Author: Gerald Mcisaac

March 10, 2023. Black Friday. The day SVB, Silicon Valley Bank, collapsed. This day will go down in history as a day of mourning for the capitalists. The day one of the biggest banks in the country, with assets of 200 billion dollars, collapsed, within the space of a mere 48 hours! The beginning of the end of capitalism! 

The guardians of the sacred temple of capitalism were quick to respond. The politicians and bourgeois economists, those loyal and devoted servants of the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, did not wait for the markets to open, the following Monday. Indeed not. 

Instead, they spent a very busy weekend assuring one and all that this was an ‘’isolated incident’’, despite the fact that another sizeable bank also failed, and numerous others are on the brink of bankruptcy.

The politicians were afraid that the ‘’contagion would spread’’, that it would give rise to a ‘’run on the banks’’, which is the very thing which happened on Saturday. They are also afraid that this could ‘’spread to other parts of the economy’’, that it could lead to a ‘’systemic failure’’, due to an ‘’unstable environment’’.  

Their fears are well grounded!

In particular, the Treasury Secretary, Janice Yellen, wasted no time in assuring people that their deposits were insured, up to 250,000, a quarter million, so that those with less than that amount of money in the bank, had nothing to fear. 

True enough. All banks pay the FDIC, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a fee to insure their deposits, up to that amount. All deposits above that amount are not insured. At least, not until now!

That same Treasury Secretary, as well as President Biden, swear that the taxpayers will not be ‘’on the hook’’ for any bank failure. They lied!

In fact, the FDIC, in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank, and ‘’back strapped’’ by the Treasury Department, has agreed to insure all deposits! The American tax payers are now responsible for all deposits, regardless of the amount!

To put this in perspective, the FDIC currently has 126 billion, which it can use to cover the first quarter million of all deposits, of all banks. At least, it did. That was before it gave 40 billion to the two banks that failed. And that is just the beginning!

Numerous other banks are on the brink of collapse! Economists estimate that it may take 9 trillion to cover all of their deposits! That is where the tax payers come in!

Bear in mind that a trillion is one thousand billion! This is to say that the American tax payers are on the hook, thanks to Biden and Yellen, for a further 9 thousand billion! As the national debt currently stands at 31 trillion, it could soon sky rocket to 40 trillion! 

All in the interests of bailing out the banks of the billionaires, those that are Too Big To Fail! The rest of us, those who are not billionaires, are Too Small To Succeed! No one is about to bail us out!

Yet, in all fairness to the politicians, they have their ‘’eyes on the big picture’’. Instead of focusing on the current fiscal crisis, which may well spread to ‘’other parts of the economy’’, and lead to a ‘’systemic failure’’, which could well include a default on the national debt, they are focused on the next federal election, especially the presidency. They certainly have their priorities well established! The expression ‘’Nero fiddled while Rome burned’’ comes to mind!

But in the interest of winning the forth coming federal election, they have wasted no time in playing the ‘’blame game’’, concerning the SVC collapse. 

President Biden is blaming former President Trump for ‘’deregulation’’ of banks. Economists are blaming the crisis on everything from the Covid epidemic, to inflation, high interest rates, dramatic increase in interest rates, the national debt, too much bureaucracy, too much regulation, not enough regulation, and ‘’woke capitalism’’, among other things.

My personal favourite is that of ‘’woke capitalism’’.  

According to the Internet, ‘’the term woke capitalism was coined to describe companies who signal support for progressive causes as a substitute for genuine changes.’’

True! Companies may well ‘’signal support for progressive causes’’, giving it verbal recognition, commonly referred to as ‘’lip service’’, while in fact, doing nothing else. To blame this verbal recognition of worthy causes, as the cause of bank failures, is utterly ridiculous!

It is capitalism that is the cause of banks failures! The system of capitalism is to blame! That is the one thing that the capitalists either cannot, or will not, face!

Despite the best efforts of the politicians, the stock prices of countless banks took a nose dive on Monday, March 13. The Internet reports that trading was halted on 30 stocks, in an effort to halt the ‘’bloodletting’’. Even in Europe, economists are reporting a dramatic drop in the price of banking shares.

Some of the more clear headed bourgeois economists are warning of a possible ‘’perfect storm of out of control inflation, recession and national debt crisis’’. They also expect the interest rates to rise dramatically. 

Other economists, in a display of refreshing honesty, are questioning the legality of holding the tax payers responsible for the debts of all the banks. They have pointed out that it is the Congress, by which they mean the House of Representatives, which controls the money. As it is the Republicans who control the House, they may well have a thing or two, to say about the plan of Biden, a Democrat, to bail out the banks!

As is well known, the federal government is due to run out of money, very soon. They have already ‘’hit the debt ceiling’’, and are now using ‘’extraordinary measures’’ to keep paying the bills. That is expected to lead to a government shut down, possibly in June, unless the debt ceiling is raised. Yet the Republican members of Congress are not at all anxious to increase the debt ceiling. They want to cut spending. They want no part of raising taxes, certainly not on the billionaires. They have no intention of paying the nine trillion that Biden has in mind, in order to save the banks!

Incidentally, it is customary for the president to exercise powers, of which he has no legal right. As long as the House and Senate allow this, he generally gets away with it. Yet this time is different. It is doubtful that the House will allow Biden to cover all bank deposits with tax payer money. 

Even though Biden and Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, have agreed to cover all bank deposits, the simple fact of the matter is that the Treasury has no money! The simplest way, the easiest way, for the Congress to stop Biden and Yellen, is by doing absolutely nothing!

But in the interests of winning the next presidential election, it is far more likely that the Republican led House will ridicule the notion of bailing out the banks, with money they do not have!

Those two, Biden and Yellen, just made a promise they cannot possibly keep! Even if the money was available, which it is not,  they do not control it!

It is perhaps significant that one economist pointed out the truth. He stated that the only way they can ‘’bail out the banks’’ is by ‘’creating money out of thin air’’. True! He also pointed out that this is absolutely inflationary!

