Author: Gerald Mcisaac

The latest scientific discovery, in the field of anthropology, was made in the country of South Africa. It is reported that several people, those who refer to themselves as cavers or spelunkers, were exploring caves. Quite by accident, they stumbled upon human bones, located in two caverns, deep underground.

They reported this ”find” to a local scientist. He in turn organized an evacuation, so that the bones were removed from the caves. Only the smallest individuals could squeeze into those tight spaces. I gather all of them were girls, while none of them were claustrophobic. The bones were then carefully photographed, documented, gathered, brought to the surface and taken to a local museum.

This is in no way to be confused with ”grave robbing”, as the bones had to be removed, in the interests of science. Otherwise, the ”word” would have gotten out that human bones were located within those caves, and as there is a huge ”black market” for such bones, then thieves would indeed have crawled into those caves, grabbed the bones, and sold them to the highest bidder.

Careful examination of those bones has revealed that they are well over three hundred thousand years old! Further, it has been established, ”beyond any reasonable doubt”, to use a legal expression, that they were carefully placed in those caves, immediately after death. The scientists have classified them as hominids, a group which includes monkeys, apes and humans. They are thought to be a remote relative of ours, so that they have been given the name Homo Naledi.

There is considerable discussion as to the possibility that the ape could have been human. The consensus appears to be that as the brain was perhaps a third the size of our brain, not much bigger than that of a chimpanzee, it could not possibly be human. In fact, the size of the human brain is around 1450 cc, in that cc stands for cubic centimetres. The size of the brains of chimpanzees, our closest living relative, is roughly 390cc, and the size of the brains of Homo Naledi is 450 to 600 cc.

I find this approach to be deeply flawed, not at all scientific. Humans are not determined by the size of their brains.

It was Engels, writing in 1876, in an article titled The Part Played by Labour In the Transition From Ape to Man, who stated quite clearly: ”Many hundreds of thousands of years ago, during an epoch …known to geologists as the tertiary period, most likely toward the end of it, a particularly highly developed race of anthropoid apes lived somewhere in the tropical zone….and they lived in bands in the trees.. owing to their way of living which meant that the hands had different functions than the feet when climbing, these apes began to lose the habit of using their hands to walk, and adapted a more and more erect posture. This was the decisive step in the transition from ape to man

”Before the first flint could be fashioned into a knife by human hands, a period of time probably elapsed in comparison with which the historical record known to us appears very insignificant. But the decisive step had been taken, the hand had become free, and could henceforth attain ever more dexterity; the greater flexibility thus acquired was inherited and increased from generation to generation. Thus the hand is not only the organ of labour, it is also the product of labour…But the hand did not exist alone, it was only one member of an integral, highly complex organism. And what benefitted the hand, benefitted also the whole body it served, and this in two ways…men in the making arrived at the point where they had something to say to each other…

”First labour, after it and then with it speech-these were the two most essential stimuli, under the influence of which the brain of the ape gradually changed into that of man…the reaction on labour and speech on the development of the brain and its attendant senses, of the increasing clarity of consciousness, power of abstraction, and conclusion…Men became accustomed to explain their actions, as arising out of thought instead of their needs…and so in the course of time, there emerged that idealistic world outlook which, especially since the fall of the world of antiquities, has dominated mens minds. It still rules them to such a degree that even the most materialistic natural scientists of the Darwinian school are still unable to form any clear idea of the origin of man, because under this ideological confusion, they do not recognize the part that has been played therein by labour.” (italics by Engels)

It should be noted that the ”tertiary period”, to which Engels was referring, is classified as the time period of 66 MYA – 2.6 MYA, in that MYA stands for Million Years Ago. As a ”highly developed race of anthropoid apes” lived ”towards the end of it”, this means that possibly three to five million years ago, these apes ”adopted a more and more erect posture”. Thus was taken the ”decisive step in the transition from ape to man”.

