Author: Gerald Mcisaac

The daily death toll in America, as a result of the corona virus, has just reached a record 502, so that nearly 3,000 Americans have now died, as a result of the sickness. That number is expected to rise dramatically, as the virus continues to spread. The medical experts are predicting an eventual death toll of between 100,00 and 200,000, although others predict the death toll could rise to the millions. To support their predictions, the medical experts are producing graphs, charts and ”curves which must be flattened”, ”epicentres”, ”hot spots” and percentages, number of people infected and number of fatalities.

Perhaps the medical professionals and journalists are convinced that most common people, members of the public, are at heart mathematically inclined, as it is only mathematicians who find these figures and charts to be fascinating. Such is hardly the case. Or perhaps those same people are of the opinion that it is necessary to confuse common people, as they do not want anyone to understand the breadth and depth of their incompetence.

With that in mind, it is best to explain a few simple terms, which many people may find to be a bore, but bear with me, as this is important. The medical people love to speak in terms of percentages, so let us start with that.

Think of a base of one hundred people, so that one person is one out of a hundred, referred to as one percent. For every one hundred people who get the virus and one person dies, then the fatality rate, which is the death rate, is one percent. By contrast, if five of those hundred people die as a result of getting the virus, then the fatality rate is five percent.

That is quite simple, but then the fatality rate can be expressed in different terms, such as four point two percent, or 4.2%. Think of this as 42 out of 1,000, or forty two people out of one thousand people who are infected, and destined to die.

Now the press is reporting that world wide, there are 775,300 people who are infected with the corona virus. Of those people who are infected, 36,900 have died. By dividing the number of people who have died by the number of people who have been infected, we arrive as a fatality rate of 4.7%. This means that for every thousand people who are infected by the virus, forty seven have died.

By contrast, in America, there are a reported 158,400 cases of corona virus, with a death toll of 2,919. That gives us a mortality rate of 1.8%, or one point eight percent. This means that for every one thousand Americans who catch the virus, eighteen have died. This is lower than the world wide average, for good reason. The medical care in America is far better than in most parts of the world.

These numbers are important, because the medical professionals use them to estimate the number of people who will get sick and die, as a result of this virus. The virus is very contagious, or ”catchie”, as is the popular term. So the experts put their calculators to work and estimate that if ten percent of the population, which is ten of every hundred Americans catch the virus, then thirty three million Americans will be infected. Further, if one point eight percent of those who are infected were to die, then 594,000 Americans would die.

Those numbers are far higher than the estimated number of Americans who are expected to die as a result of being infected with the virus. The experts have come up with a number of between 100,000 and 200,000. Clearly they expect far fewer people to be infected with the virus, and they also expect the medical attention they receive to remain at a very high level.

The fact remains that the more people who become infected, the more people will die. It is also a fact that the higher the level of medical care patients receive, the less people will die.

The best we can say about these numbers is that they are wildly optimistic. Perhaps the only way to control the spread of the virus is to isolate people who are infected, to keep them away from other people. They simply cannot infect people with whom they have no contact. This approach has proven effective in other parts of the world.

Compare this with the situation in America. New York City is now considered the ”epicentre” of the epidemic in the country. Of the nearly 3,000 dead so far, nearly half have died in the state of New York. On one day alone, 253 people have died in the state. Across the country, the death toll for the day stands at 502. The hospitals in New York City are being described as ”swamped”, a ”medical war zone”, with the medical facilities on the verge of collapse. Of the New York City police, thirteen percent are out sick, mainly as a result of being infected with the virus, in the performance of their duties.

The New York City first responders and medical workers are on the ”front lines” of this ”medical war zone”. Many of them are personally shopping for personal protective equipment for themselves and their patients, as there is such a severe shortage. Both hospital staff and first responders are working around the clock, short handed and desperate for the proper equipment. It is estimated they will run out of equipment within a week.

The navy hospital ship, the Comfort, has been sent to New York City, in an attempt to take some pressure off the hospitals. In addition, a temporary hospital has been set up in Central Park. It is not clear where they expect to find the equipment or the personnel to work at this hospital.

In addition, those who are classified as working in ”essential services”, which is to say the delivery personnel, are going on strike, demanding personal protective equipment and hazardous duty pay. Many of these people too are becoming infected with the virus, also in the performance of their duties.

There are numerous other ”hot spots” in the country, such as New Orleans, Chicago, Florida, New Jersey and Philadelphia, to name a few. Others are popping up on a daily basis. It is anticipated that the ”rural America health care system will be quickly over whelmed”. In fact, it is clear that the whole American medical system is in danger of collapse. If that happens, the death rate from the corona virus will sky rocket.

Other countries are taking decisive action. Italy and Spain are completely shut down. People are allowed to leave their homes only to get groceries or in case of an emergency. Only essential services workers are continuing to perform their duties, and they are provided with proper personal protective equipment. The leaders of those countries are aware of the gravity of the situation and are taking the appropriate measures to protect their citizens.

That stands in stark contrast to the American leaders. As Trump stated the issue, ”We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself”. As he sees it, the ”problem” is the corona virus, and the ”cure” is isolation, or ”social distancing”, to use the technical term. This begs the question: How can isolation be worse than the ”problem” of citizens being infected with the virus and many of them dying?

To answer that question, we have only to take a glance at the stock market. This should not be difficult, as the news reports are divided between the devastation caused by the virus, and the dropping stock market. The two are connected, to an extent, as people who are ”self isolating” are not spending their money, if for no other reason than that they do not have any money to spend. A great many people are out of work, and the number is growing, as most small businesses are shutting down. These are considered to be Too Small To Succeed. The major corporations, those which are considered Too Big To Fail, are merely laying off their workers, while receiving massive amounts of corporate welfare.

The contrast is sharp and clear. The country is entering a depression, millions of workers are losing their jobs and will soon lose their houses, to become homeless. Countless people are becoming infected with the virus and many of them will die, if only because the medical treatment they so desperately need is not available. The small business owners, the middle class or petty bourgeois, are being wiped out, forced to join the ranks of the working class, the proletariat. Yet the money they pay in taxes is being given to the super rich, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie! The government cannot afford to equip the medical professionals with the equipment they so desperately need, yet they can afford to donate countless billions to the bourgeoisie!