I say that this is significant, because it is not in the best interests of the bourgeois economists to ‘’blurt out the truth’’. Their duty is to say that which the capitalists want them to say.  Any relation to the truth is strictly coincidental. 

Yet as Marx and Engels pointed out, in the Communist Manifesto, ‘’in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the progress of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands.’’

In our case, the ‘’class that holds the future in its hands’’, is the proletariat. At least one economist has chosen to speak the truth, thus joining the ‘’revolutionary class’’, the proletariat, which indicates that the ‘’class struggle is nearing the decisive hour’’.

It is very likely that the more clear headed bourgeois economists are correct, in the sense that we have a ‘’perfect storm’’ brewing. Yet they are wildly optimistic, as they have failed to consider the Revolutionary movement! Working people are not about to put up with this!

In conclusion, we can say that the politicians are aware of the impending financial disaster, and think they have it under control. They do not. 

Both political parties, Democrat and Republican, are only focused on the upcoming federal elections. Biden is determined to serve a second term, while the Republicans are equally determined to stop him. 

If Biden carries through on his promise to give the banks a further 9 trillion, which he does not have, then this will lead to extreme inflation. As well, a government shut down is ever more likely, as the Republicans are determined to block any increase to the debt ceiling. That will also very likely be followed by an American bankruptcy! 

Without doubt, this would lead to a severe increase in the suffering of the common people. A Second Great Depression!

The point being that those who are predicting a ‘’perfect storm’’, have no idea of just how correct they really are! This is not the nineteen thirties! Working people are not about to put up with the suffering that is part and parcel of another Great Depression! 

On the contrary, working people are becoming increasingly well aware of the alternative, that of Socialism. Now it is up to politically conscious people to bring to the working class the awareness of themselves as a class, with their own class interests, which involves the necessity of overthrowing the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, smashing the existing state apparatus, and subsequently crushing those parasites under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. This is referred to as Scientific Socialism.

To put it is popular terms, the ‘’ball is in the court of the intellectuals’’. Now it is up to us, those who are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to make the working class aware of the necessity of Scientific Socialism.

We will know that we are being successful in this when the posters and signs read:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

It is the scientific opinion that whales once walked the earth. But then, around fifty million years ago, as these animals took to the water, they gradually lost their legs. There is some truth to this. Most species of whales have lost their legs. Most, but not all. The species known as basilosaurus still has legs, still walks on land. 

It is also the scientific opinion that ichthyosaurs are extinct. The scientists refer to them as ‘’fish lizards of the Mesozoic Era’’, whatever that is supposed to mean. They were also supposed to be ‘’viviparous reptiles’’. This is to say that they were reptiles which ‘’bring forth live young that have developed inside the body of the parent’’.  (I mention this because that is the definition of ‘’viviparous’’, as per the Internet.)

That begs the question: Since when do reptiles give birth to live young? That is characteristic of mammals! Reptiles reproduce by laying eggs! As ichthyosaurs give birth to live young, they must be  mammals, not reptiles! The term ‘’viviparous reptiles’’ is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms!

I maintain that both basilosaurus and ichthyosaurs are still very much alive, still walking the earth. As the scientists refuse to even consider that possibility, it is up to us, common people, to do their job for them. 

It is common knowledge that people who live and work around large lakes, are well aware of the fact that ‘’something very large’’ is in those lakes. They are so right! In fact, there are two ‘’somethings’’ in those lakes! Basilosaurus and ichthyosaurs!

Both are mammals. Both are apex predators. Both have legs. Both are nocturnal, so that they spend the daylight hours inside  caves. They also spend the winter months inside caves. Both are omnivores, so that they eat flesh and vegetation.  Both come out of the water after sundown and graze, during the summer months. It is very likely that they eat the same things that elephants eat. Grass, weeds, willow, leaves, brush and anything else they can sink their teeth into. Further, both have been described as being ‘’very long and slender’’.

These descriptions are accurate, as basilosaurus is estimated to be 20 metres (65 feet) long, and weigh ten to fifteen tons. 

But then ichthyosaurs varied in length, from 1 to 25 meters, according to the Internet. The  scientists also say that ‘’fossils from the western United States and Canada indicate that some ichthyosaurs could exceed 13 metres (43 feet) in length.” It is very likely that such is still the case!

The distinguishing feature of the ichthyosaur, is that which is referred to as a ‘’hump’’ on its back. This ‘’hump’’ is in reality a fin. Ichthyosaurs have fins on their backs. Basilosaurus does not have such a fin.

The fact is that a great many huge lakes, in North America, and very likely in various other parts of the world, are home to populations of these mammals. (I say ‘’population’’, for lack of a better word. I have no idea what a group of ichthyosaurs are called!)

This creates a little problem, in the form of incest. Not healthy! These animals have overcome that little problem by chasing the young males away, as soon as they come of age! They are forced to ‘’vacate the premises’’, to leave the lake, to travel, by river, to other huge lakes, where they can find mates! There is no other way!

This brings me to a mistake that I made several years ago. One of the boys in the village found a bone that no one here recognized. For that reason, it was taken to the University in the nearest city, that of Prince George. Someone at that University asked if ‘’we had any whales in this territory’’! My mistake was in not taking that question seriously! I thought that the idea of whales in the Central Interior, in the Rocky Mountain Trench, was ridiculous! So I ridiculed the question!

My mistake! I do not know precisely who asked that question, but whomever that was, you have my apologies. We do have whales in these mountains! It is very likely that the bone which was found, was in fact the bone of a whale, a basilosaurus.

Assuming that to be the case, then it is very likely that the whale which died was a youngster, an adolescent, who was forced out of his home lake. That is, no doubt, the most dangerous time in the life of the males. The mortality rate must be high, as they have no experience being on their own. Do or die! This whale died!

