Author: Gerald Mcisaac

Several years ago, Trump surprised himself by winning the presidency. Now that he is president, he has found that he loves the power and has no intention of relinquishing it. Perhaps he was even more surprised by the fact that the key to remaining in power lies in abiding by the law. As someone who came to power by breaking every law which he found to be inconvenient, the idea of using the law probably never occurred to him. But then, there is a reason for the existence of lawyers. As Trump is not entirely stupid, he hired a small army of lawyers to work for him, at tax payer expense, of course.

His lawyers have advised him that the current method of rule, that of the two party system, is something other than legal. Even though it is simple and convenient, and has served the bourgeoisie well, since the days of the civil war, it is strictly unconstitutional. Not that Trump or any other members of his class are terribly concerned with such little details, unless it serves their purpose. Now it serves the purpose of Trump, and he is paying strict attention. In order to stay in power, the only thing he has to do is destroy the two party system. His team has been working on this for the last few months.

As countless people are closely watching the presidential election, it is the duty of Conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to use the election as an opportunity to raise the level of awareness of the working class.

With that in mind, we can explain to working people that under the current ”democratic” system, the people do not have the right to elect the President, or the Vice President. Those two are elected by the chosen few, the Electors, the members of the Electoral College.

The capitalists refer to this as the ”Electoral College” system. Each Elector is appointed by a state legislature, and there are very few of them, a grand total of only 538. A simple majority of two hundred seventy is sufficient to determine both the President and the Vice President. This is spelled out in the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, and we can expect to hear a great deal more, concerning this Amendment, very soon, immediately after the ”election”, the popular vote of November 3.

Without doubt, many millions of people will be ”glued to the tube” on that evening, as after the polls close, the votes cast in each state will be counted, starting with the East Coast states. The political pundits for the major television networks will be reporting the vote count for each state, and the percentage of votes for each candidate, and at some point the offscreen network executives will announce the candidate who ”won” each state, along with the Electoral Votes for that state. At some point, the Electoral Votes for one candidate, either Trump or Biden, will reach the magic number of 270, and the networks will report a winner.

If Trump is reported to be the winner, and Biden concedes, that will be the end of it. But if Biden is reported to be the winner, then Trump can be expected to challenge the election results in the Supreme Court. It is very likely that the Supreme Court will agree with Trump that the popular election is meaningless, effectively abolishing the two party system.

This requires a little explanation. Under the current system, each state has a certain number of ”Electoral Votes”, as that is the technical term, which is to say the number of people who can be appointed as Electors. The more people in the state, the more Electors, the more Electoral Votes. The state of California, with perhaps forty million people, has the most Electoral Votes at 55, while the states with the fewest people have a mere 3 Electoral Votes, each. All states require their respective Electors, those who are appointed by the state legislatures, to vote for the candidates of either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Almost all states have a ”winner take all” policy, in that the candidate who wins a majority of votes in the state, receives all of the Electoral Votes of that particular state. The lawyers who work for Trump are convinced that all of these state laws have one thing in common: they are unconstitutional.

In previous federal elections, numerous Electors have violated state laws and chosen to vote for a candidate of their choice, not the candidate chosen by the state they represent. None of these Electors has ever been charged, probably because the state prosecutors are aware that the law cannot be enforced.

The lawyers for Trump have been busy, earning their pay. For the last several months, they have been approaching the various state legislatures, encouraging them to appoint Electors who will vote for Trump, or at least vote for someone other than Biden! If Trump cannot secure 270 Electoral Votes, then he is at least determined to stop Biden from securing that many votes. If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral Votes, then the next step in the process, as spelled out in the Constitution, is to send the election to the House of Representatives, in which case each state has but one vote.

As so many people are focused on the election, it is important to let people know what is happening. With that in mind, I have decided to include the Twelfth Amendment:

”The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice President; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President, one of whom at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President when ever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice President shall act as President.”

There are numerous experts on Constitutional law, and there are as many opinions on the meaning of this Amendment as there are experts. There are also other parts of the Constitution which deal with the federal election. The only opinion which really matters is that of the Supreme Court, and we can expect to hear from them soon.

If the vote of November 3, ”election day”, goes in the favour of Trump, then he will have no reason to challenge the results in court. It is only if Biden declares victory that we can expect Trump to ”stand on principle” (Ha!) and challenge the election in court.

As concerns the democratic right of the citizens to vote, it is significant that the Amendment makes no mention of the popular vote! It is entirely possible that the Supreme court will soon rule that the popular vote is a mere formality.

The point to be driven home to the working class is that the ruling class, the capitalists, the bourgeois, have established two mainstream political parties, Democrats and Republicans, and that these two parties have ”hijacked” the presidential election process. The Supreme Court will very likely rule, and soon, that the states have no right to interfere in such elections, that the Electors have the right to vote for the qualified candidate of their choice, for the offices of both President and Vice President.

Under the current bourgeois democratic method of rule, each of the two mainstream political parties selects a candidate for the office of President. This candidate in turn selects a ”running mate”, a Vice President. Voters are then allowed to choose between the two pairs, in a ”general election”. The candidates which receive the majority of ”popular votes” in such an election, in each state, usually receives all, or at least most, of the Electoral Votes for that state. That is almost certainly about to change, as that is not spelled out in the Constitution.

That anticipated change will no doubt lead to a state of mass confusion, generally referred to as ”throwing a monkey wrench”, in the middle of a revolutionary uprising. In that case, it is up to Marxists to explain to the working class that democracy is not majority rule! It is a method of class rule! It is a state apparatus, an organization for the systematic use of violence by one class, against another class. In this case, under capitalism, it is the capitalists, the tiny minority, the bourgeoisie, who use the state apparatus to crush the working class, the vast majority, the proletariat.

After the revolution, after the proletariat seizes political power, the ”shoe will be on the other foot”. Then the proletariat, the vast majority of people, will be in power. Yet the tiny minority of capitalists, the bourgeois, will not resign themselves to their fate. In fact, they will fight ”tooth and nail” to recover their ”paradise lost”. They will stoop to any level, resort to any subterfuge, as their hatred and fury rise to a red hot frenzy. We can expect them to send their agents into the Communist Party and try to subvert it from within.

For the benefit of the Marxists, it should be mentioned that we can expect the distortion of Marxism to be ever more subtle. As an example, there are ”Marxists” who refer to our democratic rights under capitalism, under the bourgeois democratic republic, as ”bourgeois democratic rights”, rights which are ”granted by the bourgeoisie”.

This is incorrect, as our democratic rights are not bourgeois, just as they are not proletarian. They are democratic, pure and simple. Under capitalism, our democratic rights are ”restricted, cramped, curtailed, mutilated by all the conditions of wage slavery”, as Lenin phrased it. Further, they most certainly are not ”granted” by the bourgeoisie, as the monopoly capitalists, the imperialists, are completely reactionary. To suggest that they ”grant” the proletariat some democratic rights, is to imply that there is something progressive about the imperialists, the bourgeoisie. Such is hardly the case.

It is such subtle distortions of revolutionary Marxist theories, which we can expect. This is nothing other than revisionist, an attempt to subvert Marxism. It is up to Marxists to oppose these revisionist theories, especially within the Communist Party.

Without doubt, after the revolution, the bourgeois class will have to be crushed, and that will require a state apparatus, but a different sort of state apparatus, one set up to deal with their desperate and determined resistance. That state apparatus will be in the form of a different sort of democracy, a democracy of the vast majority, of the working class, referred to as the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

In preparation for the revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, in the interest of raising the level of awareness of the proletariat, a few slogans are perhaps appropriate. With that in mind, may I suggest signs and banners which read: Capitalism is not Democracy; Down With Democracy For the Capitalists; Democracy For the Proletariat.

No doubt many middle class people will consider such slogans to be too basic. We are concerned with raising the level of awareness of countless millions of working class people, and we have to start somewhere. The less advanced workers (I prefer to avoid the word ”backward” as it may be considered derogatory) must not be neglected, just as I try to avoid the use of the word ”masses”, as it seems much too impersonal. Such terms as ”common people” or ”members of the public” are preferred, as working people refer to themselves in those terms.

The fact is that many working class people are now expressing an interest in politics, if only at the level of being determined to vote. Of course many others are active on a higher level, such as taking part in marches and demonstrations, and in opposition to violent repression, especially of minorities. This is indeed class consciousness, but only in an embryonic form! It is, as yet, not true Marxist, or Communist, consciousness, nor can it be.