This ”erect posture”, technically referred to as bipedal locomotion, was followed by the ”greater flexibility”, of the hand, which was ”inherited and increased from generation to generation”. This gave rise to the opposable thumb, in that all humans can touch their fingertips with their thumb. This was followed by speech, as ”men in the making arrived at the point where they had something to say to each other”. The combination of labour and speech, the ”two most essential stimuli”, resulted in the fact that the brain of the ape ”gradually changed into that of a man”.

Engels makes no mention of the size of the brain of the earliest humans, but as they evolved from apes, it is reasonable to assume that their brains were the size of the brains of the apes from which they had evolved. As the hands became ever more efficient at fashioning ever more elaborate tools, and the speech also became more refined, the brain no doubt increased in size, over a period of countless generations.

The bones of Homo Naledi tell us that it was a bipedal ape, and had a very flexible hand. No doubt a forensic anthropologist can tell us if that flexibility extended to the point that it could touch its thumb with its fingertips. All species of human are bipedal apes and can touch their thumb with their fingertips.

That just leaves the question of speech. It is possible that the same forensic anthropologist could tell us the likelihood of the ape being able to speak. Yet, if we use the indirect method, we must face the fact that immediately after death, the relatives of the deceased dragged the remains into a cave, deep underground, and disposed of the body.

The scientists are now convinced that intelligent animals mourn their dead. At least, they experience a sense of loss, which can only be described as mourning. Apes are among the most intelligent of all animals, yet no apes dispose of their dead. Such behaviour is strictly a human characteristic. It implies a certain consciousness on the part of the human.

Engels went on to explain this: ”The reaction on labour and speech of the development of the brain and its attendant senses, of the increasing clarity of consciousness, power of abstraction and conclusion, gave both labour and speech an ever increasing impulse to further development.”

The fact that Homo Naledi disposed of their dead, can only be explained by the fact that the brain had developed ”increasing clarity of consciousness, power of abstraction and conclusion”, which is characteristic of humans.

At the same time, these early humans remained prey animals. For that reason, they spent a great deal of time in trees, as the trees offered them a measure of protection. This resulted in a combination of human and non human traits, as revealed by the skeletons. The shape of the hands and feet are strictly human, while other bones were adapted to life in trees.

This transition, from ape to human, resulted in more than changes to the bones. The shape of the brain was also affected. This becomes clear because the shape of the brain, left an imprint on the inner surface of the skull. Homo Naledi shared grooves and folds, similar to modern humans. As well, the occipital lobes were larger on one side, than the other. This is characteristic of the ability to process language.

Yet so many scientists are focused on the size of the brain, as a means of determining a species of human. Engels refers to this as the ”idealistic world outlook”, which results in ”the most materialistic natural scientists…are still unable to form any clear idea of the origin of man, because…they do not recognize the part that has been played therein by labour”.

Common sense says that if an animal swims like a duck and walks like a duck and flies like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it likely is a duck. By the same token, an ape that walks like a human and has hands like a human and a brain like a human and disposes of its dead like a human, then it probably is a human.

Now if only the scientist can get that through their thick skulls.

At the time of this writing, it is reported that at least 570,000 Americans have died, as a result of the Covid virus. That is the official death toll, while the unofficial death toll is estimated to be much higher. As well, the unemployment rate is at levels not seen since the great depression, although the official rate is much lower. But then, after people are out of work for a specified period of time, they are no longer classified as unemployed! Just think, if the capitalist quit counting the people out of work, the unemployment rate drops to zero!

The combination of the virus, as people refer to it, and massive unemployment, is being spoken of as the twin crises in capitalism. Not that the capitalists are terribly concerned, as the stock market is soaring. It is breaking records, almost on a daily basis! The profits have never been higher! The billionaires, the super rich, the bourgeoisie, have never been more wealthy! Money just keeps pouring in! Who cares about the lowlifes who are whining about being hungry? As the queen of France once joked, if the common people have no bread, let them eat cake!

