only as ”meter maids”. They were limited to issuing parking tickets.

Of course, there were other fields of employment open to them, although somewhat less respectable. It was generally forbidden to speak of such subjects.

A popular television show of the day was Charlies Angels, in which ”Charlie” saved three ”Angels” from a life of drudgery, working as meter maids. He put them to work as private detectives. Awfully decent of him. The show was a smash hit.

There was one field of employment which was exclusively female, and that was working as a ”stew” on the airlines. Mind you, those girls were expected to have a ”sense of humour”, in that any time one of the ”good old boys” decided to give one of those girls a ”thrill”, perhaps by ”pinching her bottom”, she was expected to take this in stride. The same situation existed for girls who worked in bars and restaurants, as waitresses.

To think that the ”thrills” of yesteryear are the ”sexual assaults” of today!

As late as 1970, the ”stews”, on one of the airlines, were forced to wear a button on their uniforms, one which stated ”Fly Me”. Now wasn’t that just the cutest!

Some of the ”retired stews”, those with a proper sense of humour, formed a ”clipped wings club”. They joked about being fired because they were ”too old”, and were used by various businesses, at least in the field of advertising. As far as the bourgeois were concerned, they set the standard!

In the case of high class restaurants and bars, the girls were forced to step on the weigh scales, on a regular basis. Any girls who were ”too porky” were promptly fired. As well, any girl who objected to sleeping with the boss, should he so desire, was also promptly fired. A great many bosses so desired, and on a regular basis. A great many girls were also fired, also on a regular basis!

The field of entertainment, at least as was shown on nightly television, reflected this ”culture”, for lack of a better word. A popular series was Father Knows Best. At the start of each show, the housewife, wearing a proper dress, complete with pearls, greeted her businessman husband. He too was dressed in a proper suit, clearly tired after a hard day at the office.

Other television shows were less kind. Women were the butt of countless jokes, so that the expression ”dumb blonde” became a household term. The tv show of George Burns and Gracie Allen was a big hit, as she set the standard for stupidity.

The minorities, those currently referred to as Black and Brown, or ”people of colour”, also experienced widespread discrimination. It was understood, but rarely mentioned, that ”Negroes” and ”Indians” were not allowed to go into certain areas, such as bars and restaurants. Whites only.

Here too, this bias was reflected in the field of entertainment. Almost all the actors, in all the television shows, were Caucasian. One notable exception was the Jack Benny Show, in which Rochester, a Black actor, played the role of servant to Jack.

Perhaps the most blatantly racist depictions of minorities was portrayed in movies such as Tarzan, and westerns, in which ”Indians”, on horse back, fired flaming arrows into covered wagons.

This discrimination was not limited to ”visible minorities”. Even within the field of entertainment (or perhaps especially within the field of entertainment!), Jews were not allowed into certain clubs.

I mention this to give young people an idea of the conditions of life, in the ”good old days”. Then came the revolutionary motion of the sixties.

It is a common belief, at least among older folks, that the ”fifties” was a time of prosperity, of peace and quiet, of ”law and order”. In fact, it was a time of reaction. The revolutionary motion of ”years gone by” had died down, and the forces of reaction were ”in their glory”. The point is that revolutionary motion goes in cycles, and when it dies down, reaction ”takes to arms”. Yet, as Marx pointed out, it always rises up again, ”ever finer, ever stronger”.

Perhaps the sixties is best known as the time of the ”sexual revolution”. At that time, it was rather politely referred to as the ”women’s movement”, if for no other reason than that the word ”sex” was forbidden. Whenever possible, the word ”gender” was substituted. Of course, it was not always possible, so that the word ”sex” was simply not mentioned.

By the end of the decade, it was being ”shouted from the rooftops”.

At the same time, those who were referred to as ”Negroes”, or Coloureds”, started to refer to themselves as Black. ”Black Power” became a popular slogan. Marches became common place, especially in the South, frequently led by Reverend King. They demanded racial equality, just as the women demanded sexual equality.

Then too, there was the American Indian Movement, or AIM. They objected to being portrayed as feather wearing, moccasin walking, tomahawk waving, ”noble savages”. Who can blame them?

It was in the sixties that the movement against the ”War in Viet Nam” reached a fever pitch. At some point, it was revealed that the war was not limited to Viet Nam, but all of southeast Asia. The war had spread to the neighbouring countries of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The American military referred to this as ”secret bombing”, although it was hardly a secret. After all, it is pretty difficult to drop bombs on people and keep it a secret! The people of those countries spoke of it, frequently and at great length. The only people who were not aware of this, were the members of the American public. And the military people wonder why we scoff at the term ”military intelligence”!

