In Search of Mosasaurs and Plesiosaurs

The title of this chapter may seem to be rather strange, the subject completely out of place, in a book such as this, as this quest has nothing to do with the class struggle. Besides, ‘’everybody knows’’ that those huge, pre historic reptiles went extinct, many millions of years ago.   

Such an attitude is completely understandable, but mistaken, and calls for an explanation. 

The class struggle between the working class, the proletariat, and the monopoly capitalist class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, is not limited to the political arena. On the contrary, it extends to all aspects of life. This includes the cultural, academic, historic and scientific fields. In fact, as the various fields are so closely tied together, with the class struggle, in so many different ways, it is sometimes difficult to separate them. 

The point being that it is necessary to fight the capitalists, on all ‘’fields of battle’’, including that of science. In this article, we are focused on the scientific field of palaeontology, which is defined as ‘’the study of life forms that existed in previous geologic periods, as represented by their fossils’’. 

Just because certain animals existed many millions of years ago, does not mean they do not exist now! Absence of proof, is not proof of absence! All too often, it just means that we have not been looking! Or at least, not looking in the right places!

In previous articles, I have laid out the procedures to be followed for locating various land dwelling species, which are classified as extinct, even though they are not. I strongly suspect that these ‘’salt water reptiles’’, mosasaurs and both species of plesiosaur, long necked and short necked, are also very much alive. As they are located in the ocean, the task of finding them is far more difficult.

We can begin our investigation with that of the mosasaur. According to the scientists, it was 17 meters long, and weighed ten tons. As they phrase it, ‘’Mosasaurs were top predators of the world’s oceans, and would eat anything they could catch’’. 

Yet those same scientists state that these animals went extinct approximately sixty five million years ago, at the same time the dinosaurs went extinct. A remarkable coincidence, and in my opinion, completely bogus. More on that subject, later on in this article.

As for plesiosaurs, it is the scientific opinion that they were of similar size, and also went extinct, at the same time the mosasaurs went extinct. Or possibly a few million years earlier, as different scientists say different things. Yet all are agreed that these huge, pre historic, ‘’salt water reptiles’’, are indeed extinct.

Another one of their beliefs, is that there was a mass extinction of dinosaurs, sixty five million years ago. They just cannot seem to agree upon a proper scientific definition of a dinosaur, or of the cataclysmic event which caused their extinction. Different scientists say different things. No wonder the public is confused!

Incidentally, in previous writings, I have made my position quite clear. Briefly stated, all of the animals which are classified as dinosaurs, laid eggs. Those which had feathers, were birds. Those without feathers, were reptiles. There was no mass extinction of either birds or reptiles! The theory of the mass extinction of dinosaurs is nonsense!

For the benefit of those who are skeptical, allow me to point out that perhaps the most famous ‘’dinosaur’’ of all, was Tyrannosaurus Rex, or T Rex. All scientists are agreed that T Rex went extinct at the same time that all dinosaurs went extinct, around sixty five million years ago, possibly as a result of a ‘’killer asteroid from outer space’’. 

Yet those same scientists are also convinced that the common barnyard chicken, is a descendant of T Rex. Just how a species can be completely wiped out, practically overnight, and yet still give rise to descendants, is a paradox they do not even attempt to explain. 

This is to say that the scientists, working in the field of palaeontology, have managed to create a complete muddle. This is not too surprising, as it is characteristic of the bourgeois, according to Lenin.    

It is up to working people, to straighten out this confusion. After all, we are entitled to our heritage, and wildlife is part of that heritage.

Now to return to the topic of the supposed extinction of ‘’salt water reptiles’’. As I believe in giving credit where credit is due, we can start with Dr. Robert Bakker. He is highly respected, widely considered to be the foremost authority, in the field of palaeontology. His book, The  Dinosaur Heresies, is widely considered to be the ‘’bible’’ of palaeontology.  

In that book, he had a few words to say, concerning the supposed ‘’mass extinction’’ of ‘’salt water reptiles’’: ‘’As dinosaurs were snuffed out at the end of the Cretaceous, the great sea lizards, and the snake necked plesiosaurs were also dying out, as were a host of large and small invertebrates, from coral like oysters to shelled squid and microscopic plankton’’. 

Bakker would have us believe that, at the same time the dinosaurs were being ‘’snuffed out’’, no doubt on land, the ‘’great sea lizards’’, likely a reference to the mosasaurs, as well as the ‘’snake necked plesiosaurs’’, ‘’were also dying out’’. Just how this supposed ‘’land extinction’’, spread to the ocean, so that the top predators, the ‘’great sea lizards’’, also went extinct, is not explained. They certainly did not starve to death!

Apparently, we are supposed to take this theory, that of the mass extinction of ‘’salt water reptiles’’, as an ‘’article of faith’’. Not this child!

In my opinion, all personal beliefs, articles of faith, are to be respected. By contrast, all scientific beliefs, which are nothing other than theories, are to be challenged. 

Those who support these scientific theories, which are being challenged, should not take this personally. On the contrary, they should embrace such challenges. After all, we are all human, and we all make mistakes. We should be grateful to anyone who can point out our mistakes.

That is not the attitude of the vast majority of scientists. On the contrary, they have been corrupted with the bourgeois influence. They consider any such criticism as a challenge to their authority. Any University student, in any field of science, who questions any scientific theory, presented in any course of science, is certain to fail that particular course, upon which he or she is enrolled. As well, any scientist, working in any field of science, who questions any ‘’generally accepted’’ scientific theory, is sure to commit ‘’career suicide’’. 

