May Day, International Workers Day

It is no exaggeration to say that, at least here in North America, working people have been robbed of their history. This extends to the International Workers Day, of May 1, which has its roots in the American workers movement. 

In the interests of correcting that particular injustice, I should mention that, in the spring of 1886, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions, the precursor to the American Federation of Labour, called for a ‘’day of action’’, in the form of a nation wide strike, to take place on May 1. The goal of this ‘’labour dispute’’, to use the expression of the bourgeois, was to secure an eight hour work day.

This is significant because, at that time, the standard work day was often ten to sixteen hours long. As well, workers were frequently required to work six and even seven days a week, with no overtime pay.

At that time, the labour movement was very broad and deep, so that on that day, hundreds of thousands of American workers went on strike, all across the country.

This ‘’day of action’’, this ‘’one day strike’’, of May 1, was largely peaceful. The exception was within the city of Chicago, in Haymarket Square. Events took place there, which were anything but peaceful. It started when someone threw a bomb, and ended with numerous people dead and injured, both police and protesters.

To this day, no one knows for sure who threw the bomb, or why it was thrown. We do know that the police started shooting in retaliation, and the workers responded in kind. 

This ‘’conflict’’, between workers and police, has gone down in history as the ‘’Haymarket Incident’’. It became a ‘’turning point’’ in the labour movement of the United States, and around the world. It led to the establishment of May 1, as ‘’International Workers Day’’. It also contributed to the ‘’growth of labour unions and the adoption of laws and regulations which improved working conditions and wages for workers’’, as the bourgeois journalists so delicately phrase it.

Regardless of how it is phrased, the fact of the matter is that, by the early twentieth century, International Workers Day, or May Day, as it is commonly called, became an important holiday for the labour movement around the world. 

In the Socialist Soviet Union especially, May 1 was a national holiday, at least until the capitalists were able to return to power. Now it is still celebrated in numerous countries, around the world, including Viet Nam, China, Cuba and several countries in Europe and Latin America. To this day, it is still one of the most widely observed holidays. A testament to the strength of the American working class movement!

Now American workers are building upon their proud tradition, of revolutionary motion. The Hands Off Movement is daily becoming ever stronger. In fact, it is so strong that a certain popular Leftist journalist, has pointed out that these protests are ‘’crossing the threshold of mainstream media attention’’. This is to say that the Movement is so strong, the mainstream press can no longer continue to ignore it!

Incidentally, it is also being referred to as the ’’50-50-1 Movement’’, in that it stands for fifty protests in fifty states, on one day. As there are far more than fifty protests taking place on any given day, it is doubtful that such a title will replace that of ‘’Hands Off Movement’’. Also, the press frequently refers to ‘’Red States’’, which is a reference to the states which, at least formerly, strongly supported Trump. Not so much now!

The finest of the bourgeois economists, and such are exceptional, are now drawing a comparison, of the current state of events, to that of the Great Depression. In particular, the Wall Street Journal has a headline: ‘’Dow Headed for Worst April Since 1932 as Investors Send ‘No Confidence’ Signal’’.

Such a headline, by the WSJ, one of the most highly respected, most conservative newspapers in the country, is quite remarkable. Even though the newspaper was careful to avoid the dreaded ‘’D Word’’, that of ‘’Depression’’, it is well known that the year 1932, was the depth of the Great Depression. 

The bourgeois economists are frustrated by the fact that all of this is ‘’self inflicted’’, brought on by Trump and his insane tariffs, as well as his impulses, so that the administration has no coherent policy. In fact, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, is reported to be of the opinion that, ‘’Trump Tariffs Will Slow U.S. Economy to a Crawl’’. 

Naturally, Trump is taking no responsibility for this. He is doing that which he does best- passing the buck! Rest assured, the buck stops nowhere near the Oval Office! 