The working people are doing their part, and can go no further. The conditions of life among the working class does not lead to the awareness of itself as a class. This consciousness can come only from an outside source, and that source is middle class intellectuals, members of the bourgeois intelligentsia. The ”good news” is that there is now no shortage of middle class intellectuals within the working class, through no ”fault” of their own. The current crises in capitalism has led to the decimation of the middle class. The remaining members of the middle class are ”living on borrowed time”. Their ”days are numbered”, as ever more members are becoming impoverished, forced into the ranks of the proletariat. These ”newly minted” proletarians are bringing with them the awareness of classes, as well as the awareness of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. As well, many of them are highly skilled as organizers, and that is precisely the skills which are so desperately needed at present.

It may be objected that the revolutionary motion is now very strong, with no less than three distinct republics in the process of formation. No doubt others will soon take shape. The American empire is collapsing, and the idea that it could break into a number of republics which could embrace capitalism, may sound absurd, but it could happen. Socialism will not happen by itself. It has to be created.

The fact of the matter is that it is up to Conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to imbue the proletariat with the consciousness of its position, and of its tasks. That task now is to create a socialist society, as opposed to a capitalist society. The trouble being that working people have lived all their lives under capitalism, and are saturated with the bourgeois ideology. This is referred to as the ”ideological enslavement” of the workers, to the bourgeoisie. It is up to Communists to ”break the invisible chains” of enslavement, as otherwise the revolution could merely give rise to smaller, capitalist republics. This is referred to as going ”from the frying pan, into the fire”.

As Lenin phrased it, ”The fact that the working class participates in the political struggle and even in political revolution does not in itself make its politics Social Democratic (Marxist) politics.” Without doubt, the political revolution is approaching. The only question is whether it will lead to socialism, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, or to a continuation of capitalism.

The fact of the matter is that, as a result of the revolutionary motion, tens of millions of people are now in motion, determined to enact change. From among these huge crowds, leaders will emerge, the more advanced members of the proletariat. It is up to Marxists to bring to these people the class awareness, to bring their level of consciousness to that of Marxists, at least in regards to Party business. They have to become working class intellectuals, dedicated to the revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

Such workers can be counted upon to raise the level of awareness of other workers, as such advanced workers are highly respected, and they ”speak the same language” as the less advanced workers. They are able to speak and even write articles in a manner which the less advanced can understand, concerning current events which have caught the attention of those workers, using metaphors which workers understand.

This is not to say that middle class intellectuals are incapable of communicating with such workers. It is to say that many of them are simply not up to the task, for whatever reason. No doubt they are capable of learning, given the time and motivation. Old habits are so hard to break.

As I write this, there are a mere ten days left before the ”election”. Almost everyone is agreed that the country is a ”powder keg”, in that tensions are very high, and any ”spark” could cause an explosion. The political pundits are also agreed that Biden is heavily favoured to ”win” the election. By this they mean that he is expected to win the majority of Electoral Votes, to be determined on ”election night”. That is not about to happen.

Assuming Biden ”wins” the election, then the lawyers for Trump will challenge the election in the Supreme Court. They will argue that the Electors have to vote for President and Vice President ”on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December”, as per the Constitution, that all state laws restricting the votes of the Electors are unconstitutional, and that the popular vote is a mere formality.

Do not be surprised if the Supreme Court agrees with that argument. That could be the ”spark” which sets off the uprising, the revolution.

If nothing else, it would give the Electors the right to vote for the people of their choice, so it is still possible that Senator Bernie Sanders could be elected as President. Or Senator Kamala Harris, or anyone else whom the Electors decide.

Now is not the time to ”rest on our laurels”, to ”let nature take its course”, as that course leads straight to capitalism. Now is the time to make a supreme effort, to redouble our efforts, to create a proper non revisionist Communist Party, to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to guide the approaching revolution onto a path of scientific socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

As I write this, there are as yet seventeen days to go before ”election day”, that of November 3, which is the day Americans get to ”elect their next president”. Even now, it is reported that twenty two million people have already cast their ballots. Many people are being forced to wait in line, some for as long as eleven hours, while others are showing up to the polling stations as early as four hours before the stations open, in order to ensure they are able to cast a vote. The press is reporting a ”drastic increase” in the voter turn out, over double that of the last presidential election of two years ago, at this time. This despite the fact that the government, which serves the capitalists so well, has placed various obstacles in the way of people exercising their democratic right to vote. For example, in the state of Texas, the ballot boxes are limited to one per district, so that each voter is forced to drive possibly an hour each way, during working hours, in order to cast a ballot. In the state of California, numerous phoney ballot boxes are set up, so that any ballots placed in these boxes are not counted. Other states have different methods of limiting voter turn out, especially that of minority voters.

This is taking place against a background of almost two hundred twenty thousand Americans dead due to the Corona Virus, with the infection rate ”climbing”. It is anticipated that as soon as the ”second wave” hits, along with the flu virus, the ”fatality rate” will sky rocket.

Despite this, the working class movement continues to gain strength. The city of Portland continues to be a leader in the revolutionary motion. On Columbus Day, otherwise known as Indigenous Day, the people of Portland pulled down two statues, that of President Abraham Lincoln and that of President Theodore Roosevelt. This is being referred to as a ”Day of Rage”.

Those two individuals are commonly thought of as ”heroes”, hence the statues, in their honour. In fact, it was President Lincoln who ordered the execution of 38 Dakota warriors, in 1862, as a response to the Sioux uprising. This mass hanging was carried out in Mankato, Minnesota. As well, it was President Roosevelt who ordered the removal of Indigenous people from their traditional territory, in the interests of ”conservation”. The descendants of those people have not forgotten the actions of the presidential ”heroes”. Now all people are receiving a little reminder.

The reactionaries have also been very busy. A ”right wing militia group” made a supreme effort to kidnap the governor of Michigan. Apparently they planned to place her on ”trial”, as she refuses to support Trump, an act which they consider to be nothing less than ”treason”. Their plan was unsuccessful, but at least one sheriff has expressed his support for the members of the militia. And now Trump is leading the call, in reference to the governor, to ”lock her up!”

To put this in popular terms, the ”battle lines are being drawn”. The Right Wing reactionaries, also known as the various ”militia groups”, are literally preparing for war. They are determined to preserve the ”status quo”, in support of the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, whether they know it or not. The leaders of the ”militia” are well aware of this, while the rank and file members, those who tend to be less advanced members of the working class, are merely following along. A clear distinction should be drawn between the two.

By contrast, the progressive forces, including the tens of millions of people who are determined to vote, are focused on change. Most of them quite reasonably assume that their vote means something, as indeed it does. This is not to say that their votes will change the rule of the capitalists. With or without Trump as president, the bourgeoisie are determined to continue to rule.

The importance of the record breaking number of people who have turned out to vote, lies in the fact that, as Marx stated, it is an indication of the measure of the maturity of the working class! He went on to state that under capitalism, it cannot be anything more than that! Yet that is enough.

For that reason, it is clear that the working class, the proletariat, is now quite mature. They are doing their part, and are now preparing for war. They can go no further. The conditions of life, of the proletariat, do not lead to class awareness. That awareness can come only from an outside source, and that outside source is conscious people, most of whom are middle class intellectuals. That places a largely unwelcome burden upon the shoulders of conscious people. It is what it is!

It was Lenin who stressed the fact that ”Without a revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary motion”. He went on to state that the ”role of vanguard fighter can be fulfilled only by a party that is guided by the most advanced theory”. (italics by Lenin)

It is also true that the Marxist, or Communist movement, is by its very essence an international movement. Countless people, in numerous countries of the world, are watching the American revolution unfold. It is reasonable to expect that such people will draw inspiration from the American revolution.

There can be little doubt that we are on the eve of revolution. The forces of the two classes are ”dug in”, prepared for battle. Equally without doubt, the only question is one of the duration, the length of time of the approaching civil war. The Revolutionary War, which gave birth to the country, dragged out for seven years. The Civil War raged for four years, at the expense of many thousands of American lives. It remains to be seen just how many lives will be lost during this next revolution.