That is the current state of science, and as such, is completely unacceptable. It is up to the working class, the proletariat, the ‘’only consistently revolutionary class’’, according to Lenin, to straighten out this mess. 

With that in mind, for the benefit of those workers who have little or no scientific background, we can start with a definition of mammals and reptiles. 

The simplest possible definition of a mammal, is that of ‘’any animal in which the female gives birth to babies, not eggs, and feeds them on milk, from her own body’’. 

That definition gives us a place to start, and is largely true. The exception to that rule can be found in Australia, in which two species, that of platypus and echidna, can be found. They are classified as mammals, as they are warm blooded animals, and the females feed their babies with milk, from their own bodies. Yet those same females lay eggs!  

These animals are known as ‘’monotremes’’, an ‘’ancient order of mammals’’, which have characteristics of birds and reptiles, as they lay eggs. 

This brings us to reptiles, which are defined as ‘’cold blooded animals, lay eggs, and has a body covered with scales or hard parts’’. As well, cold blooded animals cannot generate their own body heat, in contrast to mammals and birds, which can do just that. Most reptiles rely mainly upon the heat from the sun, in order to ‘’warm up’’. 

All scientists are agreed that mosasaurs were reptiles, which is rather strange, as those same scientists are also agreed that they gave birth to live young! They know this, for a fact, because recently, a ‘’mosasaur skeleton containing five unborn young in its abdomen was discovered in South Dakota’’, according to the internet. (By ‘’skeleton’’ they are no doubt referring to the fossilized remains.) So how can these animals, which give birth to live young, be classified as reptiles?  

Of course, it is entirely possible that mosasaurs are indeed reptiles, which have characteristics of mammals. And in fact, the scientists are careful to state, quite emphatically, that they are reptiles, as they have ‘’certain characteristics of reptiles’’. Just what these ‘’certain characteristics’’ are, they are careful not to say. 

On the other hand, I am certainly not convinced. The existence of monotremes proves, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that certain species of mammals have characteristics of birds and reptiles. It stands to reason that certain species of reptiles, can also have characteristics of mammals. Yet just as monotremes are supremely rare, so too, the possible existence of reptiles with characteristics of mammals, must also be exceptionally rare. 

This brings us to the subject of plesiosaurs, also referred to as ‘’marine reptiles’’. Here too, the latest evidence, that of fossilized remains, has the scientists convinced that they too, reproduced by giving birth to live young. Or at least, ‘’some plesiosaurs gave birth to live young’’, as they so carefully phrase it. They also suspect that those same animals ‘’mothered’’ their youngsters, in much the same manner of dolphins and whales.

I suspect they are absolutely correct, in the sense that those animals ‘’mother their young’’, but only because the plesiosaurs are mammals, just as whales and dolphins are mammals. For that reason, they have characteristics which are common to mammals. Naturally, that remains to be seen.

It is further significant that all scientists are agreed, that both mosasaurs and plesiosaurs lived in low lying, coastal areas. The reason I say this, is because it is entirely possible that they still live in ‘’low lying, coastal areas’’. That too, remains to be seen!

With that in mind, numerous reports of ‘’under water lights’’, should be investigated. These have mainly been seen off the coast of California, as well as the Solomon Islands. According to the scientists, these are ‘’most likely bioluminescent plankton’’. 

Very likely. But until we check, we will not know for sure. Experience has taught me not to take anything for granted. Check and double check! Or end up wishing you had!

The reason I say this, is because certain details puzzle me. I am convinced that these animals exist, yet the fact is that sailors rarely report spotting them. Or at least, not to my knowledge. As they are huge, they are difficult to miss.

Unless of course, they are nocturnal. It is entirely possible that they spend the day light hours inside caves. This may lead to difficulties during mating season, in which the males have to display, in order to impress the females. The difficulty being that the females cannot see the males display. Unless of course, the males have evolved the ability to glow. That is the way pterosaurs have resolved the problem of being nocturnal.

This idea is not as ‘’far fetched’’, as it may first appear. As I have previously documented, the fresh water whale, basilosaurus, as well as the ichthyosaurs, which are classified as reptiles, even though they are mammals, are  both alive and well. They are also nocturnal, as well as omnivores, so that they come out of caves, after dark, and go onto meadows next to fresh water lakes, to graze. Is it possible that these salt water animals behave in a similar manner? Could they be spending the daylight hours inside caves, yet grazing in the meadows next to the ocean, after sundown?

Just as I maintain that ichthyosaurs are mammals, not reptiles, may I also suggest that both mosasaurs and plesiosaurs are also mammals. Not that I am convinced of this, which is the reason that it is merely a suggestion.

The reason I say this, is because reptiles do not hesitate to prey upon humans. As far as they are concerned, we are merely prey animals. Dinner! Yet there are no reports of people being preyed upon by such animals.

By contrast, predatory land dwelling  mammals, such as bears and wolves, are less likely to attack humans. It certainly happens, but far less frequently. As mammals, they are far more intelligent than reptiles, so that their instincts are to avoid killing us. 

This brings me to the subject of predatory swimming mammals, and in particular of orcas, commonly referred to as ‘’killer whales’’. In fact, they are a huge species of dolphin, and superb predators. They even prey upon hammer head sharks! Yet they have never been known to attack humans!

Here too, as intelligent mammals, it is very likely that their instinct is to avoid killing humans. This is a good thing!