Of course, scavengers quickly tore apart the carcass, and probably one of them packed away a bone. Scavengers do that, in order to keep other scavengers from stealing it. After gnawing on it, it was abandoned. At least, that is a plausible explanation. 

This brings me to the animals in Okanagan Lake, commonly referred to as  Ogopogo. I use the word animals, in reference to the fact that there are almost certainly two species of animals in that lake, basilosaurus and ichthyosaur.  As both are long and slender, this has given rise to a certain amount of confusion. Both species are predators, so that they are in competition with each other. For that reason, they kill each other at every opportunity. Yet as both still exist, they must be evenly matched.

Similar reports have come from other parts of the world, and in particular from Loch Ness. It is very likely that these same animals exist in that lake. One or the other, if not both.

In support of that statement, I can point out that almost one hundred years ago, one of these animals, which the local people refer to as ‘’Nessie’’, was seen outside the lake. The authorities conducted an investigation, and noticed a set of tracks. These tracks were promptly disregarded! Fools!

Those tracks prove that this animal has legs, and explains a few things. They use those legs! A fresh water lake, by itself, cannot support a population of huge predators! There is not enough food in the lake! Granted, the fact is that they also prey upon animals which make the mistake of wandering into the lake. That still does not satisfy their ‘’dietary requirements’’, so to speak. So where do they get the bulk of their nourishment?

From the meadows which border the lake! It is not just the lake which supports these animals, but the ecosystem. This is to say that the lake, along with the adjacent meadows, creeks, woodlands and swamps, comprise a huge natural body, which we refer to as an ecosystem. Further, the fact is that the health of that ecosystem is dependent on the top predators. All the more reason to preserve and protect those animals!

But as previously mentioned, the scientists refuse to even consider the possibility of the existence of these animal. Yet as they are part of our heritage, and in the interest of creating a clean environment, it is up to working people to prove that they exist. We are entitled to our wildlife! We are also entitled to a clean environment!

For that reason, we are morally obligated to prove the existence of those animal, in order to force through laws which protect them! I say ‘’force through’’, because  that is the last thing the capitalists want!

These animals can best be protected by cleaning up our rivers and lakes, for a start. The capitalists take great delight in polluting both, by dumping garbage and toxins from their factories, into that water. That is so much cheaper and easier than disposing of it properly! 

Of course, the scientists are well aware of the existence of these animals. Yet as the loyal and devoted servants of the capitalists, they have chosen to remain silent on this point. Careers first! Do not rock the boat!

To such people, and that includes the professional people who are aware of the existence of so many animals which are thought to be extinct, but are not, I have a word of advice. Come clean! Cut your losses!

Your days of living a lie are about to come to an end! Very soon, your lies and hypocrisy will be exposed, for all the world to see. The Revolutionary motion, around the world, is gaining strength. It is just a matter of time before a Socialist Revolution takes place in a highly industrialized country, and then spreads to many other countries. At that time, your capitalist masters will not be able to protect you!

Now I also have a word of advice for a different group of people, those who are middle class intellectuals, and self proclaimed Socialists. I understand that most of you think that Socialism is a good idea, but simply not possible. Your confusion is understandable. 

No doubt, all of you have received a University education. As that is the case, you are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Bear in mind that there is a big difference between being aware of those theories, and having a proper scientific understanding of those theories.

My point is that the Universities teach only the bourgeois distortions of the theories of Marx and Lenin. That is very likely the reason that so many middle class people, who consider themselves to be Socialists, are of the opinion that Socialism is a good idea, but simply not possible. They have learned this in University!

It was Marx who conducted a thorough, Scientific examination of capitalism, and proved that it would, of necessity, give rise to Socialism!

Here is the way Marx phrased it: ‘’And now as to myself, no credit is due to me for discovering the existence of classes in modern society, nor yet the struggle between them. Long before me, bourgeois historians had described the historical development of this class struggle, and bourgeois economists the economic anatomy of the classes. What I did that was new was to prove: 1) that the existence of classes is only bound up with particular historical phases in the development of production; 2) that the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat; 3) that this Dictatorship itself only constitutes the transition to the abolition of all classes and to a classless society’’.

Take note that Marx made it clear that, under capitalism, the ‘’class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’! 

The sad fact of the matter is that the University Professors have a certain spiritual power, which I refer to as Professor Power. All too many people, including middle class intellectuals, are under the influence of this power. They believe that which is taught in University! It is not just the working class which is being crushed and exploited! Also the middle class!

Now it is up to the middle class to liberate themselves, to break the ‘’invisible chains’’, to join the working class in their struggle for liberation!

With that in mind, may I suggest that you once again study the most important Revolutionary works of Marx and Lenin, but with an open mind, while disregarding the bourgeois distortions. No doubt, you will learn, perhaps to your surprise, that the Scientific Socialists are correct, that in fact it is true, that capitalism necessarily leads to Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

This stands in stark contrast to the University distortions of those theories. They teach the utopian Socialist viewpoint that, while Socialism may be a fine idea, it is simply not possible. Such is hardly the case!

Once you have a true understanding of those Revolutionary theories, feel free to bring that understanding to the working class.The importance of this must be stressed. In fact, as Lenin stated, ‘’Engels recognizes not two forms of the great struggle Social Democracy is conducting (political and economic), as is the fashion among us, but three, adding to the first two thetheoretical struggle.’’ (italics by Lenin, while at that time Marxism was referred to as Social Democracy)

I mention this in order to stress the importance of raising the level of awareness of the proletariat. 

In particular, they must be made aware of the fact that the existing state apparatus must be smashed, at the time of the Revolution, and replaced with a new, Proletarian state apparatus, in order to crush the capitalists, as they make every effort, after the Revolution, to restore their ‘’paradise lost’’. This state apparatus is referred to as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. We will know we are being successful when that expression becomes common place. 