To add insult to injury, Trump is accusing the medical people of stealing their own equipment! The same people who are putting their lives on the line, risking their health in order to assist those who are sick and injured, are in turn being accused, by their own president, of being thieves! Look who’s talking! The ”kettle calling the pot black”! Trump is a most accomplished thief, with a long history of stealing at every opportunity. For that reason, he just naturally assumes that every one else is no different.

I have news for you, Mister President. Not everyone is like you. Working people are poor for a reason. We work for a living! We support ourselves, we contribute to society, we pay taxes, and that is the reason we are poor! You on the other hand are extremely rich, do not pay taxes, do not support yourself, and steal at every opportunity. That is the reason that you, and the other members of your class, the bourgeoisie, are so rich!

What is more, Mister Billionaire President, we have had enough! You and your class, the bourgeoisie, place profits before people! That is the reason you are so reluctant to isolate those who are infected with the corona virus. You are afraid it will cut into your profits! You do not call it profit, you refer to it as the ”economy”. As if you care about the economy! You care only about your profits!

To put it in popular terms, ”your days are numbered”. The working people are fed up. The essential services workers are now rising up. The nurses are demonstrating, and the delivery service workers are going on strike. This could well be the start of a nation wide protest, a revolutionary uprising. It is just a matter of time, and very likely a short time.

To those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, I can only suggest that you get active and form a proper Communist Party, one which openly advocates for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. That will help to distinguish yourselves from those who claim to be Marxists, but are revisionists.

As for those who are not aware of those theories, I suggest a careful reading of the Essential Works of Lenin, to start. That should give you a proper grounding in Marxist revolutionary theory. As for those who have little use for theory, may I point out that the success -or failure- of the approaching revolution depends upon the proper application of the theory – or the advice if you will- of Marx and Lenin.

I can also suggest that all working people join the two mainstream political parties, Republican and Democratic, as card carrying members, party bosses. At the moment, they are firmly in the hands of the bourgeoisie. They should be challenged, if for no other reason than to add to the misery of the bourgeoisie. Do not pass up any opportunity to make their lives miserable. Besides, this will provide valuable training for such workers, which will be put to good use after the revolution, after we smash the existing state machinery and crush the bourgeoisie under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

The revolution is fast approaching, and is not about to wait until we are prepared. Time is not on our side. Now is the time to act. Spread the advice of Marx and Lenin:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

There have been numerous sightings of an animal in Okanagan Lake, a huge animal which local residents refer to as ”ogopogo”. Most of these sightings are consistent and reliable, made by people who are highly respected. There is every reason to believe that the animal exists. Now the problem is one of proving it.

First a little background is in order. It is the scientific opinion that many millions of years ago, there were an additional four orders of swimming reptiles in the world. Within each order, there were likely dozens of species. These orders were that of ichthyosaur, mosasaur, long necked plesiosaur and short necked plesiosaur. Then around 80 million years ago, or mya for short, the ichthyosaurs went extinct, due to competition from other ”super predators”, possibly mosasaurs. It is further the scientific opinion that the other three orders of swimming reptile went extinct 65 million years ago, at the same time the dinosaurs went extinct. No reason is given for the mass extinctions of these swimming reptiles.

It is my opinion that the scientists are ”all wet”, if you will excuse the poor joke. I am convinced that these four orders of swimming reptiles still exist, predators one and all, in the lakes and oceans of the world.

For the benefit of those readers who are not scientists, I will mention that an ”order” is a reference to a group of species of animals which are quite similar. For example, there is an order of crocodiles, and that order includes twenty three species. By contrast, within the order of turtles, there are possibly one hundred species. Both crocodiles and turtles are swimming reptiles, but the difference is that turtles can tolerate a great deal of cold, while crocodiles can not. Hence the great many species of turtle, as compared to the relatively few species of crocodile.

To return to the animal in Okanagan Lake, the most reliable eye witness reports are that it swims like a mammal, not a reptile. They mention this because they are well aware that reptiles swim in an undulating manner, while mammals swim in a completely different manner. I believe them. They also report that this animal has ”humps” on its back, which go up and down as it swims. This too I believe. Making sense of these reports is a different matter entirely.

Perhaps the most surprising report was that of the swimmer who found himself swimming with company! A huge animal was swimming right along side of him! As it was so close, it was difficult not to notice the huge eyes on the animal, eyes the size of grapefruits!

It is details such as this which help to determine the identity of the animal. The one and only swimming reptile with such huge eyes, possibly 25 centimetres or 10 inches, is the ichthyosaur.

This called for a little investigation on my part, in an attempt to reconcile the behaviour. The swimming motion of this animal is that of a mammal, and to swim alongside a human is also characteristic of a mammal, and in particular that of a dolphin. No reptile has been known to exhibit such behaviour. Yet the ichthyosaur is classified as a reptile.

Strangely enough, even though it is a reptile, the fossilized remains of the ichthyosaur confirm that this animal gives birth to live young. It is characteristic of reptiles that they lay eggs, although rattle snakes are the exception, giving birth to live young. Apparently these ichthyosaurs are also the exception.

It is also the scientific opinion that this animal is related to dolphins. I have no idea how they came to that conclusion, but I am sure they are right. As far as I am aware, dolphins are the only swimming animals which have been known to swim along side people. At least, up until now. Something is swimming along side people in Okanagan Lake, and it is not a dolphin.

The idea that a reptile, a super predator no less, would choose to swim along side a human, is stranger than fiction.

Further investigation reveals that the latest scientific discoveries question the belief that the ichthyosaur is a cold blooded animal. If it is indeed a warm blooded animal -and that has yet to be proven- one which gives birth to live young, then it may be improperly classified. It may be a RINO, a Reptile In Name Only. It may in fact be a mammal, and that would explain its mammalian behaviour.

This is not to say that I am terribly concerned with the classification of the animal. It can be a reptile with mammalian characteristics, or it can be a mammal with reptilian characteristics. It is a subject upon which I am indifferent. No doubt the proper classification is important, but I am mainly concerned with proving the existence of the animal.