Assuming that mosasaurs and plesiosaurs are mammals, it explains the reason they are not preying upon people. Their instincts prevent this. Further assuming them to be nocturnal, it stands to reason that they may well have legs. How else can they go back and forth into caves? It further stands to reason that they use those legs. They too, may come out of the water, after sunset, onto the meadows, in order to graze. Omnivores!

If that is the case, then the place where they enter and exit the meadow, is quite distinctive. It is a bare patch of ground, referred to as a ‘’slide’’. Those who work on the ocean, close to shore, can readily point out these slides. Bear in mind that these animals come out of the water after sundown, but before dark, and return to the water before sunrise, but in the daylight. A fine place for an inexpensive trail camera! Well within the price range of most workers!

Incidentally, in previous articles, I made the mistake of ‘’taking the scientists at their word’’. As they consistently refer to these huge, salt water swimming animals, as reptiles, I believed them. For that reason, I failed to conduct a proper investigation. This resulted in my suggestions for locating these animals, based upon the eggs that reptiles lay.

As we live in a class society, under a state of monopoly capitalism, there are two ideologies. One is bourgeois, and the other is proletarian. 

Lenin stressed this fact in his work, What Is To Be Done? As he phrased it, ‘’Since there can be no talk of an independent ideology being developed by the masses of workers in the process of their movement, the only choice is: either socialist or bourgeois ideology. There is no middle course (for humanity has not developed a ‘third ideology’, and moreover, in a society torn by class antagonisms, there can never be a non class or above class ideology)’’. (italics by Lenin)

It is significant that Lenin refers to the proletarian ideology and being ‘’socialist’’, in stark contrast to the bourgeois ideology. It is further significant that the bourgeois ideology has extended to all fields of science. 

Even though I made a mistake, it was relatively minor, and as we are all human, we all make mistakes. According to Lenin, the important thing is: ‘’Frankly acknowledging a mistake, ascertaining the reasons for it, analyzing the conditions that have led up to it, and thrashing out the means of its rectification’’.

This article is to be considered as a correction to that mistake. 

Now it is up to working class people to assist, in the search for these magnificent animals. The scientists are certainly not about to ‘’lift a finger’’, as they are so completely consumed with the bourgeois ideology. 

As previously stated, we have to fight the capitalists, on all fields. That includes the various fields of science.

Gerald McIsaac

Second Chinese Revolution Imminent

The current ‘’trade war’’, initiated by Donald Trump, has resulted in some ‘’unforeseen consequences’’, to phrase it politely. In particular, his 145% tariffs on all Chinese goods, imported into the country, has resulted in an ‘’economic crisis’’, within the country of China, according to an independent Leftist journalist. This he has documented reasonably well, in the video titled, Dark Days Started In China: Chinese Workers Turns Against Xi Jinping- Mass Protest & Strikes Rises!

Allow me to stress the fact that the details which are presented in this video, are valuable, if only because the Chinese government censors have done such a fine job of keeping all news reports, concerning any and all protests, ‘’under wraps’’. These details stand in stark contrast to the analysis, by the narrator, which is limited strictly by his bourgeois outlook. This is to say that his analysis is largely bogus. 

The video documents the fact that Chinese protesters are chanting, ‘’Xi Jinping step down’’, as well as ‘’End Beijing’s Lockdown’’, and ‘’End Lockdowns All Over China’’. The narrator also makes the point that the situation is ‘’the same’’ in numerous cities, in that the ‘’people are in revolt, and hold Xi Jinping responsible for the economic crisis’’. He went on to say that, ‘’Millions of young Chinese, desperate about their future, have taken to the streets, for the first time, with such courage, carrying anti Ji banners. Opposition posters, graffiti and anti Ji slogans on the streets, are signs that many things are indeed changing in China.’’

These facts are promptly followed by an analysis: ’’What is the reason behind all this? Why is the Chinese people so angry with the government? The most obvious reason is the economic crisis in China’’, as well as the ‘’145% tariff imposed by the US on China’’, which has had a ‘’devastating impact on the Chinese economy…moreover, the social repercussions of this pressure are bringing to the fore a series of issues ranging from protests to tensions between the police and citizens.’’

This analysis is also somewhat valuable, as it provides us with a rather typical example of the bourgeois understanding of all revolutionary motion. The existence of classes, and of the class conflict, especially between the working class, the proletariat, and the monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, is carefully not mentioned. With that in mind, they are careful to refer to the crisis in capitalism, as an ‘’economic crisis’’, which has given rise to ‘’social repercussions’’, ‘’ranging from protests to tensions between the police and citizens’’. 

As well, the fact that the existence of classes necessarily gives rise to a state apparatus, of which the police are the most visible presence, is carefully overlooked. I use the word ‘’necessarily’’, as it is necessary for the class in power, in this case the bourgeoisie, to subjugate all other classes, especially the proletariat. I use the word ‘’especially’’, as it is the proletariat, which is the only consistently revolutionary class. As the capitalists are well aware!

Incidentally, I mention this for the sake of countless working people, those who are just now becoming politically active. Welcome my Brothers and Sisters, my Comrades!

With that in mind, I will also mention that China was once a Socialist country, from the Chinese Revolution of 1949, until the death of Mao, in 1976. After his death, the capitalists were able to return to power. To this day, the new capitalist rulers, of China, have maintained that which they refer to as the Communist Party of China, CCP, as their preferred instrument of rule. It is absolutely not a true Communist Party, as it once was, under Mao. It is Communist in name only! Do not judge a book by its cover! The current members of the Chinese Communist Party are bourgeois, capitalist, to the very core of their being!