On the other hand, the suffering of the vast majority of people has reached tremendous proportions. Hunger is widespread, with the food banks running out of food. Ever more people are homeless, forced to live on the streets. The more ”fortunate” are able to find shelter in a vehicle. Others are sleeping under bridges. Very few have medical insurance, therefore no medical coverage. Healthy or not, they are on their own.

Yet the revolutionary motion is now in high gear. Countless working people, those who were formerly apathetic, are now taking an interest in politics. As they put it, they have ”woken up”. In various parts of the country, those same people are becoming active, forming ”Autonomous Zones”, as they put it, or merely zones. In those areas, the citizens are feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing those who are cold, poverty stricken, as well as providing medical attention to the sick and injured. The only manner in which the government is involved, includes attempts to shut down these social welfare zones!

At the same time, the government is in a state of deadlock. The two mainstream political parties have an almost equal number of politicians in Washington. President Biden is a Democrat, so that any legislation he suggests, is opposed by the Republicans. Perhaps the only thing the Republicans can agree upon, is the fact that they must oppose the Democrats.

The Republican Party, or the Grand Old Party, GOP, as they refer to themselves, is at the point of disintegration. Among the rank and file, which is to say the voters who are registered as Republicans, the vast majority think the ”election has been stolen”. They are convinced that Biden is a ”phoney” president, that Trump is the true president, as he really won the election. Even several months after the election, they are not giving up!

In the state of Arizona, which Trump ”lost” to Biden, the Republican voters are paying a private company to do a manual recount of the ballots. After all, the former personal lawyer to Trump, has demonstrated precisely the manner in which elections are ”rigged”, which is to say falsified. As he is the former mayor of New York city, it is very likely that he speaks from experience!

The leaders of the Republican Party are deeply concerned. That includes the current leaders, those who are, as yet, still in Washington, as well as those who were forced out. They think that the GOP is at a ”turning point”, that the ”Big lie” is a threat to democracy, that to challenge the election results ”will do profound long term damage to our party”, that it ”could create insurgency within our Party”. They consider this to be a ”threat to democracy”, that the ”failure to accept the election results can open a can of worms”. They also maintain that ”our democracy relies on two parties”.

Remarkably enough, there is some truth in all this. The ”big lie” is a reference to the fact that Biden won the election, at least officially. The democracy to which they are referring is their democracy, the democracy of the capitalists, the billionaires, the super rich, the bourgeoisie. Indeed, that democracy relies on the two party system, which has served them well, since the days of the Civil War. Now, not so much. The ”can of worms” to which they are referring, is the strong possibility that Trump may have won the election! If that can be proven, then the public uproar will be intense. Without doubt, the conditions are indeed ripe for a successful revolution.

Lenin stated this quite clearly, in summing up the experience of the three Russian revolutions:

”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 hundred fold 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 have chosen to quote this passage at length, as it is so vitally important. It is clear that the current situation in America is similar to the situation in Russia, 1917, on the eve of the first great proletarian socialist revolution. The American working class indeed realizes the ”impossibility of living in the old way”, and they certainly ”demand change”. As well, the ”upper classes”, in this case the capitalists, ”cannot carry on in the old way”!

In the interest of raising the level of awareness of the working class, and thereby furthering the revolution, may I suggest that all working people join the two parties, Democrats and Republicans, as card carrying members. For those who prefer to join merely one party, may I suggest the Republican Party. After all, those people are deeply depressed, ”singing the blues”. The least we can do is cheer them up!

As the capitalists are so concerned with the two party system, perhaps the polite thing to do is to assist them in propping up the two parties. All working people, especially all registered Republicans, can join the Republican Party. This massive influx of ”new blood” will bring the party together. The days of division will soon be over! The Republicans can then chart a new course, united by countless working people! Those same working people can also join the Democratic Party! The capitalists will maintain the two party system, and cheer and joy, good will to all, will spread to all corners of the country!

Those who believe that little fairy tale are the same simple minded souls who buy bridges!