Ordinarily I would say that the best way to prove the existence of a swimming reptile is by locating its nesting site, the beach upon which it lays its eggs. But this is anything but ordinary, as it gives birth to live young. There is no point in looking for the beach where it lays its eggs, because that beach does not exist. Clearly, it is necessary to come up with a different plan.

The people who have seen these animals are of the opinion that they are most frequently seen in the spring, at certain locations. Possibly the males come to the surface and display, in an attempt to impress the females. Who can blame them?

Assuming that to be the case, may I suggest that those who live around Okanagan Lake keep an eye out for these animals, and hopefully git some pictures, preferably videos, of those animals cavorting in the water. There was a time when an animal had to be killed, in order to prove the species exists. I would like to prove to the scientists that this animal exists, without resorting to such drastic measures.

Then again, such a course of action may not be feasible. The scientists may merely dismiss any and all videos out of hand. It is possible the animal comes out of the water on occasion, and if that is the case, it may be possible to obtain some DNA. I cannot think of any reason the animal would come out of the water, but that does not mean it does not happen.

This is not to say that a combination of videos and DNA would necessarily persuade the scientists of the existence of this animal, as they are determined that it went extinct many millions of years ago.

This brings us back to the one sure fire way to prove the animal exists, the ”old school” method of shooting an animal to prove the species exists. If the scientists persist in being completely pig headed, we may have to resort to such a drastic method. A carcass of the animal will certainly get their attention.

I suspect there is no other way to prove the existence of the ichthyosaur.

The country is currently entering a depression such as has not been seen since the Great Depression of almost one hundred years ago. The more honest of the bourgeois economists admit this, while qualifying the statement that this depression is expected to be more intense. In fact, they cannot see any way out of this depression, this crisis in capitalism, if only because there is none.

This has not stopped the monopoly capitalists, the imperialists, the bourgeoisie, from making an attempt. They have come up with a two trillion dollar -that is two thousand billion dollar- ”economic stimulus package”. This is tax payer money, which they do not have, which is being given away to citizens and businesses. Each American will receive a rather small check, that of their own taxpayer money, while the vast majority, the ”lions share”, will go to businesses. This is known as ”corporate welfare”.

These corporate welfare checks, to some of the biggest corporations in the country, as well as to ”small businesses”, are supposed to prop up these companies until the corona virus ”runs its course”, and things ”return to normal”. In the simplicity of their souls, the capitalists have defined any business which employs less than 500 workers as a ”small business.” Small business, indeed!

The idea is that the owner of a ”small business” will trust this ”mild recession” to be over in the third quarter, with a recovery ”later in the year”, as was predicted by a top economist. Accordingly, it is expected that this starry eyed optimistic businessman will keep paying his workers, even though they are idle, as well as paying the rent, utilities and taxes on all his stock and supplies, patiently waiting for the corona virus to run its course, the country to ”get back on its feet”, and customers to return. This begs the question: Just how stupid does the government think these ”small business owners”are?

All such business people are small time capitalists, petty bourgeois. This is not to suggest that they are entirely stupid, as they are not. They are well aware that it is the opinion of the more honest economists that we are entering a depression, things will never again return to ”normal”, and it is therefore time to ”cash in their chips”, otherwise known as ”liquidating”, ”cut their losses”, and ”run like hell”. In other words, they will fire their workers, close up shop, sell whatever they can for as much as they can, throw away the rest, and if need be, file for bankruptcy. At the same time, they will grab as much cash as they can, including the government hand outs. They would be fools to do anything less.

I have deliberately phrased this in very popular language, so that the average working person can understand it. It is very important. We are entering a depression, and we had best be prepared for the worst.

Allow me to stress that this crisis in capitalism, this depression, did not come about as a result of the corona virus. It is a natural result of the development of capitalism. As Marx pointed out, capitalism proceeds in a natural cycle of boom to bust. The boom is over, the bust is here, it is world wide, and in my opinion, there is no way the capitalists are going to get out of this one.

This brings us to the corporate executives, the ”big business” people. These are the people who control whole branches of industry, which include airlines, hotel chains, auto manufacturers, restaurant chains and various other branches of business. The idea that they are prepared to get their hands on tens and even hundreds of billions of dollars -this they refer to as capital- and waste it on ”stimulating the economy” -well, lets just say that the thought would never occur to them. It would simply never cross their mind. Instead, they are sure to look for opportunities elsewhere, probably overseas, with the idea of getting a better return on their invested capital. Bear in mind, this ”capital” is nothing more than American tax payer money, which has generously been donated to them, by Trump and the Washington politicians.

As a result of this ”economic stimulus package”, the country is being driven ever deeper into depression, ever closer to bankruptcy.

This in no way changes the fact that the most immediate, pressing concern, is that of dealing with the corona virus. The United States now has the dubious distinction of being the country with the greatest number of reported cases of people infected with the corona virus. The American medical system is in danger of collapse! The health care workers are exhausted. Many have come out of retirement to assist in the crisis. They are scrambling for personal protective equipment, risking their health, in danger of contracting the virus and spreading it to others, their families as well as other patients. There is a desperate shortage of ventilators. Refrigerator trucks are being pressed into service, in order to store the corpses, as the morgues are filled to overflowing. The hospitals are expected to run out of beds in a few days. They are expected to need over twice as many beds as they have now. The doctors are describing the situation in the hospitals as ”apocalyptic”.

As that is the case, the governors of the states which are most hard hit by the virus are appealing to the federal government for help. In other words, they are appealing to Donald Trump! There is no one more indifferent to their suffering than Donald Trump! His main concern, if not his only concern, is to funnel as much tax payer money as possible to the members of his class, the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. The suffering of the ”little guy”, the ”common people”, does not concern him.

In all fairness, it is true that Trump has activated the Defence Production Act, which gives him the authority to force businesses to produce emergency medical equipment, such as personal protective equipment, hospital beds and ventilators, among other items which are so desperately needed. He activated this Act under great pressure, but is reluctant to use it. The last thing he wants to do is to force corporations to produce such articles, as this ”smacks of socialism”.