The video goes on to state that, in certain cities, the ‘’unemployment rate has reached double digits, with record levels of unemployment among young people with college degrees…reports of an increase in the numbers of protests in China are frequently making headlines….police intervention has been used in some cases….some unemployed young people, organized online, have criticized some government policies as inadequate, saying that they cannot provide jobs, and that there is not enough resistance against Trump’s sanctions…attempts are being made to delete or block them…Although large scale mass protests are being suppressed…small but determined street demonstrations are now being turned into mass popular uprisings…The young population…is now demanding jobs, bread and a future…Xi Jinping’s administration is struggling to cope with the social unrest it is trying to suppress domestically….protests are still making headlines….deflation, uncertainty, and unemployment, are combining to stifle the domestic market. This inevitably leads to protests, clashes with the police, and anti establishment sentiments…the interests of the Xi government, and the citizens, are increasingly at odds with each other, the country could be dragged into a process of chaos…Young people are faced with bankrupt factories, closed workshops, and empty container ships…the possibility of a sharper social reaction, within the country, may emerge…real stagnation and social unrest have yet to emerge…could the Chinese people’s uprising lead to a revolution in the country?’’

I have deliberately chosen to quote the preceding, in such detail, in order to drive home the point that the bourgeois journalists, even those who are Leftist leaning, will go to great length, will resort to such ‘’verbal gymnastics’’, in order to avoid any mention of revolution. Yet that particular journalist was finally able to face that prospect, however reluctantly, which is the reason I placed it in italics.

There is a good reason that the journalist is so worried that a revolution could soon break out in China. A second Chinese Revolution! Because he has accurately described a revolutionary situation!

As Lenin stated, in his work Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, ‘’The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions, and especially by all three Russian revolutions of the Twentieth Century, is as follows: for a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ‘lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph’’. (italics by Lenin)

The current situation in China, as described in the previously mentioned video, fits the description of a revolutionary situation. The Second Chinese Revolution is on the horizon!

The common people of China, by whom I mean the workers and family farmers, have one important advantage, in their war with the capitalists. That advantage lies with their experience of the Great Chinese Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

This calls for a little explanation. First, let me stress the fact that the ‘’Road to Scientific Socialism’’, is not similar to a four lane highway. On the contrary, the capitalists have placed ‘’potholes and roadblocks’’ at every opportunity. They are determined to maintain their life of luxury, at the expense of the working class. The experience of previous revolutions has confirmed this, beyond any shadow of a doubt. 

As is well known, the Great October Soviet Socialist Revolution of 1917, led by Lenin, gave birth to the Soviet Union. The first Scientific Socialist Republic! After the death of Lenin, in 1924, Stalin became the new leader. He was responsible for transforming the Soviet Union, from a rather backward, primarily agrarian country, into a highly industrialized country, on a par with the United States, through several Five Year Plans. This placed them in a good position to face the Nazis, in 1941. They refer to this as the Great Patriotic War.

Several years later, in 1949, the Chinese Revolution was also successful. Mao Tse Tung and the Chinese Communist Party led the Revolution to victory. Two of the largest countries in the world were, at that time, socialist.

After the death of Stalin, in 1953, the capitalists of the Soviet Union were able to return to power. To say that the world, or at least the most progressive people of the world, Scientific Socialists, Communists, were surprised, is an under statement. At first, all too many could not believe it. This is referred to as ‘’living in denial’’. 

Such an attitude is common place, to this day, even among those who are Scientific Socialists. It is also inexcusable, as Lenin warned that, after the revolution, after the capitalists are overthrown, after the capitalists are crushed, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, they will not resign themselves to their fate! On the contrary, their resistance will ‘’increase tenfold’’, as they make every effort to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’!

Lenin was not joking! The capitalists weaselled their way into the Communist Party, and with Stalin out of the way, seized power.

The Chinese Communist Party was slow to respond, but respond they did. They conducted a proper criticism of Stalin, and concluded that Stalin was a great revolutionary, but had made some rather serious mistakes. It was those mistakes which enabled the capitalists to return to power. In addition, the Chinese Communist Party launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, in 1960. A truly magnificent, ten year Revolution.

For ten years, the common people of China took part in this Revolution, in which the capitalists were rooted out of various fields of culture. In the process, they became schooled in the class struggle. For that reason, Mao was of the opinion that any return to power, of the Chinese capitalists, would not last for long. At worst, a few decades. As it has been several decades, since they returned to power, it is high time they were overthrown.

No doubt, the veterans of the Cultural Revolution will now coach the younger generation, in the class conflict. More accurately, class war, as it is a class war. 

We can only hope that they will be able to download the revolutionary works of Marx and Lenin, as well as Mao, from the internet. As the situation is now far different from that of 1949, with parts of the country now highly industrialized, the works of Marx and Lenin are more relevant.

There can be no doubt that the Chinese people will once again, overthrow their capitalists, and crush them, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Except that this time, they will do a more thorough job. 

As I have mentioned, in a previous article, the mistake of the Chinese Communists, lies in that of not carrying the Cultural Revolution through, to its logical conclusion, that of a Scientific Revolution. Just as the capitalists were hiding in various fields of culture, so too, they were hiding in various fields of science. By and large, they remained hidden, biding their time, waiting for the moment to strike. The death of Mao provided them with that moment. The rest is history, as they say.

Bear in mind that I use the word science, in the loosest possible sense, to include all fields of academia. All such fields are crawling with capitalists, and must be cleansed.