This largely depends upon the leaders, the members of the American Communist Party. As a comparison, in Russia, October of 1917, (old style calendar) the Marxists, led by Lenin, mounted an insurrection which was almost bloodless. It was carefully planned and executed. Even though the revolutionaries lacked the element of surprise, it was quite successful. Sadly, two members of the Central Committee betrayed the plans for the uprising, yet the revolutionary motion was so strong, even this act of treachery was overcome.

As yet, the American Communist Party does not exist. It must be formed, and it must then plan and execute an insurrection. Otherwise, it will very likely result in another long and drawn out civil war, with countless casualties.

Now in 2020 America, the vast majority of working people are demanding change. Those who were previously apathetic, are now politically active. Most are of the opinion that Trump can be removed from office, due to a popular vote. They are about to find out that such is not the case. In this way they will learn a valuable lesson in bourgeois democracy.

It is up to conscious people, Marxists, to use such examples, with which people are familiar, to raise the level of awareness of the working class. They watch the news. They are aware that the former Chief of Staff to Trump, recently stated that ”the depths of his dishonesty is just outstanding to me”. They are also aware that a thirty five year veteran of the Department of Justice, a distinguished prosecutor, recently resigned, due to the Attorney General. This fellow openly accused the Attorney General of having ”slavish obedience” to Trump, of being his loyal ”lapdog”. He accuses Trump of trying to turn the country into an autocracy.

Neither one of these men can be accused of being ”Leftists”, as both are bourgeois, right to the core of their being. The two are merely concerned with bourgeois democracy. This stands as a testament to the confusion within the bourgeois government. That confusion is about to intensify.

These are merely a few examples of current events, those which should be used to raise the level of awareness of the working class. Another example is the nomination of a new Supreme Court Justice, one which is receiving a great deal of coverage by the press. Make no mistake, working people are closely watching these proceedings.

As most working people do not have access to higher education, by which I mean a university degree, they are unaware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. That education is largely limited to the bourgeois. It follows that it is up to the bourgeois, or more accurately the petty bourgeois, the middle class, to bring this awareness to the proletariat.

It is perhaps ironic that the ruling class, the billionaires, the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are determined to keep the working class, the proletariat, in the dark, blissfully unaware of the existence of classes. Yet at the same time, they are helping to raise the level of awareness of the proletariat, by ruining the middle class, forcing so many members of that class, into the ranks of the proletariat! These former members of the middle class, now members of the working class, proletarians, are nothing less than Conscious people, aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin!

It is to these people that I am appealing. No doubt many of you feel bitter. In return for giving a company the ”best years of your life”, you expected a little gratitude. No chance. There is no room for sentiment in the world of ”business”, which is the polite word for capitalism. People are mere tools, whether they work in production or in the field of management. When these ”tools” are no longer useful, they are discarded. You are one of the tools which has been discarded.

This is not to say that you can no longer be useful. On the contrary, you can be more useful than ever before. You can bring the class awareness to the proletariat. You are in a unique position to do this, as you can speak from experience. For that reason, working people will listen to you. Further, you will find yourself involved with people whom you can trust. It is the bourgeois who delight in ”stabbing each other in the back”. Working people are not of that nature. You may even be surprised to find that you are having fun! As a bonus, the act of overthrowing the bourgeoisie and crushing them under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, will provide you with a certain personal satisfaction. After all, those are the same people who ruined you. One good turn deserves another!

Another point of propaganda, which can be used to raise the level of awareness of the working class, is the fact that Trump plans to destroy the bourgeois democratic system, that which is currently in place. His plan is to challenge any state laws which interferes with the votes of the members of the Electoral College, allowing each and every Elector to vote for any person of their choice, for the offices of the presidency as well as the vice presidency, not just the candidates of the Republican Party or of the Democratic Party. This means that the candidate for president does not get to choose a ”running mate”, a candidate for the vice presidency. That is the duty of the Electors.

In fact, if Trump has his way and the Supreme Court rules in his favour, each Elector will be able to vote for any American citizen who is qualified to hold the office of president!

This could happen, and very likely will happen, as it is guaranteed in the Constitution. At least, the lawyers for Trump are prepared to make that argument before the Supreme Court, and very likely the Supreme Court will agree with them. As a result of this, it is quite possible that the Electors will be unable to agree on a candidate for president, as they need to form a majority of 270 Elector votes, for one particular candidate. In other words, we can expect a state of mass confusion, as the Electors, faithful servants of the bourgeoisie, one and all, squabble among themselves. Trump no doubt considers that this will work in his favour, as the election will then go to the House of Representatives.

In that case, it will be up to the House of Representatives to decide, by a majority vote of 26 states, in which each state has one vote. That too may not happen, the House too may not be able to agree, as the country is so deeply divided. As the members of the House will by that time realize, as a result of the anticipated Supreme Court ruling, that they do not have to choose between the two presidential candidates, that of the Democratic Party or that of the Republican Party, but can choose any American who qualifies for the office, then it is very likely that they too will be dead locked.

In such a case, on January 20, 2021, a new president will be sworn in, as provided in the Constitution, and that new president will be the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, the woman whom Trump hates more than anyone else!

It is safe to say that Trump has no respect for women, just as it is equally safe to say that Trump flies into a rage when any woman dares to defy him. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, defies Trump on a regular basis. For that reason, Trump entertains a particular hatred for her. Yet he has decided upon a course of action which could result in placing her in the office of the presidency! It is very likely that Trump has not properly thought this through. As he does not engage in a great deal of thinking, this is not too surprising.

It is such details which can be used to drive home to the working class the differences between the two classes, the bourgeois versus the proletariat. The bourgeois are constantly plotting and scheming, setting traps for each other, and as a result, frequently step into their own traps. By contrast, the working class tends to adhere to principle.

Trump has concocted a very elaborate scheme to stay in power, one which could backfire badly. He is determined to overturn the current bourgeois method of rule, and will very likely succeed. In the process, he will create mass confusion. As a result of this confusion, it is entirely possible that the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, will be sworn in as president. That is the last thing Trump wants, as it is also quite possible that the first thing she will do, as president, is to order the arrest of Donald Trump!

This is the state of mass confusion which we can expect to encounter, immediately after the ”presidential election” of November 3, that which is a mere formality.

As all current or former members of the middle class are well aware, but are perhaps reluctant to admit, the American Empire is on the verge of collapse. Capitalism is dying. It is in its death throes. Socialism is on the horizon. No less that three separate socialist republics have already taken shape. Others will soon appear. These facts are beyond dispute. Equally without doubt, the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are not about to accept this. They are determined to fight this, ”tooth and nail”. As reactionaries, it is their nature. The only question is that of the response of the working class, the proletariat. Given proper leaders, in the form of a Communist Party, the transition will be relatively painless. Without that leadership, it could result in a long and drawn out civil war. A bloodbath.

That is where you people come in, Conscious people, Marxists. You are needed, your help will be appreciated, and it will be rewarded. Preparations must be made for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, and topping the list of those preparations is the formation of a proper Communist Party. There is great danger in this, so secrecy is required. Yet there are a great many people who have managed to communicate with each other, using the internet, for their own purposes. This proves that it can be done.

Once the Party is created, it can also use the internet to raise the level of awareness of working people. Articles must be written, using current events as examples, and sent to various email addresses. Those who are politically active can be targeted, using their membership in various organizations, and that propaganda can be written at a somewhat higher level of understanding.

Bear in mind that we want to raise the level of awareness of the vast majority of working people, so with that in mind, use the technical terms, followed by the more popular terms. We all learned the alphabet in this manner, that of repetition. Do not be condescending, and under no circumstances resort to vulgarity. Use the particular, followed by the general. Feel free to put aside your prejudice against professional sports and use sports metaphors, as most working people are avid sports fans. Also, do not concern yourself with the sentiments of middle class social centrists, as by their nature, they disapprove of references to classes, and especially revolution.

Much of this work can be thought of as ”illegal”, even though it is not. Yet the government authorities can be expected to treat it as such. In addition, marches and demonstrations must be organized. Posters and banners should be carried, complete with slogans which contain class content. The best of these marches are entertaining, as has happened in the recent past, targeting politicians and government officials in their homes, restaurants, banks and places of business. The best way to educate people is by entertaining them at the same time.