The students were especially active, if only because they had more to lose. After all, as soon as they finished school, they could expect to receive a ”letter of Greetings” from the president. In other words, they, or at least the boys, could expect to be ”drafted” into the army, and almost certainly, sent to Viet Nam. This tended to get people excited, although not at all in the way the military intended!

The revolutionary motion picked up to the point that, in 1970, every university in the country went on strike!

But then the revolutionary motion died down, and reaction set in. The social scientists tend to refer to this as a ”time of apathy”. After several years of such reaction, the revolutionary motion began to pick up again, resulting in the ”Occupy Movement”. No doubt many of the younger members of the revolutionary motion of today, can remember this quite well. It was even finer and stronger than the motion of the sixties, as there was a vague awareness of classes.

During the days of the Occupy Movement, the capitalists, the super rich, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, were referred to as the ”one percent”. The implication being that they were ”one in a hundred”. Such is not the case, as they are closer to one in a million. Now the term ”one percent” is no longer used, as working people are becoming aware, that ”one percent” is not the case.

I mention this for the benefit of all those who are just now becoming politically active, as a result of the revolutionary movement, and wondering just what the blue blazes is happening! The answer is that a revolution is happening. The previous revolutionary motions failed to overthrow the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, so that now we are in one heck of a mess.

It may be argued that the working class, the proletariat, has made some significant gains. That is true. It is also true that there is a reason for the existence of Black Lives Matter. They will tell you that the police are still killing Black people, on a regular basis, and without provocation. Then there are the members of the Me Too movement. They can testify to the fact that they have been subjected to sexual assaults all their lives. Such assaults are now less open. The perverted, also known as ”skinners”, are merely more devious.

There are a great many other groups, and countless individuals, who are at the point of desperation. As I have documented this in a previous article, there is no need to repeat it here.

The point I am trying to make, is that revolutionary motion happens, and on a regular basis. In fact, it is happening now. Previous revolutionary motions achieved some remarkable success, but failed to overthrow the capitalists. One reason for this is the fact that at that time, as now, the working class was not sufficiently class conscious.

With that in mind, I will mention that we live in a class society. The class of capitalists, the ”super rich”, the billionaires, those who are technically referred to as the bourgeoisie, are in charge. They rule. Then there is the working class, technically referred to as the proletariat. We do all the work, and the capitalists ”skim the cream”, which is to say that they live off our labour power. The capitalists contribute nothing to society. They work us as hard as possible, while paying us as little as possible. We are ”wage slaves”. It is in the interests of the capitalists, our ”masters”, to keep us unaware of that fact. Hence, the widespread denial of the fact that classes exist.

For the sake of completeness, I will mention that all other classes, such as farmers and small business owners, have been all but wiped out. If nothing else, this simplifies the class struggle. Now it is simply a matter of us against them, workers against capitalists, at least here in North America.

The current revolutionary motion is far stronger and finer than the Occupy Movement of yesteryear. As yet, the press has not referred to it by any particular name, so for lack of a better name, I will refer to it as the Autonomous Movement, soon to become the Second American Revolution.

In order for the revolution to be completely successful, a few things have to take place. For one thing, a proper political party has to be formed, in order to provide the working class with the leaders they so desperately need. The two current mainstream political parties merely serve the capitalists, tweedle dee and tweedle dum. There is no essential difference between them. The leaders of both parties are mere puppets, with the capitalists ”pulling their strings”.

Then there are the parties which claim to be Marxist, but are social chauvinists. Socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds! There is no shortage of them! It is no wonder that working people are confused! So in the interest of clarifying matters, I will point out that the parties which claim to be Marxist, but deny the necessity of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, are mere chauvinists. They are in the service of the capitalists.

The reason I say this is because, as Lenin stated, it is the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat which is the very ”touchstone” of a true Marxist.

These social chauvinists are not to be confused with socialists who make no claim to be Marxists. Such people are referred to as ”utopian socialists”, and are the natural and desirable friends of the working class.

It is up to class conscious people, intellectuals, to get together and form a proper Marxist political party, an American Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, or ACP, DOP. As this is beyond the ability of most, but not all, working people, it mainly falls upon the shoulders of the middle class people, many of whom have been, very likely, ruined by capitalism. Further, as women are leading the revolution, such a Party will likely have to be created, mainly by women.

