History has taught us that, during a time of revolution, there are occasions when members of different classes come together, in pursuit of a common goal. We are currently facing one of those exceptional occasions.
All across the country, agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, are arresting those whom they even suspect of being illegal immigrants. Those arrested are being denied even their most basic democratic rights, as is guaranteed in the Constitution. This has resulted in wide spread protests, especially in the city of Los Angeles, referred to as LA.
In response to those protests, President Trump has sent in troops, from the California National Guard, as well as the American Marines. In violation of federal law, it should be noted.
As previously documented, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has filed a lawsuit, in opposition to this. What is more, he has spoken out against this assault on American democracy. I have chosen to transcribe it, as best I was able:
‘’Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people, who are least able to defend themselves, but they do not stop there. Trump and his loyalists, they thrive on division, because it allows them to take more power, and exert even more control. Trump is not opposed to lawlessness and violence, as long as it serves him. Trump is pulling a military dragnet, all across LA, well beyond his stated intent to just go after violent and serious criminals. His agents are arresting dish washers, gardeners, day labourers and seamstresses. That is just weakness, masquerading as strength.
‘’Donald Trump, without consulting California law enforcement leaders, commandeered two thousand of our states National Guard, to deploy on our streets. Illegally and for no reason. This brazen abuse of power, by a sitting president, enflamed a combustible situation. Putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk. That is when the downward spiral began. He doubled down on his dangerous National Guard deployment by fanning the flames even harder, and the president, he did it on purpose.
‘’This is not just about protests here in LA. When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order to apply to every state in this nation. This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes. This moment we have feared.
‘’If some of us can be snatched up off the streets, without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin colour, then none of us are safe. And we all know this Saturday, he is ordering American heroes, the United States military, and forcing them to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday. Just as other failed dictators have done in the past. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Our democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes. This moment we have feared have arrived. ‘’
Although the grammar leaves something to be desired, the message is clear. Governor Gavin Newsom is fighting for the democratic rights of all Americans. As are the protesters!
It is no secret that Newsom has his ‘’eye on the White House’’. He wants to be president! As Donald Trump is well aware! It is also no secret that Trump does not welcome any competition. Newsom qualifies as first class competition! He and Trump are two of a kind! No wonder they cannot stand each other!
That in no way changes the fact that Newsom is fighting for the democratic rights of all Americans. He is determined to maintain the democratic republic, as are we!
This is to say that he is fighting for democracy, although for his own reasons. Those reasons are far different from the reasons of the protesters. Yet Newsom is still an ally, at least for the moment.
We can compare this to the situation which existed in Russia, during a similar situation, in early 1917. The emperor of Russia, referred to as Tsar Nicholas II, was overthrown in the February Revolution. Yet the First World War was raging, and Russia was allied with Britain and France, against Germany and her allies.
The slaughter of the common people was terrible. Those same people wanted peace. As well, they were hungry. Further, the family farmers were being forced to pay the landlords. Quite reasonably, they wanted to own the land they were tilling. For that reason, the workers and farmers had a slogan: Peace! Land! Bread!
At that time, Lenin was living in Switzerland, as he had been exiled, years earlier. Yet he was closely following events in Russia. So in March of that year, he wrote the first of five letters, referred to as ‘’Letters From Afar’’. I have decided to copy the part which I consider to be most relevant:
‘’That the revolution succeeded so quickly and- seemingly, at the first superficial glance- so radically, is only due to the fact that, as a result of an extremely unique historical situation, absolutely dissimilar currents, absolutely heterogeneous class interests, absolutely contrary political and social strivings have merged, and in a strikingly ‘harmonious’ manner. Namely, the conspiracy of the Anglo French imperialists, who impelled Milyukov, Guchkov and Co. to seize power for the purpose of continuing the imperialist war, for the purpose of conducting the war still more ferociously and obstinately, for the purpose of slaughtering fresh millions of Russian workers and peasants….This is on the one hand. On the other, there was a profound proletarian and mass popular movement of a revolutionary character (a movement of the entire poorest section of the population of town and country) for bread, for peace, for real freedom.’’ (italics by Lenin)
This is to stress the fact that earlier, the Russian common people, the workers and farmers, were determined to overthrow the Tsar, as they were determined to have peace. On the other hand, the British and French imperialists, allies of Russia in their war with Germany, also wanted the Tsar removed from the throne, because they wanted to continue the war! Even though the goal was the same, that of removing the Tsar from the throne, the reasons were precisely the opposite!
Lenin referred to this as an example of ‘’absolutely contrary political and social strivings’’, coming together, ‘’merging’’, in a strikingly ‘’harmonious manner’’.
It is significant that Lenin did not refer to this as an alliance, of two different classes, because it was not. In fact, the Russian common people, the workers and farmers, had no way of knowing that the British and French imperialists, also wanted Nicholas removed from the throne.
I have deliberately chosen this rather extreme example, of different classes, which are normally at war with each other, in pursuit of a common goal. This happens on occasion, especially in time of revolution.
Now we have a somewhat similar situation, in America. The current situation is also revolutionary. As part of their opposition to ICE, the working people are opposing the stationing of troops in the cities. As well, Governor Newsom is also opposed to the stationing of those same troops, in the cities, but for a different reason. He wants to become president. Same goal, different reasons.
The different reasons do not matter. As long as the goal is the same, we can, and should, support Governor Newsom. As well, we should support any and all members of the government, whether Governors or Members of Congress, who are opposed to the stationing of troops in the cities.
In comparison to Russia of 1917, an important difference is that the American working class is far more cultured. It is now aware of the fact that it is about to enter into an alliance, with Governor Newsom, as well as certain other members of the ruling class of multi billionaires, or more accurately, those who are their devoted servants.
Temporarily, of course! And strictly on this one particular issue. After this one issue is resolved, then it is an entirely different matter. It is very likely that we will then return to being class enemies. That is entirely up to them.
On the other hand, it is also very likely that certain elected officials, in both the capital of Washington and state capitals, will join the revolution, as it develops. That has happened in previous revolutions, and there is no reason to believe that our revolution will be any different.
It is certainly to the advantage of the working class, to have elected officials, in the various state and federal capitals, who are at least sympathetic to the cause of the revolution.
Lenin considered this, in his great work, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, written in 1920, as he summed up the lessons learned, from the three Russian Revolutions:
‘’Participation in a bourgeois- democratic parliament, even a few weeks before the victory of a Soviet republic and even after such a victory, actually helps that proletariat to prove to the backward masses why such parliaments deserve to be done away with; it facilitates their successful dissolution, and helps to make bourgeois parliamentarian ‘politically obsolete’’’. (italics by Lenin)
This is to stress the fact that, we should not shy away from supporting certain politicians, on certain issues. In this way, the less advanced members of the working class will learn that the existing state apparatus has to be smashed, at the time of the next American Revolution, and replaced with a different state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
May the banners and posters contain less vulgarity, and more class content. In this way, the level of awareness of the working class will be raised:
Dictatorship of the Proletariat!
Scientific Socialism!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Peace! Democracy! Socialism!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 