A great many women are now excited, concerning the latest Supreme Court nomination, a woman who is Catholic, and probably of strong religious beliefs. The protesters are concerned that her religious beliefs will influence her legal rulings, especially as it concerns abortion. As a result of this, the ”pro choice” people are taking a clear stand, in opposition to the ”pro life” people. This could lead to a huge mistake.

Lenin made it quite clear that it is supremely difficult to start a revolution in a ”cultured” country, but far less difficult to carry it through! Without doubt, America certainly qualifies as a cultured country, as bourgeois culture permeates society. Equally without doubt, we are going to need all the help we can get in order to overthrow the bourgeoisie. The more we fight among ourselves, the less chance the revolution has of being successful.

With that in mind, I am suggesting that all working people put aside our differences, including personality conflicts, as well as personal beliefs, pro life and pro choice. We can agree to disagree. We can place principles before personalities.

There is no point in denying personalities, as they certainly exist. There is a place for them, but only after principle. We, as members of the working class, have a common enemy, the bourgeoisie. We can stand together, against this enemy, while going our separate ways, after the battle is over.

To state this in other words, perhaps more accurately, our goal is to overthrow the bourgeoisie and crush the vermin under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Under that socialist republic, we can then hash out our differences, in a civilized manner. The key thing is to have respect for each other.

Too many people confuse personal animosity with class animosity. As an example, the social centrists are allies, not the enemy. We must learn to work with them. The social chauvinists are the allies of the bourgeoisie, and they are the enemy. The leaders of the various right wing militia groups are the enemies, while the rank and file members are merely misled. It is absolutely essential that we distinguish between the two. We must attack our enemies, while striving to at least neutralize those who are less than friendly towards us. With regards to the less advanced members of the working class, patience is required.

In the heat of battle, with passions flaring, actions can be taken which may later be considered to be regrettable. The same is true of words, and in fact those words may do even more damage than actions. It is best to be well prepared before hand.

To summarize, as briefly as possible:

Prepare For the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat

A great many Americans woke up recently to some rather refreshing news. The president of the United States, Donald Trump himself, has now contracted the virus! Countless people were giddy with delight, shedding tears of sheer joy. Even the journalists were deeply touched (or especially the journalists), although most performed a reasonable imitation of sympathy and concern for their Commander in Chief. Some even went to the length of wishing him a speedy recovery!

Trump in turn has risen to the occasion. Even though sick, he has allowed the medical people to administer to him a drug cocktail, including steroids. Properly pumped up on these drugs, he proudly announced that he now ”understands” the virus. He then left the hospital and made a great display of removing his mask, at the entrance to the White House. In his ensuing speech, he offered encouragement to his faithful followers, as he ”feels better than twenty years ago”. He then advised people, ”don’t be afraid of covid”.

As the press was quick to point out, this is an insult to the families of the hundreds of thousands of people who have lost a member to the virus. In addition, countless others are about to be infected. It is anticipated that as soon as the flu season strikes, the combination of flu and the virus will likely increase the daily death toll dramatically.

This has given rise to open speculation that the Twenty Fifth Amendment to the Constitution may soon be put into effect. That comes into play when it is determined that the president is incapacitated, due to physical or mental inability to perform his job. The more charitable people suspect that Trump no longer has the mental acuity to perform his job. The less charitable are of the opinion that he was never capable of doing his job!

The Chairman of the Federal Reserve has even weighed in on the matter. In the face of all the suffering and death caused by the virus, he is warning of an ”economic tragedy” if America cannot control the virus. This is ”economist speak” for another Great Depression, which is right around the corner. It is also the true voice of capitalism, in that there is no place for sentiment. The only thing that concerns the capitalists is their capital. The suffering of millions of people concerns them only in so far as it affects their profits.

This has not stopped Trump from ”returning to work”. He is now back in the Oval Office at the West Wing of the White House, according to journalists. One lady, who makes a career of reporting on the disfunction within the presidential palace, stated that the situation is completely chaotic, more so than usual, ”and that is really saying something”. Sadly, she was not even trying to be funny. She was merely stating a fact.

The Secret Service agents, those highly trained professional people who are prepared to take a bullet for the president, are not at all happy. It is one thing to take a bullet for the president, and something else entirely to take a bullet from the president, so to speak. Of course, the ”bullet” to which they are referring is the virus Trump is carrying. The Secret Service people were forced to drive Trump around the White House grounds in an enclosed vehicle, while he was infected. Even with personal protective equipment, those agents were in danger of contracting the virus.

The American military is also feeling the pinch, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in isolation. Some, or possibly all of them, may have been infected by the virus, perhaps due to contact with Trump.

Even the bourgeois intellectuals are concerned. They choose their words carefully, in order to make no mention of classes and certainly not of class conflict. Instead they stretch their imaginations to the limit, performing an impressive act of verbal gymnastics, and in the process, inventing such terms as ”moral compass”, ”soul of the nation”, and a country that is ”spiralling out of control.” As if it is possible to have a country without classes!

By contrast, the press is reporting that as a result of the crises facing the nation, the wealth of the ”super rich”, the ”billionaires”, has increased dramatically. The more deeply the common people sink into poverty, the more enriched become the capitalists. Of course, as loyal servants of the bourgeoisie, the press is careful to make no mention of such a word, as that would suggest the existence of classes.

These intellectuals dare not state that which is really bothering them: Revolution. They suspect that the lawyers for Trump are prepared to ”go nuclear”, to bypass the electoral college somehow, if necessary, and force the presidential election into the House of Representatives. In that case, it does not require a majority of votes to determine the next president, but a majority of states! As there are fifty states in the union, and each state has one vote, it requires a mere twenty six votes in the House to determine the next president.

Those same bourgeois intellectuals are afraid that the American working class people will not stand for this. Their fear is that Trump is determined to trigger a revolution, whether he knows it or not. Not that Trump cares. His concern is solely with his own personal ambition, and that means staying in power. The oath of office he took, upon becoming president, was a mere bit of idle verbiage.

In response, the bourgeois have turned one of their ”big guns” upon Trump. They have enlisted one of the former ”first ladies”, in an attempt to discredit him, hopefully with the result of voting him out of office. It is her opinion that ”our country is in chaos”, that Trump is ”not up to the job”, that he is a ”racist, spreading fear and division, fails to take the virus seriously”, that the country is ”spirally out of control”, that he is determined to ”destroy this nation”. As that is the case, her solution to the problem is to ”vote like your life depended on it”.

She has managed to state the facts correctly, while at the same time implying that the problem is Trump, and the solution to the problem lies in voting him out of office. Except that Trump is not the problem, the problem is one of capitalism, and a mere change of face will not change the fact that the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are in charge. It is not a change of face that is required, but a change of class! It is up to the working class, the proletariat, to overthrow the capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, and to set up a new state apparatus, in order to crush the bourgeoisie, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

This is not to say that people should be discouraged from voting, as voting is very important. It is one of our democratic rights, and we can exercise that right, or we can risk losing it. Not that Trump will be removed from office as a result of a vote. He has a small army of lawyers who are determined to make sure that does not happen.

The flip side to the coin, or the other aspect to the contradiction, is the working class motion. That motion is becoming ever stronger, as the desperation of the working class increases dramatically. The ranks of the unemployed are rising daily, as the country slides into another Great Depression. The ”economic stimulus checks” are running out, so that ever more people are relying upon food banks. Further, tens of millions of people are about to find themselves homeless, as the laws against eviction expire. The onset of winter can only serve to intensify the suffering.

Yet in the midst of all this turmoil, with the middle class, the petty bourgeois, being wiped out and the suffering of the working class, the proletariat, reaching ever greater heights, the press is reporting, quite gleefully, that the ”billionaires”, the bourgeoisie, are becoming ever more wealthy!

Now is the time for action. The ruling class is in a state of confusion, fighting among themselves. Their current method of rule, which has served them so well for so many years, is no longer effective. At the same time, the suffering of the common people, the working class, has reached intolerable proportions. In short, the situation is similar to the situation of Russia in 1917, on the eve of the revolution. At that time, as Lenin stated it, ”different classes now stand on the one and the other side of the barricade”.

In Russia, early November, (new style calendar), some of the members of the Russian Communist Party (although at the time it was using a different name) were of the opinion that the revolution, or at least the seizure of power, the insurrection, should be postponed, for one reason or another. There was talk of waiting until after the convocation of the Constituent Assembly, or after another meeting of the Central Committee, or for some other reason.