Rest assured, as long as you voluntarily join the Revolutionary motion, in the fight for Scientific Socialism, your past will not be held against you. On the contrary, your experience in the service of the capitalists can prove to be most valuable. Feel free to share that experience with the working people. This will serve to drive home the fact that classes exist, and that our differences are antagonistic. The proletariat must be persuaded that the capitalists, the billionaires, must be overthrown and crushed.

In the interests of combining theory and practice, it is perhaps best to become involved with the various Councils, or Soviets, which tend to take shape during a time of Revolutionary motion. No doubt some of these Councils are involved in locating these huge animals. As I have gone into this in other articles, there is no need to repeat it here.

As well, get together with other middle class Marxist intellectuals, as well as advanced workers, and take part in the formation of a proper Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. There is an urgent need for such a Party.

Rest assured that, after the successful Socialist Revolution, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, your services will be recognized and rewarded. Socialism requires professional people, managers, engineers and scientists, of all fields. For the most part, you have performed a fine job for the capitalists. Under Socialism, you will do an even better job, for the Proletariat. After all, the atmosphere at the workplace will be far more relaxed. You will not have to worry about office politics! We do not play such games!

Bear in mind that middle class intellectuals, including Socialists, are well aware that Revolutions happen, and on a regular basis. They are familiar with the Russian February Revolution of 1917, which removed the Emperor from the throne. This gave rise to the democratic republic of the Russian capitalists. That was as far as the working people could go! They could not go further, to Socialism, because they were not aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx!

It was only after Lenin returned from exile, in April of 1917, and provided them with the proper Revolutionary theory, which included the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, that the common people, the workers and poor peasants, could overthrow the capitalists, and establish a proper Socialist society.

In much the same manner, the forthcoming American Revolution can also go only so far, unless the working class is aware that the existing state apparatus must be destroyed, and replaced with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

The alternative is to overthrow one set of capitalist rulers, and merely replace it with another set! Not a vast improvement!

The Revolution could break out at any day. There is no time to lose.

Prepare For the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

President Biden just delivered his annual State of the Union address. It was a peculiar mixture of fantasy and philosophy. Any resemblance to reality was conspicuous by its absence.

His appeal to the opposition Republican Party, the GOP, was a classic example of wishful thinking. As a professional speech writer is responsible for all of the speeches of the president, we can only suggest that Biden fire that incompetent fool. The President merely reads from a teleprompter. That which he read was at best, an embarrassment. At worst, a pack of lies:

‘’To my Republican friends, if we can work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress. The people sent us a clear message. Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere.’’

Reality check, Mr. President, you do not have any Republican friends! Certainly not in the House of Representatives! You certainly did not work with them in the last Congress! You worked against them! The Republicans were in a minority in that Congress, and they fought you tooth and nail! Now they are in a majority, and they are still fighting you! Yet you are right about one thing: you are getting ‘’nowhere’’!

This State of the Union address was possibly the only one, at least in recent memory, to be heckled by the Members of Congress! Those Members were openly booing, calling Biden a liar! They have a point!

Biden said that his ‘’vision for the country’’ is to ‘’restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class, to unite the country’’. 

No chance, Mr. President! The ‘’soul of the nation’’, or the ’’backbone of America’’, as you referred to the middle class, has been all but wiped out! The monopoly capitalists have succeeded in driving most small business owners into the ground! They simply cannot compete with the monopolies! And it is the small business owners who comprise the middle class! That is not about to change! The monopolies are becoming ever bigger, ever stronger!

As for your goal to ‘’unite the country’’, that is not about to happen! The fact of the matter is that the country is divided into classes. On the one hand, we have a very small minority of monopoly capitalists, billionaires, referred to as the bourgeoisie, and on the other hand we have the vast majority of working people, mainly composed of hourly employees, referred to as the proletariat. 

As the capitalists pay their hourly employees as little as possible, in order to achieve the greatest possible profit, and their hourly employees are constantly trying to increase their wages, it is clear that their interests are diametrically opposed. That which is in the best interest of one class, is in the worst interest of the other class. There is no way the two classes, capitalists and workers, are about to unite! They are class enemies!

This class conflict recently came to the surface, within the House of Representatives. 

Within the House, there are several Members, all Democrats, who are referred to as ‘’The Squad’’. They have been labelled as ‘’Ultra Left’’, and worse. Possibly all of them have a working class background.

Bear in mind that the expression of ‘’The Squad’’ is not mine. Yet in  my opinion, these Members of The Squad are nothing other than the proletarian headquarters, within the House. It is very likely that they are not aware of this. On the other hand, they recently received a rude awakening, a lesson in class conflict.

One Member of The Squad was just kicked off of her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. There followed a number of emotional, passionate speeches, by the Members of The Squad. One of them, who is widely considered to be the unofficial leader of The Squad, stated that since 911, people of colour and Muslim Americans have been targets of racism. She maintains that, even in the House, women of colour have been the target of racism and violence. 

In all fairness to the capitalists, that is not entirely true. In fact, all people of colour, including women and Muslim Americans, have been targets of racism and violence, since long before 911! In the House and outside the House! The members of The Squad are just now becoming aware of this! Progress!

Her response was quite gratifying. As she put it, ‘’My voice will get louder and stronger and my leadership will be celebrated around the world, as it has been’’! Well spoken, young lady! Precisely the sort of thing we need to hear, in Washington and elsewhere! Keep it up!

Now it is up to us, working people, the members of the public, to support her and the other members of The Squad, in every way possible! We can expect them to come under ever more intense pressure! They need our support!

That support includes sending other working class people to Washington, and not just to the capital of the nation. Also to the various state capitals, among other places. Americans can manage this by joining the two mainstream political parties, as card carrying members, and appointing working class candidates to run for office. As I have covered this in a previous article, there is no need to repeat it here.

No doubt, there are a great many people who want nothing to do with the ‘’cesspool of Washington’’. Such an attitude is completely understandable, but mistaken. It is important to keep the ‘’big picture’’ in mind. 