In this particular case, he is blaming the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, because he did not raise interest rates. He has even gone so far as threatening to fire that Chairman, even though it is beyond his legal authority. Not that such legal technicalities have ever stopped him before! It may not stop him now! Chairman Jerome Powell may well be on his way out the door! More chaos and uncertainty! The very thing that investors hate! Leading to more wild swings in the stock market! At the expense of working people!

The bourgeois press is referring to this as a ‘’Constitutional Crisis’’. They use this expression because, by Constitutional law, there are three separate branches of government, the executive, the judicial and the legislative. Each performs certain particular functions, and this acts as a series of ‘’checks and balances’’ on the others. The executive is headed by the President, the legislative is composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the Congress, and the judicial is composed of the various courts, with the Supreme Court at its head. 

The trouble being that the legislative branch has abdicated its authority to the executive branch, headed by President  Trump. He, in turn, is determined to abolish the democratic republic, and establish the rule of the Oligarchy. In addition, the judicial branch is at best, slow to respond to any challenge to their authority.

In fact, this is a crisis in capitalism. The ruling class of bourgeoisie, the multi billionaires, are unable to rule in the old way, and are being forced to change their method of rule.

At the same time, the common people, mainly the working class, the proletariat, but also the family farmers, as well as the lower strata of the middle class, are now in motion, all across the country. They are marching in countless cities and towns, as part of the Hands Off Movement, demanding change.

This is of exceptional significance, as it is the very definition of a revolutionary situation! On the one hand, the ruling class cannot rule in the old way, and the ‘’exploited and oppressed masses’’, cannot live in the old way! Lenin explained all this quite clearly, in his excellent article, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder: 

‘’The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions, and especially by all three Russian revolutions in the twentieth century, is as follows: for a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ’lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way, and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph. This truth can be expressed in other words: revolution is impossible without a nation wide crisis (affecting both the exploited and the exploiters). It follows that, for a revolution to take place, it is essential, first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking, and politically active workers), should fully realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it; second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of any genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundredfold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses- hitherto apathetic- who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ (italics by Lenin)

I consider the preceding paragraph to be of exceptional importance. The reason I say this, is because the ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’, is a Marxist theory, which is ‘’confirmed’’ by all previous revolutions, and ‘’especially by all three Russian Revolutions of the twentieth century’’. And we are currently in a revolutionary situation!

May I suggest that all Utopian Socialists in general, and in particular, all members of the Democratic Socialists of America, take note of the fact that Lenin used experience, to confirm his Scientific Socialist theories. That is the proper application of the scientific method.

Allow me to state that, almost certainly, the next American Revolution, will closely resemble the Great Russian Proletarian Soviet Socialist October Revolution. For that reason, we can learn from that Revolution. 

I can only stress the fact that the ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’ was ‘’confirmed’’ by ‘’all three Russian revolutions of the twentieth century’’. This is referred to as taking the ‘’standpoint of practice’’. 

That ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’, is as follows: ‘’For a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ’lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way, and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph.’’

That is a near perfect description of our current situation! The ruling class of multi billionaires can no longer rule in the old way, have decided to abolish the democratic republic, and establish the rule of the Oligarchy, with Trump as their figurehead President. 

At the same time, the ‘’lower classes’’, mainly the workers, but also the family farmers and lower strata of the middle class, are rising up in protest, all across the country. They do not ‘’want to live in the old way’’!

This brings us to the next point Lenin made: 

‘’For a revolution to take place, it is essential, first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking, and politically active workers), should fully realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it’’.

This is to say that, above all else, the most advanced workers must become ‘’class conscious’’. They must become aware of themselves, as a class, with their own class interests. As well, they must also become aware that it is necessary to smash the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Insurrection, which sets off the Revolution, and then establish a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. After all, the multi billionaires will be anxious to restore their ‘’paradise lost’’. They must be crushed!

These advanced workers can then transmit that understanding to the less advanced.