By contrast, Lenin was of the opinion that ”The situation is critical in the extreme…everything now hangs by a thread; that we are confronted by problems which are not to be solved by conferences or congresses… but exclusively by peoples, by the masses, by the struggle of the armed people…The government is tottering. It must be given the death blow at all costs. To delay action is fatal.” (italics by Lenin)

A similar situation now exists in America. The finest bourgeois intellectuals are of the opinion that the government is ”tottering, hanging by a thread”. Now is the time to ”give the death blow”, before the bourgeois can regroup. They are at their weakest, so now is the time to strike. Now is not the time to wait for the federal election!

An important difference between Russia in 1917, and America in 2020, is that there is currently no American Communist Party to provide the leadership. That is a serious matter, but one which can be overcome rather quickly and easily.

It was just a little under four years ago that the American women flexed their muscles. They gave a whole new meaning to the expression ”fight like a woman”!

In protest against the presidency of Trump, marches took place across the country, in almost all cities and towns. These protests spread to numerous countries of the world, in a show of solidarity with American women. To say that this was most impressive, is an under statement. Now is the time for those same women to ”aim higher”, to ”raise the bar”, to mount an insurrection, to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a truly democratic government, a democracy for the working class, a socialist government, one which will crush the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

Bear in mind that America was founded on revolution! The American founding fathers have given Americans the right to ”abolish any government which does not represent them”! This right is guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence. By taking part in this next, socialist revolution, against a government which crushes and exploits all working class Americans, you are proudly following in the footsteps of your ancestors!

There can be no doubt that the ladies who organized that protest knew precisely what they were doing. It is very likely that most of them were middle class, well educated, professional people. That was then and this is now. In such a short time, the situation has changed dramatically. The crisis in capitalism has devastated the middle class, so that most of them are no longer middle class. But now, they are still well educated, professional people, currently members of the working class, proletarians. They still have their skills and experience, and they know first hand the mind set of the bourgeois. Now is the time to put those skills to work, not in the service of the ungrateful bourgeois, but in the service of the common people, the proletariat.

To a large extent, the fate of the revolution is in the hands of these ladies. So I say there is a great deal of truth in the saying, ”To whom much has been given, of her much shall be required”. The American people are counting upon you. I have no doubt you will rise to the occasion.

With that in mind, I will now appeal to those ladies directly. No doubt you are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Equally without doubt, you are highly skilled with computers. As that is the case, there is no need to gather in one setting and form a Communist Party. You can do that on the internet, taking reasonable precautions. May I suggest a political platform being based on the fundamental tenets of Marx and Lenin. That includes the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. The mere mention of that tenet should serve to distinguish Communists from social chauvinists, as well as utopian socialists.

Bear in mind that the self proclaimed socialists, those who are of the opinion that socialism is a good idea, are not the enemy. On the contrary, they are valuable allies, and we want all the friends we can get! Do not antagonize them! They are not to be confused with the social chauvinists, those who are the loyal servants of the bourgeoisie, dead set opposed to revolution and especially the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

You can expect membership in the Party to be quite limited. It is not the size of the Party membership that is of great importance but the policy it pursues. You want to appeal to as many working people as possible, regardless of race, religion, culture, ethnic background or personal belief. Stress the fact that we want to create a society which is not based on profit, but on the well being of all. A society where one person has one vote. A society where the background of a person is not held against that person. We can all start with a clean slate after the revolution.

You can also make it clear that any criminal elements who choose to carry on in the old way will be dealt with harshly. They will not be mollycoddled. They will not be allowed to hide behind lawyers. They can expect to be judged by working people, and those judges are to be elected by the working class. If convicted, criminals can expect to be sent to work camps, not to ”correctional” country clubs, currently known as prisons. In these work camps, they can and will perform useful, productive work, for perhaps the first time in their lives.

Under the current, bourgeois system of capitalism, thieves and killers have all the rights. It is well known, among the criminal elements, that America is a ”thieves paradise”. No where else in the world is it so easy to ”make a dishonest buck”. Those days are numbered!

Under socialism, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, working people can and will take care of our own. We will make sure that people are properly fed, clothed and housed. We will protect our seniors, our children and our helpless. Anyone who tries to take advantage of them will live to regret this. Or perhaps they will not live to regret this!

We will also attempt to correct mistakes which were made under capitalism, in that many women were assaulted and then denied justice, if only due to the ”statute of limitations”. Under socialism, such a statute will not apply. Those who seek justice will be allowed to confront the human scum who assaulted them. It may help to think of this as a little reunion. The numerous ladies who were forced to engage in acts of intimacy with these creeps, will be allowed to spend a little ”quality time” with them.

I can only hope that many ladies can take inspiration in these happy thoughts.

Now is the time for insurrection. As I have gone over this in previous articles, perhaps a quick summary is sufficient.

Possibly not everyone is aware that the transfer of power now means armed insurrection. This may seem obvious, but perhaps not everyone has given thought to this. To repudiate armed uprising now would mean to repudiate one of the key tenets of Marxism. If that is the case, then such an individual does not belong in the Communist Party.

Armed insurrection is merely another form of political struggle, but a special form, one subject to specific laws. It was Marx, no less, who stated, quite emphatically, that ”insurrection is an art quite as much as war”. He went on to stress:

1) Never play with insurrection, but when beginning it realize firmly that you must go all the way

2) Concentrate a great superiority of forces at the decisive point and at the decisive moment, otherwise the enemy, who has the advantage of better preparation and organization, will destroy the insurgents

3) Once the insurrection has begun, you must act with the greatest determination, and by all means, without fail, take the offensive. The defensive is the death of every armed uprising

4) You must try to take the enemy by surprise and seize the moment when his forces are scattered

5) You must strive for daily successes, however small (one might say hourly, if it is the case of one town), and at all costs retain moral superiority

Marx went on to sum up the the lessons of all revolutions, in respect to armed uprisings, in the words of Danton, ”the greatest master of revolutionary policy yet known”: Audacity!

Insurrection is the order of the day, and this is not the time, or the place, for a pilgrim. Such pacifist souls can seek refuge in the Peace Corp. They certainly do not belong in the Communist Party, as it is the Party which is about to lead the insurrection.

The transportation and communications centres must be occupied and held, at all costs. The internet must be disabled! The telephones must be shut down. All railway stations must be occupied. Major highways must be shut down, and above all, the bridges must be closed! As well as the air ports and sea ports.

The most determined troops, the ”shock forces”, which will very likely include the young people, must be formed into relatively small detachments to occupy all the more important points and to take part in all important operations. These include seizing and occupying the White House, the Pentagon, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Senate and House of Representatives. The state capital buildings must also be occupied. Under no circumstances should any of them be allowed to communicate with each other or anybody else. Give them no opportunity to go on the offensive. Bear in mind the words of Marx, to the effect that the defensive is the death of every insurrection!

We can expect that those who are detained will fake sickness, such as heart attacks, in an attempt to force the guards to give them an opportunity to escape and mount an offensive. For that reason, only the most resolute must be assigned this all important task. Even if the heart attack is sincere, better to let one bourgeois die than to allow for the failure of the uprising.

It is vitally important that the attitude of all, especially the shock troops, should be -victory or death! Better to die at their posts, than allow the revolution to fail!

Most working people have firearms, or at least have access to firearms. Very soon, those weapons are going to come in very handy. The capitalists, the bourgeoisie, will go to any length to maintain their hold on power. That includes ordering their troops to fire upon women and children. Let there be no misunderstanding on that point!

We can only hope that at the time of the insurrection, the leaders will follow the advice of Marx. The success of the revolution depends upon this. It is very likely that two or three days fighting will prove decisive.

Ladies, the success of the revolution now lies in your hands.

The first presidential debate of the 2020 election is history, and most of the world is having themselves a great laugh. Two elderly men, one a sitting president and the other a former vice president, both vying for the top political office in the country, have succeeded in making great fools of themselves. The journalists are comparing this to two kindergarten children, fighting in the school yard. Those journalists are the kind ones.

The journalists who are less kind, but perhaps more accurate, are referring to the debate as a disgrace, chaotic and combative, complete with interruptions and personal insults, a train wreck complete with cross talk, a monstrosity, a disaster, an insult to the American people. They also said that it was difficult to refer to this debate without resorting to expletives. That did not stop one lady from describing it as a gong show, although the word she used was not ”gong”. All agreed that it was an insult to the American people.