In this, he has a point. Under socialism, or at least under scientific socialism, people are placed before profits! This stands in sharp contrast to capitalism, especially under the current state of medical emergency, where it is clear for all to see, that profits are placed before people!

It is very likely that Trump, as well as the journalists who report such news items, are not aware that they are condemning the system of capitalism!

The journalists are torn between reporting the devastation caused by the deepening depression, the havoc caused by the corona virus, and the glowing economic forecasts of the officials who serve the capitalists so fervently. The Treasury Secretary, Steve Mneuchin, says that the 3,280,000 new jobless claims, in merely one week, are ”not relevant”, that the ”fundamentals of the economy remain strong”. Tell that to the people who are now unemployed! Tell that to the millions more who are about to become unemployed!

Trump is living in his own little dream world, far removed from reality. His latest brain storm is to classify counties under new guide lines, that of ”low risk, medium risk and high risk”. The level of risk will in turn determine the degree of ”social distancing”, so that the economy can ”come raring back in time for Easter”. Perhaps he should relocate from the White House to the insane asylum.

In all fairness to Trump, he is aided in his delusions by the bourgeois belly crawling boot lickers. There is no shortage of the vermin, and they go to great lengths, even absurd lengths, to protect their lords and masters, the bourgeoisie. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve has announced that ”we may well be in a recession”. He went on to say that he expects a ”robust recovery in the fourth quarter”. To think that this is announced, by one of the most highly respected economists in the country, at the beginning of a depression!

At the rate the corona virus is spreading, it is very likely that soon, people will be dying while waiting to be admitted to hospitals. The hospital staff cannot provide them with beds which they do not have. Nor can they place them on ventilators, when they have no ventilators. It is doubtful that the family members, those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones, will take a great deal of comfort in the fact that the corporations were not forced to manufacture these medical items, as that smacks of socialism!

There is a limit to that which people are prepared to tolerate, and the American people are close to that limit. We are entering a depression, the corona virus is ravaging the country, common people are suffering terribly, the country is on the verge of bankruptcy, the medical system is about to collapse, and the only thing the government can think about is stimulating the economy!

It is clear that their idea of ”stimulating the economy” is merely giving the super rich, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, ever more billions! The country can go ”down the tubes”, but as long as the billionaires amass an even greater fortune, that is perfectly acceptable!

The differences now are at least sharp and clear. As Dickens would say, ”it was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. He was of course referring to the situation in France at the time of the French revolution, in which the nobility never had it so good -the best of times- and the ”lower classes”, the peasants and workers, never had it so bad -the worst of times.

A similar situation now exists in America. In this country, the nobility was overthrown many years ago, but they have been replaced by the bourgeoisie, a class which is every bit as reactionary as the nobility. The peasants are almost completely wiped out, and now the middle class, the petty bourgeois, is following suit, being forced into the ranks of the working class, the proletariat. One difference between America of today and France at the time of Dickens, is the fact that the class conflict is now much simpler. Now there is essentially two classes, the working class or proletariat, and the capitalist class, or bourgeoisie. All other classes have been destroyed.

The country is a ”powder keg”, set to explode. A spontaneous uprising, a revolution, could break out any day. As yet, the working class is not aware of itself as a class, not aware that it is at war with the capitalist class, the bourgeoisie. This awareness can only come from Marxists. It is up to Marxists to make the proletariat aware of the fact that it is destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, smash the existing state apparatus and crush that class of parasites, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

As yet, the Marxists are not providing that service. For that reason, I can suggest that working people who are reading this article make haste to educate yourselves. Time is not on our side, so by all means, read the Essential Works of Lenin. That should provide workers with a solid background in Marxist theory.

A Communist Party is desperately needed. It must be exclusive, restricted to only the most dedicated Marxists, those who are committed to revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

During the time of revolution, leaders will emerge. These leaders will be true Marxists or they will be totally unprincipled, those committed to seizing the opportunity to set themselves up as the new rulers. As we live in a class society, those are the options. Proletarian or bourgeois, there is no middle ground.

Now that this depression is destroying so many members of the petty bourgeois, the middle class, perhaps those among you who are Marxists will become active and carry the message to the working class. That is up to you. Bear in mind that in a revolution, no one can remain ”neutral”, or ”straddle the fence”. The last thing you want is to become a target of the revolution.

In summary, the ”battle lines are being drawn”. It is workers versus billionaires, proletariat versus bourgeoisie. Socialism or capitalism, a war to the finish. No quarter. Victory or death. The working class has nothing to lose but its chains.

The Corona virus has now spread around the world, which is to say that it is now at pandemic levels. If it was confined to a single country, it would be referred to as an epidemic. I mention this for the benefit of those who are not clear concerning the subject. This pandemic is being blamed for the crisis in capitalism, the collapse of the global economy, which is now being referred to as a depression. Such is not the case. This depression is the natural result of capitalism, precisely as predicted by Marx.

It has been reported that the country of Italy has been very hard hit by the virus, with possibly 6,500 deaths so far. The whole country is in a state of ”lockdown”, with good reason. The medical personnel are doing their best, at great risk to themselves, with the equipment which is available. It is reported that the medical professionals are exhausted and desperate. It is very likely that a similar situation will soon be faced by the citizens of America, as the United States is expected to become the latest epicentre of the pandemic.

Within the country, New York City is considered to be the ”centre of the epidemic”. The number of people who are now known to have the virus has ”sky rocketed”, if for no other reason than that more people are now being tested for the virus. In many cases, people who have the virus show no symptoms. These same people spread the virus, through no fault of their own. Such people are known as carriers. It only makes sense to isolate people, to exercise ”social distancing”, as a means of containing the virus.

As I write this, perhaps one third of the American people are being told to stay at home, unless they absolutely have to leave their houses for essential service jobs. Even then, they are being advised to stay a safe distance from each other, six feet or two meters.

The Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, says ”this week, it is going to get bad”. As he is the top medical professional in the country, all would be well advised to listen carefully to that which he says. That includes President Trump, who has his own ideas. It should come as no surprise to anyone to learn that Trump is ”at odds with the medical profession”. He clearly thinks that he knows more about the medical situation than the medical professionals. But then it is not reasonable to expect anything better from someone who is so supremely ignorant.