As Lenin stated, the ‘’main thing’’ is to ‘’win over’’ the ‘’vanguard of the proletariat’’. Without this, ‘’not even the first steps towards victory can be made’’.  

This begs the question: How do we win over the vanguard of the proletariat?

The level of awareness of the most advanced strata of the working class, the proletariat, must be raised to that of the level of conscious people, of Marxists, or Communists, if you will. They have got to be made aware of the existence of classes, and of the conflict between the classes. They must further be made aware of the necessity of Revolution, of smashing the existing state apparatus, and setting up another state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. It is necessary to crush the desperate and determined resistance, of the bourgeoisie, after the Revolution, as they try to restore their ‘’paradise lost’’. 

Working people are not impressed by passionate speeches! They are impressed by action! It is up to intellectuals of all persuasions, and not just Communists, to become involved in that which interests the working class, to  use these as examples, to explain the class conflict involved, of the necessity of overthrowing the billionaires, which is only possible through Revolution, and of the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat. There is no other way of establishing a socialist society!

An example of that which has the attention of the working class, is the State of the Union address. We know this for a fact, because it was aired on prime time! The only reason the capitalists broadcast anything on prime time, is because countless people are expected to watch it!

As that is the case, it is up to us to respect the beliefs of all working people. That includes the beliefs of those who still have faith in the current democratic process! It is clear that many people still follow the lead of such people as Trump and Biden.

For that reason, we must point out the hypocrisy of both mainstream political parties, Democratic and Republican. Both parties serve the same class!

With that in mind, we should participate in all elections, perhaps assisting working people in running for Congress, Senate, Governors of various states, etc. Then, from within Washington, assist The Squad, in exposing the government corruption, as those officials are nothing but the loyal and devoted servants of the capitalists.

Working people must learn, from experience, that the capitalists are completely corrupt, are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge!

Lenin was not joking when he stated, ‘’The proletariat must train its own politicians, ‘class politicians’’, of a kind in no way inferior to bourgeois politicians’’. (italics by Lenin)

 After all, the fact is that Revolution is impossible without a change in the views of the majority of the working class, a change brought about by the political experience of all of the common people, never by propaganda alone. Hence the need to send working class people to Washington, to join and support The Squad.

Bear in mind that the ‘’Fundamental Law of Revolution’’, as per Lenin, 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’’. (Italics by Lenin)

Almost all Americans can testify to the fact that it is simply not possible to continue to live, as they are now. Violent crime is common place, with mass shootings, on a regular basis. Drug overdoses are epidemic.  Hunger is a constant companion. Food banks are running out of food. The number of homeless is growing daily. Inflation is sky rocketing. Those who have vehicles, cannot afford to fill their tanks. The country could be facing bankruptcy as early as June. And the response of the government? The politicians are now focused on the 2024 presidential election! This is the very definition of insanity! The country is in a state of crisis, and our leaders are in denial!Of course people are fed up!

A Revolution requires a majority of workers, or at least a majority of advanced, class conscious workers, to recognize that Revolution is necessary, and further, be prepared to die for this. The less advanced workers follow the lead of the more advanced.

It also requires the ruling class, the capitalists, to be going through a governmental crisis, so that the vast majority of workers, those who are normally apathetic, will become politically active. That is precisely the current state of affairs!

The vast majority of working people are now ‘’watching the news’’, or the ‘’Gong show in Washington’’, as so many refer to it. They are paying attention! Who can blame them? Their democratically elected leaders, those whom they are supposed to respect, are now squabbling like kids in a school play ground, but without adult supervision! They are even resorting to name calling!

Yet these are the same people who are in control! At least, they control the tax payer money! They also make the laws! And unless they come to some sort of agreement, the country could go broke! It is difficult to imagine how they can come to any kind of agreement! This is the very definition of a governmental crisis!

There is no time to lose. Now it is up to conscious people, Marxists, Communists, and not just Marxists, to raise the level of awareness of the most advanced strata of the proletariat. The working class must become aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Now that we have the Internet, and a cultured working class, thisis not nearly as difficult as it used to be. 

May I suggest that all those who consider themselves to be ‘’on the Left’’, to go onto various web sites, and encourage people to download the Revolutionary works of Marx and Lenin. At least, download the Communist Manifesto. The essential works of Lenin, such as State and Revolution, What Is To Be Done?, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, can be ordered from the Internet. 

May I further suggest that, once people get their hands on those Revolutionary books, perhaps online discussion groups will be helpful. I expect that a great many people will find these group discussions to be enlightening.

That brings me to a significant group of people, mainly middle class,  those who have a University education, are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, and consider themselves to be Social Democrats, or possibly Independent Socialists. Such people tend to think that socialism is a good idea, but simply not possible.

Let me start by stating that I respect your beliefs. May I also suggest that you keep an open mind. It is very likely that your beliefs are influenced by the training you received in University. This is to say that the Universities are careful to teach only the bourgeois distortion of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. It is only to be expected that those who have taken such University courses, should come to believe that a Socialist Revolution could not possibly succeed.

Yet the fact of the matter is that Revolutions happen, quite spontaneously, as I am sure you are well aware. The French Revolution of 1789 is perhaps most famous, although the Russian Revolution of 1905 also comes to mind. In each case, the common people just rose up, not aware of that which they were doing. I refer to this as an Act of God. 

By contrast, the Russian October Revolution of 1917 was hardly spontaneous. The common people, both workers and peasants, rose up. The difference was that those people knew what they were doing! They were focused! They were class conscious! They lashed out at their class enemies! They overthrew the government of the capitalists! They then smashed the bourgeois state apparatus, and set up the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

They were class conscious, but only because middle class intellectuals had brought to them the awareness of themselves as a class, complete with their own class interests. Those class interests include the necessity of smashing the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution, and replacing it with a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. In no other way can the resistance of the bourgeoisie be broken! This in turn gave rise to the first Socialist Republic, the Soviet Union. 

Allow me to stress the fact that it was only because the working class was aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, that the Revolution was successful.