This is all very true, just as it is also true that a great many Americans were watching this spectacle. As that is the case, it is up to class conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to explain to people that this is a very clear cut example of bourgeois democracy. Such childish behaviour, including name calling and personal insults, usually takes place behind closed doors. Then the bourgeois politicians come to an agreement and present a united face to the public. The fact that this behaviour is now being openly displayed is an indication of the strength of the revolutionary movement, and the fact that the bourgeois is now deeply divided. They can no longer rule in the old way!

The moderator tried to pin down Trump, to the statement that he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, in the event of losing the election. Of course, Trump refused. But then, Trump is not legally obligated to honour the election results of the presidential vote! Such a vote is merely a formality. The real power rests with the few hundred Electors, the members of the Electoral College. Their vote is the only vote which matters.

The Twelveth Amendment to the Constitution makes it quite clear that the President, as well as the Vice President, are elected by the members of the Electoral College. It should be stressed to the working people that the tens of millions of voters do not elect the president, but that the few hundred Electors do elect the president. Further, the Electors are not accountable to the state which they represent. They are under no legal obligation to vote for the candidate who won the most popular votes.

No doubt many voters, or at least the more advanced voters, will object that this is hardly the case. Many states, if not all, have laws passed which require the Electors to vote for the candidate who receives the majority of popular votes. Equally without doubt, the lawyers who represent Trump are prepared to argue, in the Supreme Court, that these laws are unconstitutional!

The fact is that Trump has a small army of lawyers working for him. Some of them are experts in Constitutional law, which is the reason he hired them. They have been assigned the task of making sure Trump is re-elected, and they are determined to do just that. They are prepared to argue that no state has the right to interfere in any federal election. As that is the case, any and all state laws which require the Elector to vote in a manner which the state demands, is unconstitutional. It is very likely that the Supreme Court will agree with them, and rule in their favour. It is also very likely that the ruling will be unanimous.

The opposing lawyers will likely argue that this is traditional, that it is customary for the Electors to vote for the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state. Yet the Supreme Court justices will reply that they are concerned with the Constitution, the law of the land, and not with custom and tradition. The only reason these state laws have not been struck down before now is because no one has challenged them!

It is perhaps ironic that Trump, one of the finest, most successful liars, cheats and swindlers of modern times, may be able to weasel his way into a second term as president, using legal means! He merely has to persuade various state legislatures to appoint two hundred seventy Electors to vote for him. The popular vote be damned!

The press is now counting down the days to the election. They would have us believe that it is the sacred Day of Salvation, the day upon which society will be relieved of the burden of the Spectre of Trump. Such is hardly the case, but as the working people watch the news, and are interested in the election, it presents us with an opportunity to raise their level of awareness.

The federal election, ”or election day”, to which it is being referred, is on November 3. On that day, or more accurately that evening, it is customary for one of the candidates for the presidency to declare victory, while it is also customary for the other candidate to rather graciously concede defeat. This year, that is not about to happen.

Both candidates, as well as the press, are focused upon the Electoral College. Each state has a certain number of ”Electoral Votes”, based upon the population of the state. This means that the more people in the state, the more Electors the state can nominate to vote for the next president. It is the Electors who vote to determine the next president, not the citizens.

It is customary for the candidate who wins the majority of popular votes in any particular state to receive all of the Electoral votes for that state. This means that the Electors from that state are required to vote for that particular candidate, either Republican or Democrat. It is referred to as the two party system, and it has served the bourgeois well, for a great many years. In certain states, there is even a law to that effect. In this way, on election day, each candidate is able to determine the number of Electoral votes they are about to receive. The popular vote is important only in that it determines the candidate for whom the Electors from that state are obligated to elect. As the successful candidate is required to receive two hundred seventy Electoral votes, that is the ”magic number”.

At least, that is the way it is supposed to work, and has worked for many elections, since the days of the Civil War. The only flaw in the system is that it is strictly against the law. That is the argument the lawyers for Trump are prepared to make to the Supreme Court.

It is very likely that Biden, as the Democratic candidate for president, will declare victory on election night. He will announce that he has the majority of Electoral votes. We can expect Trump to deny this, as the popular vote does not determine the Electoral vote!

In addition, due to the fact that most citizens plan to vote by mail this year, it is anticipated that the vote count will be delayed. As Trump has gone to great lengths to delay mail delivery, this is not too surprising. Still, by law, all votes must be counted by December 8. This is referred to as the ”safe harbour” day. Any ballots not counted by that day, will never be counted.

The next step in the complicated process to elect a president takes place on December 14. On that day, the Electors, in the various states, cast their ballots for president. Yet even that does not end the process. On December 23, the votes arrive in Washington. Then after New Years, on January 6, the Electoral votes are counted in Congress. It is only at that point, two months after the election, that a new president is determined.

The system was set up in the days of horse and buggy, so to say that it is obsolete is an understatement.

Trump and his team of legal eagles have detected a few flaws in the system, which they fully plan to exploit. The only votes he requires for re-election is that of the Electors, and a mere two hundred seventy of them. Any state interference can and will be challenged in the Supreme Court, as no state has the right to meddle in a federal election. Or at least the lawyers will make those arguments.

This also helps to explain the reason Trump is so determined to appoint another Justice to the Supreme Court. He no doubt thinks that the Justice he appoints, will rule in his favour. That remains to be seen.

The final step in the presidential gong show will not take place until January 20. On that day, by Constitutional law, a new president will take the oath of office. If it cannot be determined which candidate should be president, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, will become the next president, as a ”place holder”. The expression is not mine.

It is entirely possible that there will never be another president of the United States. Some of the most highly respected members of the bourgeois press are of the opinion that American democracy is ”teetering”, that the country has lost its ”moral compass”. They are afraid that the American empire is on the verge of collapse, and in this they are absolutely correct. This is not to say that the American imperialists have lost their ”moral compass”, because they have not. They never had a moral compass, so they could not possibly have lost it.

It must be explained to working people that we live in a class society, and that those who own and control the factories, mills, mines, railroads, airlines, press and internet, are the capitalists, referred to as the bourgeois, and that those of us who work for them are workers, referred to as the proletarians. We are members of different classes, and our interests are diametrically opposed. This is to say that they are completely opposite. It is in the interest of the capitalists to work us as hard as possible, while paying us as little as possible, while it is in the interests of the workers to earn as much as possible. The capitalists are concerned with their profit, their ”bottom line”, while workers are concerned with putting food on the table.

The conditions of life of the working class do not lead to the awareness of itself as a class, so that this awareness must be brought to the proletariat. As the vast majority of working people are now concerned with the presidential election, now is the time to use this controversy as a means of raising their level of awareness.

We may also point out that the capitalists, the bourgeois, are careful to not use the word ”capitalism”. They refer to themselves as ”entrepreneurs”, as people engaging in ”free enterprise”, and the political system as that of ”democracy”.

There is a particle of truth to this, in that we indeed live in a democratic republic. It is indeed democracy, but democracy for the capitalists, the tiny minority of the population, the billionaires, the ”one percent”. For the working people, the proletariat, it is a dictatorship, the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.

It may be objected that there are many capitalists who are not billionaires. That is true, and such small time capitalists, or middle class people, are referred to as petty bourgeois. They form a separate class, and are under increasing pressure, as the monopolies become ever stronger, ever more complete. Most of these ”small business owners” are now bankrupt, or in the process of going bankrupt. The current crises in capitalism are destroying this class, forcing the members of the middle class into the ranks of the proletariat.

The ”good news” is that the petty bourgeois is well aware of themselves as a class. In the process of being financially ruined, they are forced to abandon their hopes and dreams of becoming billionaires, members of the bourgeoisie. It is with bitterness and despair that they join the ranks of the proletariat, kicking and screaming, as it were, but joining the ranks nonetheless. They bring their awareness of the existence of classes with them.

Most of these people are well educated, aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. As such, it is the duty of these freshly minted proletarians to bring this class awareness to the working class.

As a means of encouragement, perhaps it would be best to bear in mind the words of Lenin, that which he refers to as the ”fundamental law of revolution”. He explains that a revolutionary situation is one in which ”the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way”. In addition, ”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) That is precisely the situation in which we now find ourselves!

