The combination of the Corona Virus pandemic and of the Second Great Depression has caused a crisis in capitalism, such as has not been seen since the First Great Depression, of the nineteen thirties. Under such extreme pressure, caused by unemployment, homelessness, hunger and desperation, a great many people are ”cracking” under the strain, resorting to acts of senseless violence. The sense of desperation that has recently gripped the nation is being transformed, into a sense of despair. So many people are prepared to ”throw in the towel”! Now the attitude is one of ”what is the use?”
Yet it is characteristic that, under extreme pressure, some people are broken, while others rise to the occasion. It may bring out the best in some people. Now we are in a time of revolutionary motion, in that countless members of the working class, those whom were formerly apathetic, are now politically active. These are the advanced workers, the more enlightened members of the working class, the proletariat. It is important to bear in mind that the proletariat is no different from any other group of people, in that they listen to their own, the people they respect. The less advanced, broad mass of workers listen closely to the more advanced.
The American proletariat has now gone about as far as it can, on its own. Different groups are demanding different reforms. Black Lives Matter is demanding an end to violent police repression. Me Too is demanding an end to sexual assaults. The Autonomous Zone movement is demanding various reform. Across the country, people are calling for different reforms. Now it is up to socialist intellectuals to do their part.
It is the intellectuals who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. The proletariat are not aware of those theories. It is up to these intellectuals, to bring to the working class the awareness of those revolutionary theories. At the same time, the workers must be respected. The vast majority of them are honest, hard working, law abiding citizens. They have been bombarded with bourgeois propaganda all their lives. It is only natural that they should believe that which they have been told. The workers have to learn, from their own experience, that the capitalists are a pack of liars.
To counteract the capitalist propaganda, may I suggest that we take the capitalists at their word. The capitalists say that if we do not like the way things are, then we should ”change the system from within”. Excellent idea.
With that in mind, may I suggest that all Independent Socialists, Social Democrats, Democratic Socialists or just plain Socialists, get together and join the two mainstream political parties, both Democrat and Republican, as card carrying members. Now is not the time to be shy. l can further suggest that you encourage all of your relatives and friends to also join the two parties. No doubt all of you are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. You may or may not agree with them. Either way, is perfectly acceptable. We do not have to be in complete agreement, in order to work together. Equally without doubt, all American Socialists are well aware that the Constitution guarantees the right to ”life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Go for it!
As card carrying members of the two parties, Democrat and Republican, you can suggest a new political platform. Certain fundamental human rights should be guaranteed, such as medical, education, freedom from hunger, adequate housing and the right to live a life of dignity. With that in mind, may I suggest:
- Free medical for all, including emergency services, hospitalizations, home care and medications
- Free education for all, no tuition, cancel all student loans
- Free and nutritions food for all
- Free housing for all, the abandoned buildings to be converted into housing
- Cancellation of the national debt
- Pensions for seniors to be tax free
- Graduated income tax, with the rich paying their fair share
- Military training for all able bodied people, both male and female, over the age of 16
- People with such training to take over the role of the police and National Guard, on a part time basis, with the days worked to be paid for, by the employer
- All elected officials to be subject to recall at any time, and paid the wages of workers
- All banks in the country to be amalgamated, and put under workers control
- All prisons to be shut down, the inmates to be put to work
No doubt many Socialist may think that this platform does not have a ”hope in hell” of being carried out. To such skeptics, I can only respond that you are so right! The idea is to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the vast majority of whom have been misled by the capitalists. There is no way that the party bosses, of either party, are going to allow countless working people to join their party, and ”take over”. Instead, they will attempt to change their method of rule. In the process, they will expose themselves to the working people, the proletariat, as the liars and swindlers, that they are.
The true Marxists, Communists, those who call for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat -as that is the touchstone of a true Communist- must work with the utopian socialists, as we have no quarrel with them, while making clear that we are convinced that the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, must be overthrown and crushed, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
At the same time, we must also make it clear that we have a real problem with those who claim to be Marxists, but deny the necessity for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. We want nothing to do with such social chauvinists. Yet we cannot avoid marches and demonstrations, just because the social chauvinists are there. We can distinguish ourselves by proudly bearing signs and banners which call for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
Of course the capitalists will make every effort to block any worker, or socialist, from running for any political office. Yet it is reasonable to assume that some people will manage to run for office, as a Democrat, Republican or even as a Socialist. The important thing is not that they should win, but that the message should be made clear.
We should encourage working people to choose candidates for any and all political office, preferably one of their own. Then again, if they insist that a Communist should run for office, so be it. At the time of the revolution, such people, placed in Washington, may prove to be quite useful.
Then again, should the workers choose candidates who are utopian socialists, that too is fine. In the process of going to Washington, and trying to change things, they and their constituency will learn that the capitalists are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge.
The main thing to bear in mind, is that the goal is to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. It is not a numbers game. If we succeed in sending a few people to Washington, fine. If not, that is also fine. The important thing is that our policy is correct. Merely making the working class aware of our socialist program, is a step in the right direction. No doubt the capitalists will make it most emphatically clear, to the working people, that there is no chance that they are going to get free medical, education or housing! There is still less chance of the capitalists paying their fair share of taxes!
This will help to drive the point home, to the working class, that we are right. From their own experience, they will come to realize that the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are completely reactionary. Truly, they must be overthrown and crushed, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 