This is to stress the fact that Scientific Socialism, Communism, is a science, and should be treated as a science. The revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, as well as Mao, must be put into practice and refined. We must learn from the experience of previous revolutions. All of us are human, we all make mistakes, including the best of the Communists. It is our duty to learn from the successes, as well as the failures, of previous revolutionaries. 

As for those who are discouraged by the fact, that the two previous attempts at Scientific Socialism, have resulted in the capitalists returning to power, may I suggest that no one promised you a rose garden. This is war, class war, every bit as real as any other war throughout history. Further, there is a big difference between losing a battle and losing a war. 

Feel free to take some comfort from the experiences of previous revolutions. Shortly after the successful Russian Great October Soviet Revolution, the counter revolutionaries, the ‘’Whites’’, controlled possibly three quarters of the country. The Soviets were ‘’hanging on by their fingertips’’, desperately protecting the major cities, with their key factories and railroads. The Whites were within a few kilometres of the capital, Saint Petersburg. Yet the Communists did not despair. They called upon the working class, the proletariat, and the most advanced workers responded. With great sacrifice, they pushed the Whites back.

A similar situation unfolded in the late fall of 1941. The Nazis were within a few kilometres of the capitol of Moscow. World leaders were convinced that the Soviet Union was defeated. The exception was the Soviet High Command. They were of a different opinion. 

In fact, to the astonishment of everyone, especially the Nazis, the Soviets conducted a November 7, Victory Day Parade in Moscow! This had the desired effect of raising morale. Every member of the military, from the highest ranking general to the raw recruits, knew that the war was far from over. They were determined to drive out the Nazi invaders.

This was followed by a massive offensive in December, which succeeded in pushing the Nazi invaders back, a considerable distance. 

I offer these as examples of courage and sacrifice, on the part of working class people, against over whelming odds. Bear in mind that workers, proletarians, have no country. We do have a common enemy, the monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie.

Perhaps those who are experiencing despair, can take some inspiration from this. If not, then by all means, get out of the way! The crisis in capitalism has spread to numerous countries, as has the revolutionary movement. A multi national revolution is about to take place. We have no use for quitters! Get active or get out!

Gerald McIsaac

Peace! Democracy! Socialism!

On the International Workers Day, that of May 1, commonly referred to as May Day, there were a great many protests, all across the country. It is to the credit of the journalists, those who work for the mainstream press, that they did a rather fine job of giving a fair, balanced, accurate description of those events. This is rather surprising, as the capitalists do not want the working people to be made aware of the fact that the Hands Off Movement is growing, daily becoming ever stronger.

One video in particular, posted on the internet, deserves our attention. It is clear that the narrator is Leftist, even though he was reporting for a highly respectable mainstream outlet. It is titled, ‘’Anti Trump May Day Protests Erupt Coast To Coast’’. 

This particular protest was most impressive, with a rather sizeable crowd. As it was reported to be sponsored by the AFL-CIO labour union, it was mainly attended by members of the working class. Senator Sanders was the keynote speaker, and he was warning of the ‘’dangers and perils of the Oligarchy’’. As if the workers are not already well aware of this! 

The narrator made the point that there was a great deal of profanity on the signs. For that reason, the camera did not scan the crowd very closely. This shows proper respect for the viewers, and is most commendable. It also serves as a friendly bit of advice to those who take part in protest. Avoid profanity! That defeats the purpose of the posters! Instead of spreading the message, it limits the message!

Yet there was one sign which caught my attention. It stated: 

Peace! Democracy! Socialism!

This is a really fine slogan! Brief and right to the heart of the matter! Precisely what working people need!

It is reminiscent of the slogan of the working people of Russia, immediately before the Revolution of 1917. At that time, Russia was at war with Germany, people were starving, and the farmers wanted to own the land they were tilling. For that reason, the slogan was:

Peace! Land! Bread!

Now American working people are in a similar situation. They are suffering terribly, hungry, relying on food banks, many homeless, the ‘’more fortunate’’ living out of cars. Others are faced with the choice of paying rent or putting food on the table, trying desperately to ‘’make ends meet’’. Gang violence is wide spread, with ‘’drive by shootings’’ common place. Mass murder! The police are helpless against these well organized gangs, armed as they are with automatic weapons.

In terms of democracy, Trump is ever more blatantly showing his contempt for all laws. He has ordered ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to round up anyone they even suspect is an illegal immigrant, and send them out of the country, without any due process of law, as is guaranteed in the Constitution. Even American citizens are being deported! Court orders are being openly defied. District court judges and now being arrested! That madman must be stopped!

That is where socialism becomes so important. More precisely, Scientific Socialism, Communism, guided by the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin.

As yet, working people are being offered only Utopian Socialism, such as that of the Democratic Socialists of America, the DSA. Such people, although honest and well meaning, are attempting to divert the revolutionary movement, onto some harmless path of social reform. Harmless to the capitalists, the multi billionaires! The bourgeoisie!

Then there are those who claim to be Marxists, true Communists, but are not. Such people deny the need for revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ‘’touchstone of a true Communist’’, according to Lenin! Social chauvinists, socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds!

A similar situation existed in Russia, before the Revolution of 1917. Lenin covered this supremely well in his excellent book, What Is To Be Done?

At that time, the Russian Communist Party was referred to as the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. That Party was split, with a revolutionary faction, led by Lenin, as opposed to a reformist faction. Aside from the fact that we do not- as yet!- have a true Communist Party, that is very similar to our current situation. 