At the risk of being accused of pointing out the obvious, even the most highly respected members of the ruling class, the bourgeoisie, have basically admitted that they can no longer rule in the old way. The two party system is being destroyed by Trump, one of their own, no less. They are now being forced to change their method of rule! They just have no idea what changes to enact.

The current crises in capitalism have served to not only devastate the middle class, but also to further impoverish the working class. Of course I am referring to the Corona virus, which has currently killed over 200,000 Americans, and that number is expected to double by the end of the year. As well, the stock market is expected to crash at any time, which will give rise to a second Great Depression. Countless people are out of work, with almost no prospects of a job. The ”economic stimulus checks” are about to expire. As soon as it becomes legal for landlords to issue eviction notices, the number of homeless is expected to skyrocket.

A similar situation existed in the ”dirty thirties”, at the time of the Great Depression. For no less than a decade, ten years, our grandparents suffered through unemployment, homelessness and starvation. The suffering of the working people was terrible, yet they failed to rise up in revolution. Part of the reason for this is because, as Engels pointed out, ”without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary motion”. The working people had no Marxist leaders!

It was Lenin who stressed the importance of the theoretical struggle, in his work, What Is To Be Done?, where he stated that the ”role of vanguard can be fulfilled only by a party that is guided by an advanced theory.” (italics by Lenin) This is to stress the importance of a truly Marxist, Communist Party, one guided by the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Without such a Communist Party to guide the working class, it is doubtful that the revolution can be successful.

The social chauvinists have a particular hatred for that article. It deserves careful study, as Lenin condemns those whom he refers to as ”Economists”. Such people claim to be socialists or Marxists, while arguing that working people should fight only for improved wages, living and working conditions. They disapprove of even any mention of the existence of classes!

As for those who are of the opinion that there is no harm is fighting for such paltry reforms, I can only respond that such a struggle will not lead to class consciousness. Of course they are important, mainly as a means of raising the level of awareness of the working class. I would even go so far as to say that the struggle to abolish the Electoral College, which I would classify as a political reform, is acceptable to the Economists, as such a political reform is not a threat to the rule of the capitalists.

Without doubt, the current situation is revolutionary, as the ruling class, the capitalists, cannot rule in the old way, and the working class is no longer content to be ruled in the old way. This does not necessarily guarantee the success of the revolution, as the working class is grossly contaminated with bourgeois ideology. As Lenin phrased it, ”to belittle socialist ideology in any way, to deviate from it in the slightest degree means strengthening bourgeois ideology.”(italics by Lenin)

The one and only way the revolution can succeed, to lead to a socialist republic, is to raise the level of awareness of the working class. The working class has to be made aware of itself as a class, a proletarian class, with its own class interests, as opposed to that of the capitalists, the bourgeois. They must be given the Marxist awareness, or as Lenin phrased it, ”A Marxist is one who extends the acceptance of the class struggle to the acceptance of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat”. (italics by Lenin)

It is now up to conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. Such expressions as Scientific Socialism and Dictatorship Of the Proletariat must become common place, at least among the more advanced workers. In other words, preparations must be made for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

It is very likely that a great many middle class people will consider this to be a none too subtle hint to get active, to take part in forming an American Communist Party. To such people I can only respond -guilty as charged. It may help to think of yourselves as the ”chosen ones”. You are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. You are also well aware that your dream of joining the ranks of the bourgeoisie have just evaporated. Even your former, rather comfortable middle class life style, is a thing of the past, never to return. In your ”previous life”, you were admired, well respected, a true professional. You never thought this could happen to you, yet here you are. You have been cast down, into the ranks of the proletariat, through no fault of your own. As bad as it is, you suspect that things are about to get worse, much worse. And you are right.

With your training and experience as a former middle class professional, you know well the mindset of the bourgeois. People are mere tools, to be used, until no longer needed, and then cast away. There is no room for sentiment in the world of business, of capitalism. There are only ”users” and the ”used”. You are now one of the used. Your world has just come crashing down. Your standard of living has just been reduced to nought. You are consumed with bitterness and frustration. Now is the time to choose between suicide, as many of your friends have, or you can choose the way of action.

You have an opportunity to make a huge difference, to take part in creating a better world. That better world is one of socialism, a world in which people do not stab each other in the back. A world of democracy for the working class, the proletariat, a world in which the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. It is a world which you can help to create, and one in which you will once again be admired and respected. The choice is yours.

With your talent, skills and training, you can take part in the creation of a truly American Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. As a member of the Communist Party, you can help to guide the revolution to a successful socialist republic. In the process, you will regain your self respect. It will restore purpose to your life. Bear in mind that three separate republics have already taken shape, and others will soon follow. They just need to be guided onto the proper socialist path.

The revolution is bound to break out any day now. Trump and his followers will see to that. There is no limit to their greed or their arrogance. The only thing they understand is brute force. Revolution is not the time or the place for the faint of heart, the squeamish. We can count on violence and bloodshed. This is not the time for pacifists. Only the determined, the resolute, need take part in the formation of the Communist Party. Only those who are prepared to lay down their lives for socialism, for a better future, for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

The choice is yours.

Lenin once wrote, in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, that ”Crises of every kind -economic crises more frequently, but not only these- in their turn increase very considerably the tendency towards concentration and monopoly”. The current situation in America is certainly proof of that statement. The country is currently facing several crises, not just an economic crisis, and political power is becoming ever more concentrated. The middle class, the petty bourgeois, is being decimated, with ever more members being forced into the ranks of the working class, the proletariat.

As far as the capitalists are concerned, they are facing a ”perfect storm”, a convergence of crises. The Corona Virus, which has killed over 200,000 Americans, is flaring up again, now that restrictions have been lifted, and it is anticipated to return with a vengeance, as soon as the flu joins forces with the virus to form a ”twindemic”. As well, the economic stimulus package, in the form of checks to alleviate the effects of the virus and unemployment, have run out and Congress cannot come to an agreement to continue such payments. This is expected to dramatically increase the unemployment rate. As well, the number of homeless is expected to skyrocket, as the laws protecting tenants from eviction is due to expire.

As a result of this, the stock market is fluctuating wildly, in anticipation of a second Great Depression. It is just a matter of time before it crashes completely, as it did in 1929. The bourgeois economists, in the simplicity of their souls, have responded with characteristic enthusiasm, as they anticipate a full ”economic recovery”. In fact, they perform a fine Guy Smiley imitation in the face of economic catastrophe. But then it is in their interest to pretend to be so naive.

As well, the Senate is fighting over the nomination of the next Supreme Court Justice. The protests against violent police repression, especially as regards minorities, is becoming ever stronger. To top it all off, the politicians, journalists and political scientists are finally figuring out that Trump has no intention of stepping down in January, regardless of the results of the November election. What is more, he may have found a way to stay in power, quite legally!

A noted journalist, writing for one of the most conservative, highly respected magazines in the country, was able to determine precisely the course of action Trump is pursuing. The journalist found it completely appalling, or as he stated it, ”scared myself writing this story”. Effectively, he merely faced the fact which he already knew, but chose to deny. For that matter, countless other journalists and politicians have also been denying the same facts, which they know to be true. The fact is that the American voters do not elect the president! The president is elected by the members of the electoral college, and the American voters do not elect the electors! The electors are appointed by the state legislature! The only requirement to legally remain in office, is to have the majority of the electors vote for Trump! The presidential vote is merely a formality! It is not legally binding!

With that in mind, Trump is approaching various state legislatures, encouraging them to appoint electors who will vote for him. They are being encouraged to ignore the popular vote. The journalist who determined this, is of the opinion that it is ”quite disturbing, dangerous, not normal, not customary”, that the ”system is not designed to work that way”, but there is ”no umpire”. He neglected to add that such actions are also quite legal.

Even top ranking members of his own party are accusing Trump of ”taking aim at one of the election pillars of democracy.” One such party member, a distinguished lawyer, is suggesting that the upcoming election ”could break America.” Others are saying that Trump is threatening to ”push American democracy to the brink”.

As Trump now openly admits his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, if the vote goes against him, their fears are well grounded.

It is very likely that the fact which irritates the bourgeois most is the fact that this threat to ”break America”, this threat to ”American democracy”, is coming, not from the Left, not from Communists, but from Donald Trump, one of their own!