On a serious note, it is necessary to respect the beliefs of all common people. That includes the rank and file, registered members of the Republican Party. The same is true of the Democratic Party. Both parties serve the same class. Their masters, the capitalists, prepare the speeches for the leaders of each party, to be spoken for the entertainment of the common people. To deceive the working people, in this way, is their preferred method of rule.

This is not to say that we should respect the leaders of the two parties, as those leaders serve the capitalists.

At the same time, it is perhaps safe to say that a great many voters (perhaps the majority?) still have a measure of faith in the two part system, even to the extent of being registered members of one of the parties. Such citizens tend to be honest, law abiding, tax paying Americans, precisely the people we want to persuade of the correctness of our policy. In the process of becoming card carrying members of one, or both, of the parties, and attempting to ”change the system from within”, they will learn, from their own experience, that the capitalists are in charge and fully intend to remain in charge!

It is up to conscious people, Communists, to patiently explain to such honest citizens, that the capitalists are, first and foremost, a pack of liars. They are responsible for both the financial crisis, the depression, and the virus. As long as the capitalists remain in power, nothing of substance will change. It is only through socialism, with the working class, the proletariat, in charge, that real change can be enacted. Further, the capitalists can only be overthrown through revolution.

As working people join the two parties and attempt to enact various reforms, they will learn, from their own experience, that we are right. This should serve as valuable training for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

As I write this, President Biden has been in office for over one hundred days, the usual ”honeymoon” period for any new president. He is proposing to spend money on a scale which is unprecedented. The opposition to this spending is intense, not because of the expense, but because it is not going to the military. Over half the money is earmarked for infrastructure, building and repairing roads, bridges, tunnels and such. The remainder is for social programs, involving students, workers and families. The plan to pay for these huge expenses is by raising taxes on the capitalists, the billionaires and their corporations.

Although deeply opposed to these tax increases, the capitalists, the bourgeois, are deeply divided. In particular, the Republican Party is in a shambles. Most of the citizens who identify themselves as Republicans are convinced that the ”election was stolen”, that Trump was ”robbed”, that he really won the election, that he is the true president. They are quite vocal, determined to prove their case. The press is reporting that the ”party infighting has reached a fever pitch”. They are also of the opinion that the GOP, Republican Party, is having an ”identity crisis”, what ever that is!

Even a former Republican president has weighed in on the subject. As he phrased it, in terms which are something less than eloquent, ”it looks like we want to be extinct”. Possibly he was referring to the Party, or possibly he was referring to his class, the bourgeoisie. Possibly he is so stunned, even he does not know what he is saying!

The former Speaker of the House, who was forced out of office, has written a book on the subject. At least, he has written a book, although no one quite knows, or cares, about the subject of the book.

At a recent Republican Party conference, held in Utah, a high ranking Senator and former presidential candidate, was ”booed and heckled”, forced to step down from the podium, from where he was trying to give a speech. The audience clearly ”disapproves” of the fact that he recognizes that Biden is the new president.

The daughter of the former vice president, and perhaps the highest ranking Republican female in the House, is ”on the outs with the party base”, according to the press, because she ”refers to the stolen election as the Big Lie”.

In the state of Arizona, a manual recount of the presidential ballots is underway. Without doubt, the ”party base” is not giving up! The press is reporting that ”the Trump wing has the establishment on its heels”.

The former personal lawyer of Trump, also former mayor of New York City, has documented the manner in which elections are falsified. His presentation was simple and detailed, easily understood. He very likely spoke from experience!

This irritates the capitalists to no end, as they decided, some time ago, that it was time for Trump to ”retire”. To that end, it was ”arranged” for Trump to lose the election. He was then expected to gracefully step aside, and allow the capitalists to continue to rule, if only in a slightly different manner. At least, that was the plan. That is not the plan of Donald Trump. He has tasted power, and he loves it!

In response to this ”insubordination”, on the part of Trump and his former lawyer, the capitalists have decided to punish them. Various government agencies, both federal and state, are seeking to charge Trump with numerous crimes. As well, the office and personal residence of the lawyer were searched. Officially, they are looking for ”incriminating evidence”, in connection with the Ukranian government. Unofficially, they are merely trying to shut him up!