As far as Lenin was concerned, the opposing faction had their own agenda, which had nothing to do with Scientific Socialism. As he phrased the crux of the disagreement:

‘’Social Democracy must change from a Party of the social revolution into a democratic party of social reform’’. 

Compare this to that which Sanders and AOC are saying. Those two are calling for ‘’due process of law’’, to ‘’stop the Oligarchy’’, to ‘’fight for democracy’’, for ‘’judicial independence’’, for the ‘’rule of law’’, for ‘’immigrant and workers rights’’. All of this is nothing more than ‘’social reform’’!

This is characteristic of those who are Utopian Socialists, although they may refer to themselves as Independent Socialists, or Democratic Socialists. They have chosen to reject the Scientific Socialist theories of Marx and Lenin. They know better! They think that liberalism and socialism are the same! They deny the class struggle, and are careful to make no mention of classes, as we ‘’all live in a democratic society’’! ‘’Majority rule’’! Perish forbid that there should be any mention of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Of course, just as in Russia, this criticism of the Scientific Socialist revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, has merely been transferred from the bourgeois literature, as is taught in Universities, to the Utopian Socialists who are  calling for paltry reforms. The revolutionary movement, of the working class, must be diverted!

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism, that the working class, the proletariat, is not aware of itself, as a class, with its own class interests. The conditions of life, of the proletariat, do not lead to that awareness. That awareness, class consciousness, must be brought to it, from an outside source. That outside source is middle class intellectuals. Or at least, that was previously the case. Now, not so much!

We now have a highly cultured working class, complete with various digital devices. We also have the internet, a most valuable source of information. This includes many of the revolutionary works of Marx and Lenin, which can be easily down loaded. Equally without doubt, advanced workers can do just that, and study them. It is better to study them with others, if at all possible. With the various ‘’social networks’’ available, on the internet, that is not difficult. Whatever it takes to make workers aware of those revolutionary Scientific Socialist theories! The more advanced workers can then pass that awareness on to those who are less advanced.

Bear in mind that, as Lenin stressed, ‘’Without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement’’. Revolution is what is needed! Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, is needed! The working class, the proletariat, must be made aware of this. The revolutionary motion needs direction! Proper leaders! Otherwise that revolutionary motion is like a ship sailing, but without a captain! Rudderless! Drifting around the ocean!

Just as a ship needs a captain, so too, the working class needs leaders. These leaders must be Scientific Socialists, true Marxists, Communists, those who call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

We can take this comparison one step further, and compare the Scientific Socialist theories of Marx and Lenin, to a compass. Just as the captain of a ship uses the compass to chart a course for the ship, so too, the Communist leaders of the working class, can use those same Marxist theories to give direction to the working class revolutionary movement.

We can further compare the Captain of the ship to the true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

The astute reader may have already guessed that the destination, of the working class movement, is first an Insurrection, in order to overthrow the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, followed by the smashing of the existing state apparatus, that which is used to crush the working class. This must be immediately followed by setting up a different state apparatus, in order to crush the former billionaires, as they make every effort to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’. This new state apparatus is known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The worst nightmare of every capitalist! With good reason, I might add!

This stands in stark contrast to the advice of the Utopian Socialists, those who are acting as ‘’Captains of the Ship of the Second American Revolution’’. For them to advise working people of the dangers of the Oligarchy, is similar to warning sailors of the dangers of storms! Tell them something they do not already know!

As for those readers who consider themselves to be ‘’landlubbers’’, unable to relate to ‘’nautical matters’’, may I suggest thinking of the class struggle as a ‘’boxing match’’. 

In this imaginary boxing match, one of the boxers is blind folded. That poor soul is swinging wildly in all directions, and on occasion, is able to land a solid punch, more or less by chance. By contrast, his opponent, who can see supremely well, is able to land blow after blow. 

Of course, the preceding was a none too subtle reference to the class struggle, that of the working class, the proletariat, against the capitalist class, the bourgeoisie. The boxer who is blindfolded is the proletariat, while the boxer who can see very well is the capitalist. 

The blindfold is a reference to the fact that the working class is not aware of itself, as a class, with its own class interests. Still less is it aware of the revolutionary Scientific Socialist theories of Marx and Lenin.

By contrast, the capitalist class is supremely well aware of itself, as a class. They are equally well aware of those same revolutionary theories, that of Marx and Lenin, as they learned about them in University. After all, it is only in University that the distortion of those theories is taught.  

As a means of ‘’levelling the playing field’’, so to speak, it is necessary to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to make them ‘’class conscious’’, to ‘’remove the blindfold’’. This is to say that they must be made aware of the Scientific Socialist revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. 

Granted, the previous two metaphors are childish over simplifications. Certain readers may even find them to be somewhat offensive. Bear in mind that my main concern is with raising the level of awareness of the working class, including those who are somewhat less advanced. They have to start somewhere, and most can relate to sports comparisons.

It is not enough to ‘’Stop the Oligarchy’’, as recommended by the Utopian Socialists! They must be overthrown and crushed! And the whole class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, along with them!

Those who are trying to divert the revolutionary motion of the working class, onto some harmless path of social reform, are in the service of the bourgeoisie. Regardless of their intentions! Frequently, they are not even aware of this! Unwitting pawns of the multi billionaires!

Those who are Utopian Socialists, such as Sanders and AOC, are not the enemy! They are merely misguided. The billionaires are using them, for their own purposes, that of diverting the revolutionary movement, onto some harmless path of social reform. 