One high ranking Republican Senator became quite indignant over the idea of a less than peaceful transition of power. He mentioned that such a peaceful transition of power is guaranteed in the Constitution. As if political power can be guaranteed by a mere stroke of a pen! Clearly this fellow has led a very sheltered life. He has missed his calling. As a starry eyed optimist, he really should have joined the Peace Corp!

A second such Senator is of the opinion that ”the American people will not allow a dictator”. In this, he is absolutely correct. There is sure to be a transition of power, but it will be anything but peaceful. No doubt Trump will merely declare himself to be president, possibly for life, and the American people will rise up in protest. After Trump is stopped and possibly arrested, the good Senator will then expect the revolutionaries to put down their weapons and disperse, like good proletarians. Not likely!

Other journalists have described this as an ”authoritarian crisis”, that Trump is ”taking a wrecking ball to the presidency”, that he is ”dismantling the presidential election”. Trump is being compared to the former president, Richard Nixon, who declared that the president is above the law. As Nixon put it, ”when the president breaks the law, it is not a crime”. That is precisely the attitude of Trump, and it took the journalists this long to figure it out!

Other comparisons have been made, in regards to the presidential election of 1972. At that time, most voters were of the opinion that they were being forced to choose between a ”crook and a jerk”, in that the Democratic Party nominee was not highly respected. As a result, the overwhelming majority of Americans voted for the crook and Nixon won the election in a landslide. It is entirely possible that history could repeat itself. Despite all the lies, deception and election rigging, Trump could honestly win the election, as people may once again choose to vote for the crook, rather than ”Sleepy Joe”!

As long ago as May, Trump appointed a new Postmaster General, with a view to slowing down the delivery of mail, so as to ensure that the election ballots which are sent in, do not get counted on time. He is also challenging the validity of mail in ballots, and anticipates that it will end up in the Supreme Court. With that in mind, he is determined to appoint a new member to that Supreme Court, and before the November election. In short, he is covering all the bases. One way or another, he is determined to stay in power.

Lest we give too much credit to Trump, bear in mind that he has a small army of lawyers working for him. They are pointing out the loopholes in the system, clearly earning their pay.

From a Marxist perspective, the important thing is that voter interest is now reported to be ”off the charts”. This is no doubt true, as it is only during a time of reaction that citizens become apathetic. The current situation is anything but a time of reaction! It is revolutionary, as people are determined to enact change. For that reason, we can expect a record number of people to engage in voting. That is excellent, for as Engels stated, universal suffrage is ”an index of the maturity of the working class. It cannot and never will be anything more in the modern state.”

As this anticipated voter turn out is expected to set a record, it indicates a high level of maturity of the working class. We can further anticipate the votes to be universally ignored, which will no doubt infuriate most people. They will complain that this is not democratic, while in fact it is most democratic. It is bourgeois democracy. This must be explained to them.

This is where conscious people, Marxists, Communists, come into play. It must be explained to people that democracy is not majority rule, as is taught in all bourgeois schools. It is a system of government in which one class crushes another class. This is to say that it is a state apparatus, and under capitalism, it is one of the methods by which the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, crushes and exploits the working class, the proletariat. Bourgeois democracy is a dictatorship, a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.

Now it is up to class conscious people to explain this to working people, and in words they can understand, without being condescending. Also explain that a republic does not recognize a monarch, so that America is a republic, while Canada is not, as Canada recognizes the Queen of England. Further explain that the capitalists prefer to rule under the democratic republic, as according to Lenin, ”it is the best possible political shell for capitalism”.

Bear in mind that certain workers are more advanced than others. It is the more advanced workers who are the leaders. The less advanced workers pay strict attention to the more advanced. This is not to say that the less advanced should be ignored, just that they should be spoken to in a manner they can understand. At the same time, at no point should there be any reference to vulgarity.

We indeed live under democracy, but democracy for the capitalists, and only for the capitalists. For the working class, the proletariat, it is a dictatorship, a dictatorship of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, over the proletariat. The capitalists are in charge and fully intend to remain in charge. The fact that they are currently squabbling among themselves, arguing over the particular method of rule, does not change that.

It is up to the working class, the proletariat, to change things, and to change things dramatically. The capitalists, the tiny minority, those who are currently crushing and exploiting the vast majority, the working class, must be overthrown and crushed under the proletariat, the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Lenin also mentioned that ”A Marxist is one who extends the acceptance of the class struggle to the acceptance of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.” (italics by Lenin, capitals by author)

There is a reason the capitalists must be forcibly crushed after the revolution. The reason is that they are not about to resign themselves to their fate. In fact, such a thought would never cross their minds. They will resort to every subterfuge, every lie, deception, deceit, in order to return to power. Their resistance will be increased ten fold, as they desperately attempt to restore their ”paradise lost”. As Lenin states, socialist development, after the revolution, ”proceeds through the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.” It is only under socialism that the working class, the proletariat, will achieve full democracy, and that is possible only when the bourgeoisie is being fully crushed. The one and only form of scientific socialism is the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. All else is petty bourgeois, utopian socialism, and has been proven to be a failure.

Now the press is counting down the days to the election, much as children count down the days to Christmas. One makes about as much sense as the other. Perhaps the journalists think that Trump will imitate the Grinch who stole Christmas, and have a change of heart!

The working people have no such illusions. They are taking action.

In the city of Louisville, state of Kentucky, a young Black woman, an EMT, was shot dead in her own home, by police officers. No officer has been charge in connection with her death. Protests have erupted across the country, and a curfew has gone into effect in the city. As an indication of the strength of the revolutionary movement, two police officers in Louisville have been shot. As well, a state of emergency has been declared, and the Kentucky National Guard has been mobilized.

The uprising has spread to other cities, with rocks, bottles and fireworks being thrown at police. One officer had his helmet cracked by a baseball bat. Protesters have gathered at the home of the Majority Leader of the Senate, as well as at the memorial of the late Justice of the Supreme Court. At the memorial, Trump tried to speak, while protesters were chanting ”Vote Him Out!”.

This harassment of the capitalists, at their homes and places of business, is most encouraging. They are learning to hit the capitalists where it hurts. Now the working people have got to learn to carry signs and posters containing class content. That is where the proper leaders come into the picture, class conscious people, Marxists, Communists. As ever more of the middle class, the petty bourgeois, are ruined, many of them will no doubt cast aside any illusions they may have of once again becoming successful, and carry the Marxist awareness to the proletariat.

As most class conscious people, Marxists, are current or former members of the petty bourgeois, it is up to them to get active. Create a proper American Communist Party. At the same time, join other organizations, those which are active in the revolutionary movement. Give proper direction to the movement. Suggest that the posters and signs reveal class content. Expect the social chauvinists to oppose this, as they are the devoted servants of the bourgeoisie, working within the working class.

It is important to distinguish between the centrists, those who may be utopian socialists, who may think that socialism is a good idea, and the social chauvinists, those who are determined to strive only for paltry reforms. The centrists are not the enemy, but allies. We want as many of those people on our side as we can persuade. On the other hand, the chauvinists are agents of the bourgeoisie, and they are the enemy.

Remember that we want as many people on our side as possible, as it is far more difficult to start a revolution in a highly industrialized country, a cultured country, than it is in a petty bourgeois country, an under developed country. On the other hand, it is far easier to carry the revolution through, in an industrialized country, than in an underdeveloped country. Hopefully, this will offer encouragement to those who are discouraged by the -temporary- turn of events in the Soviet Union and in China, in which capitalism has been restored.

Bear in mind that the less advanced workers are not the enemy. Such people tend to be followers, not leaders, and for the most part, have merely been mislead. With such people, patience is required. Given time, we can expect them to listen to the more advanced workers. Focus on the more advanced.

We can expect the social chauvinists to say that the working class is not prepared to seize political power. There is some truth to this, as under capitalism, the working class will never be fully prepared to seize political power. The capitalists will make sure of this. Then again, the Russian proletariat was even less prepared to seize political power in 1917. Yet it was forced upon them, and they rose to the occasion.

Very soon, the revolution will also be forced upon the American proletariat. Trump will see to that. There is no time to waste. Any training workers receive now will prove to be of great value after the revolution. At that time, such workers, and even workers with no training, will be placed in positions of authority. With that in mind, I will close with my usual advice:

Prepare For the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!