This in no way changes the fact that the medical professionals are treating patients who are infected with the Corona virus, at great personal risk to themselves. The only thing they are asking for in return is the proper ”personal protective equipment, or PPE”. By that they mean masks, gowns and surgical gloves. In addition, the patients who are desperately sick, short of breath, need ventilators. There is a severe shortage of ventilators, just as there is a shortage of hospital beds.

These are the facts, just as it is also a fact that Trump is fond of giving speeches, even at press conferences. That is a man who loves the sound of his own voice! At these conferences, and in front of his medical advisers, no less, he states things which directly contradict the opinion of those same medical professionals. As one of them stated it, ”I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down.” No doubt the temptation is do so is very strong. At least the thought is most pleasant.

The frustration of the medical professionals does not end there. As president, Trump did exercise his authority to activate the Defence Production Act, which gives him the authority to force businesses to produce medical equipment. Ordinarily, this Act is used as a means of forcing industry to produce war material. Now it is being used to force the same industry to produce medical supplies. Or more accurately, it could be used for that purpose, but it is not. Now that Trump has activated that Act, he refuses to enforce it. Industry can produce such medical items or not, as they see fit. For the moment, they see fit to not produce such items. Perhaps the profit margin is not sufficient to justify the expense of retooling the factories. This is the way the capitalists think. As Trump is a capitalist, this he understands.

As I write this, it has just been reported that the stock market is down from its all time high by 37 percent, or just over a third. For some strange reason, the reporters are of the opinion that those of us who watch the news are half Philadelphia lawyers and half rocket scientists. I mention this for the sake of the odd viewer who is neither, is not familiar with percentages, and is not even a mathematician. They also mention that the market is on track for having its worst month since 1931, at the height of the Great Depression. That is not a coincidence.

This is not to say that our fearless leader, Donald Trump, is indifferent to the suffering of American citizens. Indeed not. He has given it a great deal of thought and come to the conclusion that ”the cure cannot be worse than the sickness”. He has therefore decided that the country must be re-opened for business, that all shutdowns must end, that the six foot exclusion rule must be tossed, and the pandemic will be over within the next few weeks. President Trump is truly a man of action! In fact, he wants the country ”opened up and just raring to go by Easter”. In fact, he announced this on the very day the daily death toll from the Corona virus reached a record high.

If nothing else, this provides all of us with a very clear cut setting for the class war. And it is a war, with the ”lower classes”, which is to say the working class, the proletariat, in partnership with the family farmers, as well as the middle class, the petty bourgeois, against the monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie. The capitalists have made their position quite clear. Their spokesman, Donald Trump, no less, is more concerned with the economy than with the fact that countless people are getting sick and dying!

Think of it. The medical professionals are of the opinion that the pandemic is about to ”become much worse”, that the ”worst is yet to come”, that we have a ”desperate shortage of medical equipment”, everything from ”personal protective equipment to ventilators”, and the only thing the capitalists are concerned about is their profit! It has been reported that two million people applied for unemployment benefits in one week, and it is anticipated that another seven million will soon join the ranks of the unemployed, and yet the press is focused on the stock market!

As the news outlets are owned and operated by the capitalists, this is understandable, and we should not blame the journalists for reporting on that which concerns the capitalists. They are merely doing their job, and many of them sneak in news tidbits as best they can. This in no way changes the fact that the capitalists are deeply concerned with the stock market, as that is a reflection of their profits. As the stock markets are plunging, the capitalists are responding by ”propping up the markets”. In fact, the Federal Reserve Board, otherwise known as the Fed, has pumped countless billions of dollars, even trillions, into the market, as well as reducing the interest rates to effectively zero. This they refer to as ”economic stimulus”, and the markets have responded by continuing to drop. In fact, some economists expect the market to lose another third of its value, reducing the country to depression levels, not seen since the Great Depression.

As all measures to stop the decline of the stock market have had almost no effect, the capitalists have decided to pump more money into the market. As anyone with a lick of sense could tell them, it has not worked before and is not about to work now. But then capitalists are convinced that money solves all problems. Any evidence to the contrary is quietly ignored.

This bring us to the ”Fed”, the Federal Reserve Board. Countless people have heard of this outfit, and it clearly has great power, so it stands to reason to look into this secretive organization. The people on this Board control the ”Federal Reserve System”, the ”central banking system of the United States of America”. It was reportedly ”created by Congress to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible and more stable monetary and financial system”. As the economy of the country is now in free fall, it is safe to say that it has fallen short of this noble objective.

The key component of the Fed is the Federal Reserve Bank, the ”nations central bank, an agency of the federal government and reports to and is directly accountable to the Congress…the Fed has control of the money supply through its power to create credit, with interest rates and reserve requirements.” It does not take an economist to realize that the Fed has incredible power.

Yet there is more to it than that. The Congress has decided that the Fed has four functions. The first is to manage the inflation rate at preferably 2 percent, and to keep prices stable. The effect of inflation is to gradually lower the standard of living of the working class, as wage increases rarely keep up with inflation. This means that in the past, such as immediately after the Second World War, it was customary for a family to have one parent working, usually the father, while the mother stayed home and raised the children. That is now a thing of the past, the ”good old days”, which they were not, but working people did enjoy a higher standard of living. As a result of inflation, our standard of living has dropped considerably, so it is safe to say that the Fed has achieved its goal of reducing the standard of living of the working class. It is also safe to say that the Fed has failed miserably in its goal of keeping prices stable.

The second goal of the Fed is to ”supervise and regulate many of the nations banks to protect consumers”. This begs the question, what do they mean by ”consumer”? If they are referring to the fellow capitalists, then the Fed is performing a magnificent job. If they are referring to the common people, then that is a different story completely. But of course the only concern of the capitalists is with other capitalists.

The third role of the Fed is to ”maintain the stability of the financial markets and constrain potential crises”. Any way you look at this, the Fed has also failed miserably, in this objective. The ”financial markets”, by which we can only assume they mean the stock market, is in free fall, the unemployment rate is expected to hit 20 percent, countless small businesses are expected to close, and the country is entering a depression, one which is expected to be even more intense than the Great Depression. So much for ”constraining potential crises!”