As well, the capitalists are well aware of the revolutionary movement of the members of the public. It is clear that the common people are being attracted to socialism, so in an attempt to discredit the true Marxists, the Communists, they have resorted to the time honoured tradition of slander.

Perhaps the latest, and the strangest, is a documentary of ”Royal History’s Biggest Fibs”. They report that the Russian revolution of 1917 ”transformed politics and society, was truly epic, but has been exaggerated, memorized, shrouded in mythology and fibs”. Perhaps the word ”fibs”, instead of ”lies”, is meant as a little joke. Perhaps not everyone appreciates their sense of humour.

Despite the best attempts of the film makers to slander and confuse, they managed to blurt out a few valuable admissions. It is a fact that, as a result of the First World War, the ”future of European nobility was held in the balance”. That was the very thing that was predicted by Engels many years earlier!

They also report that at the time of the February-March revolution, Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky were not directly involved. As if it was their fault! In fact, they had first been thrown in prison and then exiled! They were fortunate to have not been hung!

We get the impression that the writers of this documentary think they have made a great discovery. They very proudly point out the fact that the February-March revolution was made without leaders, that it was a ”grass roots revolution”. Perhaps someone should explain to them, the fundamental tenet of Marxism, that the ”masses are the makers of history”. That was true in 1789, at the time of the French revolution, it was true in 1917 at the time of the Russian revolution, and it is true today!

The first Russian revolution of 1917 certainly ”made history”, and that history was made by the working people of Russia. They rose up, spontaneously, if for no other reason than that they had been deprived of their leaders. They succeeded in overthrowing their Czar, Nicholas the Bloody, which gave the capitalists the opportunity to seize power.

It is true that in early 1917, the common people of Russia were suffering terribly. The Russian army had taken some terrible losses, in the war with Germany and the Central Powers. In addition, there were ”bread shortages” in the cities, which is to say that the people were starving. In fact, the suffering of the common people of Russia had reached tremendous proportions.

Modern day Americans may find this to be quite familiar, as indeed it is. It is a repeat of that which happened in Russia, one hundred years ago. The similarities do not end there.

It is reported that on February 23, 1917, International Women’s Day, the ladies in the capitol of Saint Petersburg, led by the garment workers, went on strike. They marched from one factory to another, demanding that the men join them. They even marched to the barracks of the Cossacks, daring the mounted police to shoot them. On day 3, the Czar ordered the Cossacks to do just that, and the Cossacks refused. As a result of this, the Czar was forced to step down. This left the capitalists firmly in charge.

The film also correctly reports that Lenin, while in exile, had continued with his revolutionary work. His writings had been smuggled into Russia, and were avidly read by the workers. At the time of the revolution, he was living in Switzerland. Anxious to return to Russia, he first had to pass through Germany. Even though a Russian citizen, and Russia was at war with Germany, diplomatic channels were opened, so that he and possibly thirty others were placed on a train, the doors were sealed, and in early April, he returned to Saint Petersburg, the capital. As the leader of the Russian working people, he was met with wild enthusiasm.

Naturally, the film implies that Lenin was a German agent, so that the secret agents of the Provisional Government, led by Kerensky, were determined to arrest and kill him. In fact, they were determined to kill Lenin, as he was the leader of the revolutionaries! The leaders of the current American revolution would do well to bear this in mind!

It is also true that Lenin went into hiding, in Finland, wrote State and Revolution, and prepared to carry the revolution through to its proper conclusion, which is the overthrow of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, and the creation of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. That is the one and only true form of socialism. This took place on October 25, old style calendar, or November 7, new style calendar. Of course the film makers had a few words to say on the matter.

On that day, the Provisional government was hiding in the Winter Palace of the Czar. The workers and soldiers, most of whom were peasants, seized control of the communications centres, railroad stations and major bridges of the country, then stormed the Winter Palace. The revolution was well planned, carefully organized, disciplined and effective. In fact, it was all but bloodless. Socialism was established, the workers and poor peasants were in power, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, the capitalists were overthrown, and the film makers bewailed the fact that it was so bloodless!