It is important to realize that the two mainstream political parties, serve the same class. Regardless of what the Utopian Socialists may say, salvation does not lie with the Democratic Party! Further bear in mind that the legislative branch, both Houses of Congress, have abdicated their authority, to the executive branch. As well, the judicial branch is- at best!- slow to respond to any challenge.

We can only hope that a considerable number of Utopian Socialists will read the Scientific Socialist theories of Marx and Lenin, this time with an open mind. Once they grasp the fact that those theories are correct, then they can bring this awareness to the working class. That would be a fine service, and it is in their best interest to do so. After all, the bourgeoisie is determined to also wipe out the middle class. Such middle class intellectuals have no future under capitalism, but a bright future under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

The choice is stark and clear. Either the collapse of the democratic republic, to be replaced with the rule of the Oligarchy, headed by Trump, or revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

Gerald McIsaac

May Day, International Workers Day

It is no exaggeration to say that, at least here in North America, working people have been robbed of their history. This extends to the International Workers Day, of May 1, which has its roots in the American workers movement. 

In the interests of correcting that particular injustice, I should mention that, in the spring of 1886, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions, the precursor to the American Federation of Labour, called for a ‘’day of action’’, in the form of a nation wide strike, to take place on May 1. The goal of this ‘’labour dispute’’, to use the expression of the bourgeois, was to secure an eight hour work day.

This is significant because, at that time, the standard work day was often ten to sixteen hours long. As well, workers were frequently required to work six and even seven days a week, with no overtime pay.

At that time, the labour movement was very broad and deep, so that on that day, hundreds of thousands of American workers went on strike, all across the country.

This ‘’day of action’’, this ‘’one day strike’’, of May 1, was largely peaceful. The exception was within the city of Chicago, in Haymarket Square. Events took place there, which were anything but peaceful. It started when someone threw a bomb, and ended with numerous people dead and injured, both police and protesters.

To this day, no one knows for sure who threw the bomb, or why it was thrown. We do know that the police started shooting in retaliation, and the workers responded in kind. 

This ‘’conflict’’, between workers and police, has gone down in history as the ‘’Haymarket Incident’’. It became a ‘’turning point’’ in the labour movement of the United States, and around the world. It led to the establishment of May 1, as ‘’International Workers Day’’. It also contributed to the ‘’growth of labour unions and the adoption of laws and regulations which improved working conditions and wages for workers’’, as the bourgeois journalists so delicately phrase it.

Regardless of how it is phrased, the fact of the matter is that, by the early twentieth century, International Workers Day, or May Day, as it is commonly called, became an important holiday for the labour movement around the world. 

In the Socialist Soviet Union especially, May 1 was a national holiday, at least until the capitalists were able to return to power. Now it is still celebrated in numerous countries, around the world, including Viet Nam, China, Cuba and several countries in Europe and Latin America. To this day, it is still one of the most widely observed holidays. A testament to the strength of the American working class movement!

Now American workers are building upon their proud tradition, of revolutionary motion. The Hands Off Movement is daily becoming ever stronger. In fact, it is so strong that a certain popular Leftist journalist, has pointed out that these protests are ‘’crossing the threshold of mainstream media attention’’. This is to say that the Movement is so strong, the mainstream press can no longer continue to ignore it!

Incidentally, it is also being referred to as the ’’50-50-1 Movement’’, in that it stands for fifty protests in fifty states, on one day. As there are far more than fifty protests taking place on any given day, it is doubtful that such a title will replace that of ‘’Hands Off Movement’’. Also, the press frequently refers to ‘’Red States’’, which is a reference to the states which, at least formerly, strongly supported Trump. Not so much now!

The finest of the bourgeois economists, and such are exceptional, are now drawing a comparison, of the current state of events, to that of the Great Depression. In particular, the Wall Street Journal has a headline: ‘’Dow Headed for Worst April Since 1932 as Investors Send ‘No Confidence’ Signal’’.

Such a headline, by the WSJ, one of the most highly respected, most conservative newspapers in the country, is quite remarkable. Even though the newspaper was careful to avoid the dreaded ‘’D Word’’, that of ‘’Depression’’, it is well known that the year 1932, was the depth of the Great Depression. 

The bourgeois economists are frustrated by the fact that all of this is ‘’self inflicted’’, brought on by Trump and his insane tariffs, as well as his impulses, so that the administration has no coherent policy. In fact, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, is reported to be of the opinion that, ‘’Trump Tariffs Will Slow U.S. Economy to a Crawl’’. 

Naturally, Trump is taking no responsibility for this. He is doing that which he does best- passing the buck! Rest assured, the buck stops nowhere near the Oval Office! 

In this particular case, he is blaming the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, because he did not raise interest rates. He has even gone so far as threatening to fire that Chairman, even though it is beyond his legal authority. Not that such legal technicalities have ever stopped him before! It may not stop him now! Chairman Jerome Powell may well be on his way out the door! More chaos and uncertainty! The very thing that investors hate! Leading to more wild swings in the stock market! At the expense of working people!

The bourgeois press is referring to this as a ‘’Constitutional Crisis’’. They use this expression because, by Constitutional law, there are three separate branches of government, the executive, the judicial and the legislative. Each performs certain particular functions, and this acts as a series of ‘’checks and balances’’ on the others. The executive is headed by the President, the legislative is composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the Congress, and the judicial is composed of the various courts, with the Supreme Court at its head. 

The trouble being that the legislative branch has abdicated its authority to the executive branch, headed by President  Trump. He, in turn, is determined to abolish the democratic republic, and establish the rule of the Oligarchy. In addition, the judicial branch is at best, slow to respond to any challenge to their authority.