The fourth role of the Fed is to ”provide banking services to other banks, the US government and foreign banks”. The income of this bank is ”derived primarily from interest earned on US government securities that the Federal Reserve has acquired through open market operations.”

The economists are concerned now, as the Fed has placed all their money -and then some- into the stock market, in an attempt to prop it up. The results are clear for all to see. The most kind and considerate of the economists refer to the stock market as ”volatile”, in that it may ”rise one day and fall two days”. It has been compared to a roller coaster, with the trend downwards.

As a result of this, the economists are warning that the ”entire global financial system is at a tremendous level of risk. Governments could conceivably be facing bankruptcy.”

It is not too often that economists blurt out something completely honest, but this is one such rare event. As that is the case, perhaps we can pause and cherish the moment.

Now that the pause is over, let us face the fact that even the bourgeois economists are facing the fact that the Federal Reserve Bank is on the verge of bankruptcy! If that happens -when that happens?- various governments around the world, including the United States of America, are anticipated to go broke!

The capitalists have not yet exhausted their bag of tricks. The leaders of both parties, of both houses of Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives, are currently in negotiations, trying to ”hammer out a deal” of possibly more than two trillion dollars, in an attempt to ”stimulate the economy”. One of those leaders has reported ”broad bipartisan support” and that ”conceptually we are there”. By way of translation, this is ”bourgeois speak” for the fact that they are ”at each others throats”, no where near agreement. The press is reporting that behind closed doors, they are not even civil with each other.

The more passionate supporters of the bourgeoisie are determined to give hundreds of billions of taxpayer money to the biggest, richest, most powerful corporations, those who are ”Too Big To Fail”. This includes the major airlines, auto manufacturers, hotel chains, restaurant chains, ocean cruise chains, computer manufacturers and casinos. Small companies, which are described as those who employ less than 500 people, as well as individuals, are ”Too Small To Succeed”. As far as the capitalists are concerned, the rest of us can go the way of the dodo bird.

This stands in sharp contrast to other voices, those who are possibly even more passionate supporters of the bourgeoisie! They are determined that this ”economic stimulus package” should go to the ”little guy”, which is to say the small business owner and the working people, especially those who are losing their jobs. They would like to see a check sent to all Americans, as well as ”Unemployment Insurance on Steroids”, so that those who are out of work will receive their full income, at least for a short time.

No doubt the reason for this benevolent attitude, coming from those who are the most avid supporters of the bourgeoisie, has nothing to do with concern for the ”common people”, the ”little guy”. They are just well aware that the working class is in motion, demanding change, becoming aware of themselves as a class, politically active. These people have ”their ear to the ground”, are well aware that a revolt is brewing, a full scale revolution could break out any day now, and ”drastic steps” must be taken to forestall that revolution. Their idea of drastic steps is to send a little money to the working people, to ”throw a few coppers to the Natives”, to effectively ”buy people off”. As a few paltry dollars will stop the revolution!

I have news for all of you, those of you who are belly crawling boot lickers of the bourgeoisie. We are not our grandparents. We are not about to put up with all the crap our grandparents put up with. This is not 1929 and this depression is not about to drag on for ten years and end with a war. We are well aware that there are over six hundred billionaires in the country, and they are all living ”high off the hog”. We also know that those people are monopoly capitalists, imperialists, members of the class of people whom are technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. They are the members of the ruling class, responsible for this depression, this crisis in capitalism. This depression is proof that capitalism does not work. To suggest that this depression came about as a result of the Corona virus is nonsense. This depression came about as a result of capitalism, pure and simple, just as predicted by Marx.

The current situation is exceptionally sharp and clear. The last of the middle class, the petty bourgeois, the small business owner, is now facing bankruptcy, being forced into the ranks of the working class, the proletariat. Now in America, there is effectively no middle class! It is a war of the monopoly capitalist, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, against the working class, the proletariat. There is no longer any vacillating petty bourgeois to ”muddy the waters”, to confuse the issue with their petty bourgeois mentality. They no longer exist.

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism that the proletariat is destined to overthrow the bourgeoisie, smash the existing state apparatus and establish the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Before long, the working class will rise up in revolt, but spontaneously, as it is not yet aware of itself as a class, complete with its own class interests. Still less is it aware of its destiny to crush the bourgeoisie under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. It is absolutely essential that the proletariat be made aware of this, and it is the duty of every conscious person, every scientific socialist, by which I of course mean Marxist, to carry this awareness to the proletariat. The best way to do this -if not the only way- is through the leadership which can only be provided by a party. I am of course suggesting the name Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, or CP,DOP, as a means of distinguishing ourselves from the parties which claim to be Marxist, but are not.

I am also suggesting that all Americans be encouraged to join the two mainstream political parties, Democrat and Republican, as card carrying members, party bosses. As such, they will get to decide the individuals to run for any and all political offices, will be able to flood Washington and state capitals with Leftist people, can work to abolish the Electoral College, increase the minimum wage, abolish all student loans, increase the pensions, defend our democratic rights, and in the process, will receive most valuable training for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. They will learn first hand that the bourgeoisie are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge.

In summary, I am suggesting an extremely exclusive Communist Party, an organization of dedicated Marxists, those who are committed to revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. The members of this Party can focus on raising the level of awareness of the working class, especially the most advanced workers, to that of the level of Marxists. These people will know they are making progress when the term Dictatorship Of the Proletariat is commonly discussed among working people.

I am also suggesting a very broad based coalition of Leftist people, which would include anyone and everyone who is the slightest bit interested in defending our democratic rights. They should be encouraged to join the two mainstream political parties. This of course includes seniors, students, workers, unemployed and homeless. In fact, everyone who is dissatisfied with the current political situation, in which a handful of people live in extreme wealth, while the vast majority live in extreme poverty. The more advanced will run for political office, or at least make the attempt. In this manner, they will receive valuable training in leadership, which will serve them well after the revolution, when such workers will be placed in key positions, within the newly created Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

No doubt this latest crisis in capitalism, this depression, will help to motivate conscious people, Marxists, to form a proper Communist Party. Equally without doubt, it will also inspire people to take action, to join the two mainstream political parties. It is to be hoped that it will also motivate certain people, by whom I am of course referring to the leaders of the Womens’ March, as well as the Students Protest Movement, to once again become active. I have complete confidence in you. You have done it before and you can do it again. The difference this time is to not focus on narrow issues, but to focus on capitalism and the class of capitalists, the bourgeoisie. They can and must be destroyed.