The remainder of the film was devoted mainly to slander, directed against Lenin and Stalin.

Yet the fact remains that the women of Russia played a key role in the revolution. In fact, the ladies of Saint Petersburg were the first to rebel. They called for the male workers to join them, perhaps even dragging them along, much as Mo dragged Larry and Curly by the ears. It was the ladies who confronted the Cossacks in their barracks, daring them to open fire. Just as the ladies did not wait for the men to start the revolution, so too the ladies did not wait for the Cossacks to attack. In both cases, the men and the Cossacks joined the ladies in the revolution.

It is to be hoped that the American ladies of today can draw inspiration from the Russian ladies of yesteryear. After all, American women are currently leading the revolution, just as the Russian women led the Russian revolution. In each case, the men had to be given a little nudge, in the right direction.

The current American situation is every bit as revolutionary, as was the situation in Russia, 1917. The suffering of the common people, the working class, has reached monstrous proportions. Countless workers, those whom have formerly been apathetic, are now rising up, taking an interest in their lives, demanding change. They are also taking action, forming Autonomous Zones, of one form or another, in an attempt to bring about change.

This marks a transitional phase in the development of the revolution. Workers have gone from being politically dormant, to being awakened and taking eagerly to politics! This is the natural result of a revolution, which draws vast numbers of ordinary citizens into the movement! In fact, it is characteristic of all revolutions, this sudden increase in the number of ”ordinary citizens” who begin to participate actively, independently in political life and the organization of the state!

At the same time, the capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, are deeply divided. They are fighting among themselves. Now is the time to strike, when the capitalists are at their weakest. Show them no mercy!

The main problem now is the insufficient class consciousness of the working class, the proletariat. The workers have got to be made aware of themselves as a class, with their own class interests, which are diametrically opposed to the interests of the capitalists. After all, the vast majority of the population is suffering terribly, the middle class is being wiped out, and the stock market is soaring! This is to say that the profits of the capitalists, the billionaires, are at an all time high! The super rich, the bourgeoisie, are becoming ever more wealthy! The more impoverished the working class, the greater the profits of the capitalists!

As a result of this, there is a desperate need for leaders, in order to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. True, the Russian revolution succeeded in overthrowing the Czar, without leaders, but could go no further. The Russian workers were not class conscious, so that the capitalists were able to seize power. Out of the frying pan, into the fire!

In order for the revolution to be carried through to socialism, it was necessary for Lenin and the Bolsheviks, as the Communists then referred to themselves, to lead the workers. They were then made aware of themselves as a class, one which was destined to overthrow the capitalists and establish socialism. At the time of the revolution, the state apparatus was destroyed and replaced with a new, proletarian state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

Now in America, we have a similar situation. The working class is rising up, demanding change, taking action, forming Autonomous Zones. Yet as they are unaware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, they can go no farther. Working people need leaders, and that can only be provided by a truly Communist Party, one which advocates the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

Of necessity, this American Communist Party will have to be formed by intellectuals, mainly members of the middle class, or more likely, former members of the middle class. It is also very likely that most of the founding members will be women. It may not be fair. It may not be right. It is what it is.

The capitalists have done a splendid job of ruining the middle class, the petty bourgeois, forcing such intellectuals into the ranks of the proletariat! They certainly know how to dig their own graves!

Such a Party can perform the vitally important propaganda work, as well as explaining to the workers that the ”socialist” groups and organizations, which do not call for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, are merely fighting for paltry reforms. They are the natural and desirable allies of the proletariat. On the other hand, those which claim to be socialist, while opposing the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, are in the service of the capitalists. They are the enemy.

As well, the Party can help to organize the various groups, organizations and Zones, into one mighty, vast proletarian army. Only in this way can the capitalists be defeated.

Each and every capitalist country gives rise to revolutionary motion, which in turn leads to socialism, yet the particular form of motion, in each country, varies somewhat. In America, this motion has taken the shape of Autonomous Zones.