That brings me to our current situation. Assuming the American working class is equally well aware of itself as a class, aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, then the approaching Revolution has every chance of success. That is hardly the current state of affairs.

That is where you come in. Feel free to ignore the bourgeois distortions of those Revolutionary theories, as are taught in University. Read the true Revolutionary writings of Marx and Lenin, with an open mind. You will find that they are far different from that which is taught in University!

As soon as you have a fine grasp of those theories, bring that awareness to the working class. Now that we have the Internet, such a task is not  terribly difficult. 

The success -or failure!- of the approaching Revolution is, to a large extent, in your hands! We can certainly use you now! Further, after the Revolution, your services will be in great demand! 

The objection may be made, that it is not fair to place this responsibility upon your shoulders. True! It is not fair! Fair has nothing to do with it! It is what it is!

That being said, allow me to state that I am confident that you will rise to the occasion. You have been living under the influence of the bourgeois ideology long enough! I refer to this as Professor Power, and it is every bit as real as the physical force elements of repression. Now is the time to ‘’break the invisible chains’’ which are binding you! Face the fact that all of the science courses, which are taught in University, especially the ‘’Socialist’’ Marxist courses, are a pack of distortions and outright lies!

Rest assured, once you face that fact, you will likely feel a great sense of relief. At least, I did. After all, it is not just the working class that is crushed and exploited by the bourgeoisie! Also the middle class! Now is not the time to get mad! Now is the time to get even!

The best way to do that is by taking part in raising the level of awareness of the working class. Numerous Councils, otherwise known as Soviets, have taken shape, across the country. Discreetly, of course, as the government is only too anxious to destroy such working class organizations. Feel  free to join such Councils.

As well, use the Internet. No doubt there are countless web sites which can be used. Perhaps groups can be formed to study Marxist literature. Try not to attract the attention of the government authorities.

Bear in mind that, under far more difficult circumstances, in Russia, 1917, the common people rose up and overthrew the capitalists. The proletariat was in the minority, and not terribly cultured. The intellectual Marxists, most of whom were middle class, had to use leaflets and the spoken word, in order to raise their level of consciousness. They certainly had no Internet, as we do now! By no means everyone could read! Yet the successful Socialist Revolution took place, because the working class followed the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. 

If they could do it, then we can do it! Bear in mind that the Revolution will happen, with or without the help of middle class intellectuals. Yet for the Revolution to be successful, to achieve Socialism, the Revolutionary working class will have to follow the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. There is no other way! 

We will know that the working class is ready for Revolution, that we are getting our message across, when the posters and banners read:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Scientific Socialism!

The current Revolutionary movement has taken the form of strikes, in a great many industrialized countries of the world. This is most encouraging, an indication that the World Socialist Revolution is on the horizon. 

Yet for the purposes of this article, I have chosen to focus on the country of France. There is a reason for this. It was Engels who stated, in his introduction to the third edition of the book by Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire, that: 

‘’France is the land where, more than anywhere else, the historical class struggles were each time fought out to a decision, and where, consequently, the changing political forms within which they occur and in which their results are summarized have likewise been stamped with the sharpest outlines. The centre of feudalism in the Middle Ages, the model country of centralized monarchy resting on estates since the Renaissance, France has demolished feudalism in the Great Revolution and established the unalloyed rule of the bourgeoisie in a classical purity unequalled by any other European land. And the struggle of the upward striving proletariat against the ruling bourgeoisie also appeared here in an acute form unknown elsewhere’’.

Writing years later, in 1917, Lenin was of the opinion that: ‘’The last sentence is out of date, inasmuch as a lull has occurred in the revolutionary struggle of the French proletariat since 1871; although, long as this lull may be, it does not preclude the possibility that, in the coming proletarian revolution, France may once again reveal itself as the classical land of the class struggle to a conclusion’’.

Now that the ‘’lull’’ is over, it is very likely that France will ‘’once again reveal itself as the classical land of the class struggle to a conclusion’’. The current class struggle is between the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, and the common people, mainly the proletariat, although there are a considerable number of farmers, referred to as les paisans, as well as a sizeable middle class, la petite bourgeoisie. These ‘’lower classes’’ are quite well united against the plan of the current French government to raise the retirement age by two years, from sixty two to sixty four. 

The government of Macron says that the plan to raise the retirement age is ‘’non negotiable’’. Yet the French working people are not negotiating. They are taking action.

The trade unions are leading the struggle against the capitalists, with a series of strikes. On January 19, the press reports that all the unions went on strike, so that ‘’all local and national transport across the country was severely disrupted’’. The journalists estimate that more than one million people took part in demonstrations, on that day alone. 

The crowds were especially large in Paris, with a combination of young and old, complete with ‘’singing and dancing, a festive atmosphere, defiant, high morale, some people from far away, all determined to enact change’’.

Other protests take the form of ‘’Robin Hood operations’’, in that workers give away free petrol and electricity to schools, universities and low income households. Even some police are reported to be on strike!

The French bakers, those who are mainly la petite bourgeoisie, small business owners, are also on strike. They are being strangled by the high prices of electricity, as well as the prices of flour, sugar, butter and other ingredients.

The CGT Union, Confederation Generale du Travail, which represents transport workers, has called for refinery workers and other staff on the petrol sector to strike for 48 hours, from February 6. Similar strikes in 2022 saw petrol stations run dry and drivers waiting hours to fill up their tanks. As well, mass strikes are being encouraged by French unions on Tuesday, February 7, and Saturday, February 11. The worst ‘’disruption’’ is anticipated to be on February 7, and could ‘’spill over’’ into February 8.

The press is also reporting that the SNCF, Societe National des Chemins de Fer Francais, plan strikes on February 7, 8, and 11. The journalists quite helpfully point out that we can expect ‘’train circulation in France to be very disrupted’’. That is the general idea!