This brings us to the next point that Lenin made:

‘’Second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of any genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundredfold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses- hitherto apathetic- who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ 

Without doubt, the ruling class of multi billionaires are experiencing a ‘’governmental crisis’’. Their plan, that of abolishing the democratic republic, and establishing the rule of the Oligarchy, with Trump as the figurehead President, has hit a snag. That snag is Donald Trump. That boy just will not cooperate! He insists on imposing tariffs, which is driving the country into another Great Depression. Not at all what the bourgeoisie had in mind!

This collapsing economy has had the effect of ‘’drawing even the most backward masses into politics’’. Those who were ‘’hitherto apathetic’’ are now politically active, marching, protesting, demanding change, ‘’waging the political struggle’’. Further, the ruling class of multi billionaires are divided, so that the government is weaker, ‘’making it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it’’. 

As I write this, it is now late April, and various protests are being planned for May Day. That is also a fine time to raise the level of awareness of the working class. Posters could possibly call for Revolution, Insurrection, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, and for people to read State and Revolution, for example. At the very minimum, posters should at least draw the attention of people to class distinctions.

It is also a fact that everyone likes to be entertained. Who better to raise the level of awareness of the working class, while at the same time entertaining them, than celebrities? And in particular Hollywood celebrities! Movie stars!

This is not to imply that such people automatically become experts on Scientific Socialism, as soon as they achieve the status of ‘’celebrity’’. They do not. Yet they can raise their own level of awareness, by studying the Essential Works of Marx and Lenin. They can then bring that awareness to the working class. 

Bear in mind that the fans of these celebrities, especially ‘’Hollywood Movie Stars’’, pay strict attention to whatever they say. That gives them a great deal of power. Spiritual power. Feel free to use that power. Now is not the time to be shy. At the same time, do that which you do best. Entertain! Education through entertainment!

There is a sense of urgency to this. Time is not on our side. Trump and the Oligarchy are determined to force the issue, to abolish the existing democratic republic, and they have already made great strides in this direction. It has been compared to ‘’taking a wrecking ball to a building’’.

In response, the working people are rising up, protesting, demanding change, looking for an alternative. That is the reason they are flocking to rallies held by Sanders and AOC. Those two are offering paltry reforms, not the alternative of Revolution, and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

The people taking part in the Hands Off Movement are looking for an alternative, not more of the same. The one and only alternative is that of Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

My advice, to those people, is to study the Essential Works of Marx and Lenin, especially State and Revolution. Those works are available on the internet. 

I stress the importance of State and Revolution, as that is the work which is most relevant. The Insurrection, which will start the Revolution, could happen at any time. It is that book which stresses the importance of smashing the existing state apparatus, and replacing it with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

It is very likely that most members of the Democratic Socialists of America are well aware of this, as well as other revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. The reason I say this, is because they have been exposed to those Scientific Socialist theories in University. Bear in mind that there is a big difference between being exposed to those theories, and learning them. After all, the Universities merely teach the bourgeois distortion of those theories.

To those people, may I suggest that you take the standpoint of practice, of experience. It is experience that confirms the correctness of the theories of Marx and Lenin. As the American Revolution is about to break out, it is urgent to face that fact. 

Further face the fact that the experience of the Soviet Union and China, both formerly socialist countries, now capitalist, confirms the fact that the capitalists must be crushed, after the revolution, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Otherwise, they will return to power, as they did in those two countries.

As I have previously pointed out, the capitalists were able to return to power in those two countries, because of the mistakes made by Stalin and Mao. It is up to us to learn from those mistakes, and not repeat them. Here too, it is a matter of learning from experience. 

We can also learn from the experience of the Occupy Movement of 2011. It was superb, broad based and deep. Yet it failed to overthrow the multi billionaires, as it was not guided by any principles of Scientific Socialism, which is to say Marxism. For that reason, the best it could achieve was paltry reforms, which were quickly clawed back, at the earliest opportunity. 

Unless the current Hands Off Movement is given the proper direction, towards Revolution and the subsequent Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, this movement will also flounder. 

The choice is now stark and clear. Either Donald Trump and the rule of the Oligarchy, along with a Second Great Depression, or Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Choose wisely.

Gerald McIsaac