Perhaps the most clear cut example of this took place within the city of Seattle, in that a portion of the city was occupied by ”protesters” for three weeks. The police detachment was abandoned, the protesters managed their own affairs, shared the little they had and planted community gardens. They also maintained their own laws, enforced with armed guards. As a result of this, the Zone was perhaps the safest place, within the city. That is a far cry from the accusation of ”anarchy”, by that of the capitalists!

For the purposes of this article, I have chosen to refer to the people taking part in these Zones as protesters, not because the media chooses to refer to them as such, but because they choose to refer to themselves as protesters. Not all of them consider themselves as ”autonomous”, as many do not consider themselves to be revolutionaries. The main thing is to respect the beliefs of each other. If the actions of certain people are the exact opposite of their beliefs, so be it.

From Seattle, the ”Autonomous Zones” spread across the country, although in a slightly different form. In different cities, these areas, or ”Zones”, were not a reference to geographical locations, but to a gathering of people, those with a shared set of beliefs, determined to take action, to make a difference. Way to go!

In fact, these Zones constitute a dual power, another government, existing alongside the power of the capitalists. This is working class power, or Proletariat Power, and truly terrifies the capitalists. With good reason, I might add.

These Zones, which are popping up all over the country, in various forms, are nothing other than a working class, proletarian form of state power! They are a direct threat to the power of the capitalists! What is more, the capitalists are well aware of this! The only people who are not ”well aware of this”, are the people taking part in those Zones!

I mention this, as well as certain technical terms, for the sake of the countless working people, those who are just now becoming politically active, those who have been swept up in the revolutionary motion. Like it or not, it is best to learn at least a few, the most important technical terms, as otherwise your lack of awareness will be used against you. That is just the way it is. To paraphrase the legal jargon, ”anything you do not know or say, can and will be used against you”.

It is safe to say that most of these protesters, as they refer to themselves, are not aware that they are taking part in revolutionary motion. Strangely enough, that is quite common. No one wakes up one morning and decides to overthrow the government! Yet throughout history, that is the very thing that happens! As for those who are skeptical, consider the revolutions that took place in the American colonies, then later in France and Russia, to name a few. In each case, countless people rose up, or ”masses of people”, to use the expression of the social scientists, in a spontaneous manner, and ”made history”.

To say that this caused ”quite a stir”, among the intellectuals of the time, each and every time a revolution took place, is an understatement. In fact, it is still a common belief, especially among the capitalists, the bourgeois, that ”natural born leaders” (they are referring to themselves!) make history. Such is hardly the case, as the French Revolution of 1789 proved, beyond any shadow of a doubt. People make history. Yet the illusion persists, if only because the bourgeois prefer to believe that which they want to believe.

Yet the fact remains that, as Marx stated, the ”masses are the makers of history”. Mind you, it is true that fine leaders are required to guide a ship across the ocean, for example, or to lead an army into battle. Yet the finest government leaders cannot stop the mass motion of the people, once that mass motion gets underway. Which is not to say that the bourgeois leaders consistently make every effort!

That is precisely the case now, in America. Countless people are rising up in protest, not exactly sure what they are doing, or why they are doing it, but convinced that something has to be done. In separate parts of the country, people are getting together and feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, providing medical care to the sick, defending the helpless, and so forth. Others are marching, chanting, carrying signs, demanding an end to the murder of Black people, an end to the sexual assault of women, money for social programs, free education and free medical. The list is endless, and all demands are reasonable. Worthy causes, one and all. Yet the protests are separate, disconnected.

I make no secret of my belief that we, the working class, the proletariat, are in a state of war with the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. That is the belief of all true Marxists. Sometimes the war is hidden, simmering, as it were, beneath the surface, and sometimes it flares up into open confrontation. We are now at the stage of confrontation, approaching civil war.

As that is the case, the protesters have to ”broaden their horizons”, so to speak, and to ”look at the bigger picture”, to use the jargon of the capitalists.