There is a reason that Marxists, true Communists, consider these strikes to be of the utmost importance. In the early stages of capitalism, they start out as the natural result of large scale factory production, in that workers are forced to fight for better wages and working conditions. But as the class struggle approaches the point of Revolution, the strikes assume a political character.

This requires a little explanation.

Capitalism is the name of the social system under which we all live, at least for now. This is to say that society is split up into classes. The monopoly capitalists, or billionaires, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie, own almost all the factories, mines, mills, railroads, airlines, banks and communication networks. In fact, they own or control almost everything of any great value. Although few in number, because of their wealth, they have great power. 

The rest of the population have very little, some with next to nothing. Those who have nothing are referred to as workers, or proletarians. They are reduced to selling themselves, by the hour, to the capitalists. Of course, these workers always try to secure the highest possible wages.

By contrast, the capitalists are focused on paying their workers as little as possible, in order to achieve the highest possible profit.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, the result is that of conflict, in that the workers are constantly trying to secure higher wages and working conditions, and the capitalists are constantly trying to reduce wages. This is referred to as ‘’class struggle’’, at least by the social scientists. Most working people simply refer to this as a normal situation: War!

At first, a more advanced worker generally notices that there is strength in numbers. This worker then usually becomes a leader, bringing together as many workers as possible, in order to make demands upon the capitalist. A revolt takes place. The result is then a work stoppage, a strike. Workers then lash out in anger and frustration, as they are not aware of that which they are trying to achieve. They simply smash the machines and destroy the factories. 

At that stage, as Lenin phrased it, ‘’They merely want to display their wrath to the factory owners; they are trying out their joint strength in order to get out of an unbearable situation, without yet understanding why their position is so hopeless and what they should strive for’’.

Yet at some point, cooler heads prevail. They realize that destroying machines and factories may be gratifying, but fails to put money in their pocket. Instead, occupying the factories as a group, or union, and demanding better wages, before returning to work, is the answer. In this way the working class advances.

As Lenin stated, ‘’The slaves begin to put forward the demand to become masters, not to work and live as the landlords and capitalists want them to, but as the working people themselves want to. Strikes, therefore, always install fear into the capitalists, because they begin to undermine their supremacy…The wheel of this machine is set in motion by the worker…When the workers refuse to work, the entire machine threatens to stop. Every strike reminds the capitalists that it is the workers and not they who are the real masters…Every strike reminds the workers that their position is not hopeless, that they are not alone.’’ (italics by Lenin)

Even though strikes mean great hardships for the workers, those who take part in the strikes receive great respect from the workers of neighbouring factories. They too are inspired, receive renewed courage. Such strikes tend to spread to neighbouring factories.

More importantly, according to Lenin, ‘’Every strike brings thoughts of socialism very forcibly to the worker’s mind, thoughts of the struggle of the entire working class for emancipation from the oppression of capital.’’

Remarkably enough, even the capitalists are aware of this! It is with good reason that a certain German minister proclaimed, ‘’Behind every strike lurks the hydra (monster) of revolution’’! The capitalists have every reason to be afraid of strikes! We have every reason to use strikes to raise the level of awareness of the working class!

It is up to Marxists, Communists, to get in touch with the people who are protesting, in France. Without doubt, they are discussing socialism. They must be encouraged to become aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Now that we have the Internet, this is not at all difficult. It just requires people to send them emails, in the French language, of course. 

Feel free to remind them of their proud revolutionary history, and not only the Revolution of 1789. Also the Paris Commune of 1871, which established the first Workers Republic. It is very likely that the French government would like to forget about that, especially as the Commune was crushed, by the capitalists, with the utmost brutality. Yet it was the Paris Commune that provided Marx with the information he needed. It displayed the structure of the first socialist republic in the world. The heroism and sacrifice of the Communards will never be forgotten! We can only hope that the current French protesters will be inspired by the example of their glorious ancestors! Feel free to honour their memory by following in their footsteps! Establish another Commune, but this time not only in Paris! 

Further, the manner in which the Commune was crushed, by the capitalists, should dispel all doubts concerning the attitude of the current French capitalists! They too are butchers! They must be overthrown, their state apparatus must be smashed, and then they must in turn be crushed, by the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! Do not make the mistake of the Paris Communards! Do not be merciful to the capitalists! The Communards made that mistake, and paid for it with their lives! Take the advice of Marx! Learn from the mistakes of the Communards!

We can only hope that the French strikers and protesters will download revolutionary literature from the Internet, such as the Communist Manifesto. I also recommend essential works of Lenin, such as What Is To Be Done?, State and Revolution, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. Such works may have to be ordered online. Rest assured, they are well worth the money.

Bear in mind that the Paris Commune was crushed, for a number of reasons. The Communards made a few mistakes. Not the least of these mistakes was in not following the advice of Marx!

The world is watching. Feel free to honour the memory of your ancestors by following the advice of Marx and Lenin. Walk in the footsteps of your heroic ancestors, and take a step beyond the Paris Commune:

 Create a France Commune!

The country has officially reached the ‘’debt ceiling’’, according to the Treasury Secretary. So now she is resorting to ‘’extraordinary measures’’ to ‘’stay under the debt limit’’. Even so, she anticipates the country will ‘’default on the national debt by early June’’, unless the ‘’debt ceiling is raised’’. 

The federal government is now ‘’on the horns of a dilemma’’, as two branches of that government, the executive and the legislative, are ‘’at each others throats’’.

The executive branch, led by President Biden, a Democrat, is determined to raise the debt ceiling, without cutting social spending. The legislative branch, which is to say the Senate and the House of Representatives, has other ideas. The fact of the matter is that the House controls the money! It is further a fact that the House is now controlled by Republicans!

The journalists are now reporting that a sizeable minority of Republican Members of Congress, possibly ‘’forty or so’’, are ‘’in control’’. They have formed something they refer to as a ‘’Freedom Caucus’’, within the Republican Party, the GOP. The journalists refer to this Caucus as ‘’Ultra Conservative’’, or ‘’Extreme Right Wing’’. 