With that in mind, I will close this article with my usual suggestions for slogans. I mention these slogans as they are so important. It is the best way to raise the level of awareness of the working class. It gives people a place to start.

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

Workers of the World, Unite!

The crisis in capitalism continues to intensify. The price of oil is now less than half of the lofty peak of that which it once occupied. The Corona virus has spread around the world, and various countries have responded by closing all sports events, religious gatherings, schools, malls and even their own borders. Citizens are being encouraged to ”self isolate”, to stay at home and avoid groups of ”more than ten”. It is not clear how members of large families are expected to do this.

As far as the capitalists are concerned, the situation is pretty grim. Not because people are getting sick and dying, but because those who ”self isolate” are not spending their money. How can they? They are not allowed to travel or even go to the store. As a result of this, the profits of the capitalists are suffering. From the capitalist viewpoint, that is the real tragedy.

Experts in the field of health are reporting that the elderly, as well as those who are suffering from ”preexisting conditions”, are most at risk from from contracting the Corona virus. They are also reporting that young people may have the disease, while showing no symptoms. Such people are known as ”carriers”, those who spread the disease, through no fault of their own. Still, the health experts are encouraging young people to not get tested for the virus. Go figure.

Those same ”health experts” are reporting that the death rate from those who contract the disease may vary from one to four percent, depending upon the level of medical treatment available. As it is anticipated that possibly half of the people in the country may soon be infected, it stands to reason that the death toll could number in the millions.

In response to this, Trump has just announced that ”various health organizations are now working together in an unprecedented manner”, in an attempt to develop a virus. It is doubtful that he realizes he has just announced a crushing condemnation of capitalism! He has effectively admitted that under capitalism, even the health organizations do not cooperate! They are in competition with each other, at the expense of the health, and even the life, of the citizens.

Health officials are reporting that we have reached a ”tipping point”, although they are careful not to explain what that means. Most simple souls consider a ”tipping point” to be the point whereby a fluid overflows the side of a container, but clearly the health experts are using that expression to describe a phenomenon which they consider to be more elaborate, beyond the grasp of mere mortals.

The Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, is of the opinion that we can expect the unemployment rate to reach twenty percent, a rate not seen since the Great Depression. Not that we have to worry about another Depression, as the capitalists have refused to give a definition to the word! As a Depression is not defined, it ceases to exist. Impeccable logic!

The stock market reached ”bear market territory” at the point where it lost twenty percent of its value, and has since lost another fifteen percent. The ”financial experts” were asked if it could lose another thirty percent of its value, and the self described experts were clearly irritated at the question -the nerve of some people!- and were careful to avoid giving a straight answer.

The ”health care workers” are concerned that the hospitals are facing a critical shortage of beds and ventilators. As those who are infected with the virus tend to experience ”respiratory distress”, or are short of breath, to phrase it in simple English, the use of ventilators can be the difference between life and death. These shortages are indeed serious.

It should come as no great surprise to anyone that our fearless leader, Donald Trump no less, is taking no responsibility for the crisis. As the wits phrase it, ”the buck stops nowhere near the Oval Office”. As president, he earlier said that the Corona virus would end by a ”miracle”. but as that has not happened, it is clear that the Lord has fallen down on the job, refusing to take orders from Trump. Imagine that.

The government is reporting that all ”fiscal policy responses” have as yet failed to have any effect on the falling stock market. These ”fiscal policy responses” include dropping the interest rates to effectively zero, and having the Federal Reserve ”pump hundreds of billions of dollars” into the stock market.

It is note worthy that the financial experts are no longer talking in terms of billions, but in terms of trillions. It is reported that the Fed, as it is called, pumped a trillion and a half into the market, yet it had almost no effect. Now the government officials are talking about handouts to the tune of several trillion, national debt be damned! As Mnuchin just announced, the ”economy will come roaring back”. In a time of crisis, this is just what we need. A philosopher! Such starry eyed optimism will no doubt be a great comfort to those who are losing their jobs and life savings!

The capitalists are concerned, to the point of being frantic, with the financial state of the major airlines. It is being reported -shock and horror!- that those companies could go broke within a couple months, unless they receive a massive ”capital infusion”. In other words, the politicians are desperate to ”bail them out”, to give them a huge ”handout”, although they ”bend over backwards” in an attempt to avoid using these terms. My personal favourite is the reference to corporate welfare as ”increasing liquidity”. As a result of this, the politicians have determined to bless them with an initial gift of possibly fifty billion, with many more billions to follow, along with tax breaks. Of course, other major companies, such as those involved in various tourism industries, including the cruise ship industry, hotel chains and restaurants, will also be smiled upon by the government. By contrast, small business owners can expect to receive a great deal of sympathy. Try taking that to the bank!

Among the capitalists, it is understood that some businesses are ‘Too Big To Fail”, while other companies, as well as individuals, are ‘Too Small To Succeed”. This is not to say that Trump is completely heartless, indifferent to the suffering of the ”little guy”. On the contrary, he has graciously agreed to ”suspend all home foreclosures and evictions”. This should come as a great comfort to those who are about to lose their jobs and houses and join the ranks of the homeless. It has been delayed for a certain time! Gee thanks, Mister Billionaire President! You are too kind!

The braver of the capitalist analysts are predicting that a ”shutdown is inevitable”, businesses should send all non essential employees home, and that we are entering a ”depression era period”. As the ”Big Three” American automakers are reported to have just shut down, and the Las Vegas casinos are apparently following suit, that conclusion is something less than a stroke of genius. No doubt those corporations, including the gambling establishments, those which take such great delight in separating us from our hard earned money, will also qualify for a government handout!