All true Marxists believe that the rule of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, will be followed, after the revolution, by the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. At that time the billionaires will be crushed by the working class, the proletariat. The capitalists will have no rights! They will face working class judges in working class courts, and will not be allowed to hide behind a small army of high priced lawyers! They will be held accountable for the crimes they have committed under capitalism!

Having said that, it is also true that this Dictatorship Of the Proletariat has already begun, if only in ”embryonic form”. Remarkable it may be, completely unexpected, (if only because no one thought it possible!), but true. The fact is that these Zones are being created ”from below”, which is to say that the working people are forming them, on their own initiative. No elected officials are involved! Even the police, or especially the police, are being pushed aside! All elected officials, as well as bureaucrats, are not welcome! This is the very essence of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

These are the facts, and once we face these facts, it logically follows that the American revolution has made great strides. The people taking part in these Zones are not only protesting, they are taking revolutionary action! This calls for a change in tactics, on the part of the people who are taking part in the revolution.

These ”protesters”, or revolutionaries, are going to have to get in touch with the members of all other ”Zones”, and here I am using the word in its loosest possible sense. By that I include all those who are protesting, calling for reforms, such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too. There are numerous other groups, with more taking shape, almost on a daily basis. They have got to get organized, to work together, and on a nation wide basis!

It may help to think of this Autonomous movement as a military offensive, because that is precisely what it is. It is a huge army of working class people, pitted against a highly trained army of capitalists, the bourgeois, and their supporters. It stands to reason that an army is most effective, when the offensives it mounts are coordinated, well planned and focused. By contrast, an army which attacks here and there, in small detachments, is easily defeated.

The proletarian army is vast, but scattered, the various offensives not coordinated. The only way to achieve victory is to unite the various forces, to plan the attacks, to strike at a time and place which is unexpected, at the point where the enemy is weakest. This requires a centralized command centre.

In other works, it is necessary for the working class to get organized. True, working people are organized in trade unions and sports clubs, for example, but now it is indeed time to ”broaden their horizons”.

Yet the people taking part in this revolutionary movement, whether in the form of Zones or protests, are not ”class conscious”, which is to say that they are not aware of themselves as a class, with their own class interests. It is only when they are made aware of this fact, that they will come together, join forces, and become a supremely powerful fighting force.

That is where the intellectuals come into the picture. It is up to such people, mainly former members of the middle class, to bring this awareness to the working class. As the capitalists have done such a fine job of destroying the middle class, forcing those people into the ranks of the proletariat, there is no shortage of such people.

The task of raising the level of awareness of the working class should not be terribly difficult, as most workers are now proud owners of computers, or at least ”digital devices” of one form or another. As that is the case, simple ”emails” can be sent. Do not be surprised if most working people embrace the idea of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat! The idea that the capitalists, the billionaires, should be deprived of all rights, of all lawyers, of having to answer to working class judges, should appeal to all workers!

In the recent past, the people who have proven themselves to be excellent organizers are the women, and the students. The students got together and protested because they were tired of being used for target practice. Imagine that! The women were motivated in a similar manner, as they were tired of being assaulted. They managed to organize the Womens March, immediately after the inauguration of Trump, and it was most impressive.

Yet there is a vicious rumour circulating, to the effect that the women who organized that march, were ”bought off”, that they ”sold out”, that they formed a corporation. I can only hope that is slander. Even if it is true, there are other ladies who have to ”pick up the torch”. They can be assisted by the students, or more accurately, former students, who also did such a fine job of organizing.

Speaking as an old time, die hard male chauvinist, it galls me to point out that the men are not leading the revolution. It is not fair to place this burden on your shoulders, yet the alternative is to continue the fight for paltry reforms, as happened in all previous revolutionary motions. Look where that got us! Nothing of substance has changed! And nothing will change until the capitalists are overthrown and crushed, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

With that in mind, may I suggest that the banners and signs now proclaim a new slogan:

Fight Like a Girl!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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