It is further the opinion of the journalists, that the House Speaker is now a mere ‘’figure head’’, a ‘’puppet’’, that he ‘’dances to their tune’’, that of the Freedom Caucus. They have a point!

The Republicans have a ‘’razor thin’’ majority in the House, that of a mere four or five votes. This gives the members of the Freedom Caucus considerable power, which they are only too anxious to use! In fact, the only way McCarthy could secure enough votes to be elected as Speaker, was to make numerous concessions to the Freedom Caucus. He has been accused of ‘’giving away the House’’. 

One of those concessions is that of allowing any Member, at any time, to demand a vote for a new Speaker. Such a demand will automatically shut down the House, until after a successful vote, in which a Speaker is elected. During the time of the vote, the government is effectively paralyzed. The last time that happened, it required fifteen votes, over a period of several days. That is not something they want to repeat!

The Members of the Freedom Caucus are determined to not raise the debt ceiling, or at the very least, agree to raise the debt ceiling, but only if it is tied to significant cuts in social spending.

Yet Biden is determined to raise the debt ceiling, without cutting social spending, if only because he is focused on serving a second term. So now he is considering ‘’new and creative’’ ways to do so, perhaps ‘’bypassing’’ the Congress. This may also involve Violating the Constitution! 

The closest advisers of Biden are suggesting that he should merely raise the debt ceiling, without the approval of Congress. They maintain that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution gives him the right to declare the debt ceiling to be Unconstitutional!

They have in mind the clause which states ‘’no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the Unites States’’. 

Such details, as declaring a law to be Unconstitutional, are generally considered to be under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. So say the experts on Constitutional law!

Yet the advisors to President Biden are of a different opinion! They are encouraging him to ‘’take unilateral action’’, to raise the debt ceiling, without the approval of Congress! They assure him that as President, he has the authority to make that ‘’executive decision’’. They also assure him that should the Supreme Court object, and rule that such an action is Unconstitutional, then he, as President, could respond by declaring the Supreme Court decision to be ‘’inconsistent with the Constitutional duties of the President’’, and ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court! 

Incredible! Even more incredible, it is not without precedent!

This has happened before, during the Civil War. At that time, President Lincoln suspended the rights of citizens to a ‘’writ of habeas corpus’’. This is to say that the right of ‘’unlawful and indefinite imprisonment’’ was suspended, by President Lincoln. He ordered the arrest and imprisonment of countless people, for any reason, or for no reason, and for as long as he saw fit! He maintained that he had the right to do so, under the authority of the ‘’War Act’’. Further, he did this without Congressional approval!

These actions were brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. It ruled that President Lincoln did not have the right to arrest people and hold them indefinitely! 

President Lincoln in turn defied this ruling, of the Supreme Court! As he phrased it, ‘’Are all the laws but one to go unexecuted, and the government itself to go to pieces, lest that one be violated?’’

This in no way alters the fact that President Lincoln took an oath to ‘’preserve, protect and defend the Constitution’’, and then broke that very oath! 

The advisers to President Biden are telling him to also break his oath! To violate the Constitution! This could well be considered to be nothing less than an Act of High Treason!

As for those who think that this could not possibly happen, as the United States is a democratic republic, may I suggest that you face the facts. The fact is that the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are members of a class of people who are technically referred to as imperialists. Further, as Lenin stated, quite clearly, ‘’imperialism is reaction, right down the line’’!

It is entirely possible that President Biden will stoop to the depth of violating the Constitution. It is even possible that he will use the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, as justification for that violation! That and the fact that President Lincoln has already set the precedent!

The American people are not about to take that lying down! We can expect widespread opposition!

In such a case, we will no doubt be faced with a very strange alliance! We can expect the ‘’Ultra Right’’, including the ‘’Freedom Caucus’’, as well as the ’’MAGA People’’, to come together with the ‘’Leftist People’’, including those who are thought to be ‘’Ultra Left’’, the ‘’Communists’’, in opposition to President Biden! Impeach Biden! Remove him from office! This despite the fact that Kamala Harris would automatically become President! Truly, ‘’politics makes for strange bedfellows’’!

I should mention that another option, which Biden and his councillors are seriously considering, is to ‘’Mint a Trillion Dollar Coin’’! For that matter, they could mint a score of them, and declare the country to be debt free! They could even have a surplus! (Joking!)

Those are the options, which both Speaker of the House McCarthy, and President Biden, are considering. If McCarthy ‘’gives in’’ to Biden, then he will be ‘’voted out’’ as Speaker. On the other hand, if Biden ‘’gives in’’ to McCarthy, he will be ‘’voted out’’, at the next election. This is commonly referred to as ‘’being caught between a rock and a hard place’’! A government default appears to be ever more likely! 

In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels let us know what to expect. This ‘’gong show’’, within Washington, is nothing other than part of the ‘’process of dissolution’’, within the old society, during the time in which the ‘’class struggle nears the decisive hour’’.

As a result of this, we can now expect a ‘’small section of the ruling class to cut itself adrift, and join the Revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands’’.

In our case, that Revolutionary class is the Proletariat, as it is the Proletariat that ‘’hold the future in its hands’’.

It also means that Revolution can break out at any time, as it is clear that we are approaching the ‘’decisive hour’’. We had best be prepared!

This is to stress the importance of preparing the working class for Revolution, and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat.  After the Revolution, many workers will be placed in positions of authority! Any training they receive now, will prove to be most valuable! That is much preferable to no training!

At the very minimum, it is up to conscious people, Communists, to make workers aware of themselves as the members of a working class, of Proletarians. It is the duty of workers to overthrow the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, and crush them, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. As I have covered this in previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here. Allow me to merely stress the importance of performing this quickly. That which the capitalists refer to as ‘’X Day’’, the day on which the government ‘’defaults on the national debt’’ is fast approaching. That could well trigger a Revolution.