The internet provides us with a valuable tool, so that the creation of such a Party is not as difficult as it once was. There is no need to gather together in one place, as was previously the case. Now Skype can be used, for example. Bear in mind that the ”high tech” spies of the capitalists are a concern, but this cannot stop the creation of the Party. It does mean that reasonable precautions must be taken, by those who are more familiar with the internet, than I. Rest assured, the list of such people is long and distinguished! My grandchildren can testify to that!

The vast majority of working class people, those who have only recently become politically aware, can also become more active. By no means all of them consider them selves to be revolutionary, which is perfectly acceptable. My suggestion, to one and all, is to join the two mainstream political parties, as card carrying members. Further, I suggest that all your family and friends join the two parties. As card carrying members, you get to decide the candidates for any and all political offices. Feel free to run for Congress, or any other office, to your hearts content!

As mentioned in previous articles, when running for office, enlist the support of as many people as possible. Bear in mind that the seniors want free medical, the students want free tuition, the cancelling of all student loans, the workers want an increase in the minimum wage, and the sports people want to defend their democratic right to bear arms. At the same time you ask for their support, also ask them to join both parties. There is strength in numbers!

Bear in mind that Sleep Joe is already planning another Constitutional Amendment, in order to abolish the Second Amendment. Now is not the time to become complacent!

As I write this, it has been a week since the shooting death of Andrew Brown, in EIizabeth City, North Carolina. Apparently, ten police officers were involved, and the family wants answers. There are reports that he was shot numerous times, in the back, while driving away. All of the officers were wearing ”body cams”, yet the videos are being with held. As yet, one ”snippet” has been released, a twenty second clip of an ”execution”. As the death has reportedly been classified as a homicide, the word execution is appropriate.

This is to drive home the point that ”half measures” are not sufficient. Merely consider the results of previous revolutionary motions! The capitalists were left in charge, and there was no fundamental change. The poverty and suffering of working people continues as before. If anything, it is now more intense. Our children are going hungry, our women are being assaulted, our seniors are denied the meds they need. Yet the capitalists, the billionaires, are becoming ever more wealthy, at our expense, of course.

The journalists are also reporting that in the state of Arizona, a ”Cyber Ninja” group, is conducting a hand recount of the ballots cast in the previous presidential election. This is all part of the effort to place the ultimate reactionary, Donald Trump himself, back in power. The forces of reaction are on the offensive!

It is also a fact that the capitalists have recently executed a search warrant for the former lawyer of Donald Trump! That is the fellow, the former mayor of New York City, who maintains that the election was stolen, that Trump really won the election! The trouble is that he could be right! He and another famous lawyer recently demonstrated the manner in which elections are falsified! As it is safe to assume that they have experience is such matters, and have probably been ”fixing” elections all their life, it would be best to take them seriously.

The fact is that the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, the members of the ruling class, consider Trump, one of their own, a fellow billionaire, to be a ”loose cannon”, a threat to their rule. As that is the case, they are determined to ”send him packing”. They thought they had succeeded, with the last federal election, yet he ”refuses to go”. He ”cannot take a hint”, continues to ”stir the pot”, if only from a distance. So they are attacking the lawyers who are supporting him!

This could conceivably give rise to a situation ”stranger than fiction”. If it is proven that the lawyers are correct, and Trump in fact won the election, then the working people may be forced to support Donald Trump! God forbid, a ”fate worse than death”, but stranger things have happened. As they say, ”politics makes for strange bed fellows”.

As I have previously documented, just before the start of the Civil War, the capitalists of the north made an alliance with the southern slave owners, as a means of destroying the slave owners! Very strange, but true, and equally effective!

This is not to say that ”the end justifies the means”, because it does not! This is to say that we have got to prove to the members of the working class that we are people of honour, that we are prepared to stand on principle! If it is indeed proven that Trump is the legitimate president, then we must support him! That in no way changes the fact that we are revolutionaries, dedicated to the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, and after the successful completion of the revolution, then the imperialists, including Trump and all his flunkies, will be held accountable.

In the mean time, may I suggest that all workers make a point of reading that magnificent work by Lenin, State and Revolution. It was written on the eve of the October Revolution of Russia, in 1917. It outlines, quite clearly, that which has to be done, in order for the approaching revolution to be successful. The existing state apparatus must be destroyed, and replaced with a different state apparatus, to be used by the workers, in order to crush the capitalists. This state apparatus is referred to as the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

All capitalists, and in fact, all social chauvinists, want no part of workers reading this book by Lenin. As the social chauvinists are the most devoted servants of the capitalists, this is not too surprising.

The revolution is fast approaching. It will break out when it breaks out. We had best be prepared. It is up to us, workers and intellectuals, to make sure that it is carried through to its proper conclusion, to the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.