As I write this, it has just been reported that all the gains of the stock market, which has been made since Trump was elected, have been erased. The stock market has now lost 35 percent of its value. This is not to say that Trump is indifferent to the suffering of the common people, the ”little guy”. In fact, he is graciously planning to send a check of one thousand dollars, a ”grand”, or possibly more, to all citizens. Those who receive this bonus can use it to buy an old car, to be used as a shelter, as a replacement for the home they are about to lose. In this way, they can join the ranks of those who are homeless and forced to live in their cars. There is no shortage of such people, and they are among the more fortunate. The less fortunate are forced to live under bridges.

In fact, the proposed ”grand hand out” is nothing more than an added humiliation, a mere addition to the degradation of being unemployed and homeless.

To put this financial downturn in scientific terms, it is a fundamental tenet of Marxism that a commodity sells for the cost of production. This means that for a while, a commodity will sell for a price above the cost of production, and there is great joy in the land of capital, or at least Wall Street, because business is making a profit. Then there comes a surplus, the price of the commodity drops, and it sells for a loss. Doom and gloom reigns on Wall Street. There is weeping and wailing in the land of capital. Even the capitalists admit that business proceeds in a ”boom to bust cycle”, yet at the same time they expect the stock market to merely rise steadily. Each time the market takes a dip, the capitalists lose money, and they are shocked. This merely proves the fact that the capitalists are masters of self delusion.

As for those who think that these fluctuations in the stock market should level out under this stage of capitalism, monopoly capitalism, which is referred to as imperialism, you are mistaken. As Lenin stated quite clearly, if not emphatically: ”The statement that cartels can abolish crises is a fable spread by bourgeois economists whom at all costs desire to place capitalism in a favourable light. On the contrary, when monopoly appears in certain branches of industry, it increases and intensifies the anarchy inherent in capitalist production as a whole.” (italics by Lenin)

As I write this, for the first time since the birth of the latest capitalist crisis, the press is now using the ”D word”, which is to say Depression. The implication is that the crisis is quite severe, and the Corona virus is anticipated to last for possibly eighteen months. As long as it lasts, we can expect people to ”self isolate”, if for no other reason than that they have no choice. At the same time, those same people will not be at work producing, or shopping, or travelling, or spending their money, if only because they do not have money to spend. It stands to reason that profits will suffer.

Strangely enough, the more optimistic stock brokers, die hard capitalists one and all, are practically yelling at investors to ”stay the course”. Perhaps they feel that by ”raising the volume”, investors will be more impressed. Or perhaps they are merely wired on some good drugs. They are going to need such drugs, and lots of them.

This brings us to the rational souls who are pointing out that the country is deeply in debt, to the tune of 23 trillion dollars, and that is merely the amount the federal government admits to owing. The real amount is not mentioned. These sane individuals question the sanity of going far deeper into debt. The response is that now is not the time to quibble over the national debt! This is similar to the expression ”damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” Those are famous last words. Torpedoes are not damned. Torpedoes do the damning. Those who challenge torpedoes do not often live to regret it.

In much the same way, fool hardy souls can ignore the national debt. The national debt will not ignore the country. The people who own the national debt, those who are technically referred to as members of the bourgeoisie, will demand payments on that debt. What is more, they will receive payment, if only because they are members of the ruling class. Even though the tax base is shrinking, because businesses are closing and individuals are losing their jobs, the interest payments on the national debt must continue. This can and will be done, but only at the expense of such little details as disability pensions, old age pensions, hospitals, schools, clinics, libraries, play grounds, national parks, police and fire protection, and so forth. Regardless of how difficult the depression becomes, the bourgeoisie are determined that they will not lose a dime. They never lost a dime in the first Great Depression, and they have no intention of breaking with that tradition now.

With that in mind, the press is reporting that various small business owners are looking at bankruptcy. No doubt this is true, as the capitalist monopolies become ever more complete. Ever more small business owners, referred to as petty bourgeois, are being forced into the ranks of the working class, the proletariat. That is merely a fact, just as it is a fact that those same people bring with them the class awareness, which is foreign to the proletariat.

In this article, I have gone to considerable length in quoting from press reports. I have also expressed myself in popular language, using colloquialisms which common people can understand. The reason for this is that common people watch the news, and in fact they watch it religiously. They then discuss it among themselves, trying to make sense of this. They also read, and in fact they read a great deal. The trouble is that they are limited in their comprehension due to the fact that the working class is not aware of itself as a class!

I most passionately hope that members of the working class are reading this article. To such people I can only say that I am writing this, with you in mind. You, as the members of the proletariat, must become class conscious. You must overthrow the ruling class, the bourgeoisie, and crush them under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. This can only be done through revolution, and this requires the correct Marxist leadership. Otherwise, those who are devoid of principle, referred to as opportunists, will merely sit themselves up as the new rulers.

Bear in mind that this class awareness can only come from members of the middle class, so do not hold the class background of an individual against them. Marx and Engels were members of the middle class, for example. Each of them could have chosen to live a comfortable bourgeois life style, but chose to do the right thing. They devoted their lives to the service of the working people, proletariat, peasant and petty bourgeois.

We can expect those who are current or former members of the middle class to bring the class awareness to the working class, the proletariat, but do not count on this. As yet, this has not been happening, or at least not in sufficient quantity. Not to despair, the works of Marx and Lenin are readily available, or at least the most essential works. With that in mind, I encourage all workers to read The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels, State and Revolution by Lenin, What Is To Be Done? by Lenin, and Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, by Lenin. A careful reading of those works will give workers a solid grounding in scientific socialism, other wise known as Marxism.

I am sure that everyone, working class as well as middle class, will now agree with me when I say that the situation is now at a critical point. It continues to intensify, with the rich, the bourgeoisie, becoming ever richer, and the common people, the working class, the proletariat, as well as the middle class, the petty bourgeois, becoming ever more poor. In fact, ever more members of the middle class are becoming ruined, their businesses are going under, as the capitalists consider them Too Small To Succeed. The government handouts are strictly for the major corporations, those who are Too Big To Fail.

Now it is up to middle class intellectuals, including those who have been forced into the ranks of the working class, to share your understanding of the awareness of classes, including the Marxist necessity of revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

Bear in mind that time is not on our side. The revolution could break out any day now. I will close this article with my usual slogans, as they are so important:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!