In fact, this is a crisis in capitalism. The ruling class of bourgeoisie, the multi billionaires, are unable to rule in the old way, and are being forced to change their method of rule.

At the same time, the common people, mainly the working class, the proletariat, but also the family farmers, as well as the lower strata of the middle class, are now in motion, all across the country. They are marching in countless cities and towns, as part of the Hands Off Movement, demanding change.

This is of exceptional significance, as it is the very definition of a revolutionary situation! On the one hand, the ruling class cannot rule in the old way, and the ‘’exploited and oppressed masses’’, cannot live in the old way! Lenin explained all this quite clearly, in his excellent article, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder: 

‘’The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions, and especially by all three Russian revolutions in the twentieth century, is as follows: for a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ’lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way, and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph. This truth can be expressed in other words: revolution is impossible without a nation wide crisis (affecting both the exploited and the exploiters). It follows that, for a revolution to take place, it is essential, first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking, and politically active workers), should fully realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it; second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of any genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundredfold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses- hitherto apathetic- who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ (italics by Lenin)

I consider the preceding paragraph to be of exceptional importance. The reason I say this, is because the ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’, is a Marxist theory, which is ‘’confirmed’’ by all previous revolutions, and ‘’especially by all three Russian Revolutions of the twentieth century’’. And we are currently in a revolutionary situation!

May I suggest that all Utopian Socialists in general, and in particular, all members of the Democratic Socialists of America, take note of the fact that Lenin used experience, to confirm his Scientific Socialist theories. That is the proper application of the scientific method.

Allow me to state that, almost certainly, the next American Revolution, will closely resemble the Great Russian Proletarian Soviet Socialist October Revolution. For that reason, we can learn from that Revolution. 

I can only stress the fact that the ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’ was ‘’confirmed’’ by ‘’all three Russian revolutions of the twentieth century’’. This is referred to as taking the ‘’standpoint of practice’’. 

That ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’, is as follows: ‘’For a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ’lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way, and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph.’’

That is a near perfect description of our current situation! The ruling class of multi billionaires can no longer rule in the old way, have decided to abolish the democratic republic, and establish the rule of the Oligarchy, with Trump as their figurehead President. 

At the same time, the ‘’lower classes’’, mainly the workers, but also the family farmers and lower strata of the middle class, are rising up in protest, all across the country. They do not ‘’want to live in the old way’’!

This brings us to the next point Lenin made: 

‘’For a revolution to take place, it is essential, first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking, and politically active workers), should fully realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it’’.

This is to say that, above all else, the most advanced workers must become ‘’class conscious’’. They must become aware of themselves, as a class, with their own class interests. As well, they must also become aware that it is necessary to smash the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Insurrection, which sets off the Revolution, and then establish a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. After all, the multi billionaires will be anxious to restore their ‘’paradise lost’’. They must be crushed!

These advanced workers can then transmit that understanding to the less advanced.

This brings us to the next point that Lenin made:

‘’Second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of any genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundredfold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses- hitherto apathetic- who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ 

Without doubt, the ruling class of multi billionaires are experiencing a ‘’governmental crisis’’. Their plan, that of abolishing the democratic republic, and establishing the rule of the Oligarchy, with Trump as the figurehead President, has hit a snag. That snag is Donald Trump. That boy just will not cooperate! He insists on imposing tariffs, which is driving the country into another Great Depression. Not at all what the bourgeoisie had in mind!

This collapsing economy has had the effect of ‘’drawing even the most backward masses into politics’’. Those who were ‘’hitherto apathetic’’ are now politically active, marching, protesting, demanding change, ‘’waging the political struggle’’. Further, the ruling class of multi billionaires are divided, so that the government is weaker, ‘’making it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it’’. 

As I write this, it is now late April, and various protests are being planned for May Day. That is also a fine time to raise the level of awareness of the working class. Posters could possibly call for Revolution, Insurrection, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, and for people to read State and Revolution, for example. At the very minimum, posters should at least draw the attention of people to class distinctions.

It is also a fact that everyone likes to be entertained. Who better to raise the level of awareness of the working class, while at the same time entertaining them, than celebrities? And in particular Hollywood celebrities! Movie stars!

This is not to imply that such people automatically become experts on Scientific Socialism, as soon as they achieve the status of ‘’celebrity’’. They do not. Yet they can raise their own level of awareness, by studying the Essential Works of Marx and Lenin. They can then bring that awareness to the working class. 

Bear in mind that the fans of these celebrities, especially ‘’Hollywood Movie Stars’’, pay strict attention to whatever they say. That gives them a great deal of power. Spiritual power. Feel free to use that power. Now is not the time to be shy. At the same time, do that which you do best. Entertain! Education through entertainment!

There is a sense of urgency to this. Time is not on our side. Trump and the Oligarchy are determined to force the issue, to abolish the existing democratic republic, and they have already made great strides in this direction. It has been compared to ‘’taking a wrecking ball to a building’’.

In response, the working people are rising up, protesting, demanding change, looking for an alternative. That is the reason they are flocking to rallies held by Sanders and AOC. Those two are offering paltry reforms, not the alternative of Revolution, and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

The people taking part in the Hands Off Movement are looking for an alternative, not more of the same. The one and only alternative is that of Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

My advice, to those people, is to study the Essential Works of Marx and Lenin, especially State and Revolution. Those works are available on the internet. 

I stress the importance of State and Revolution, as that is the work which is most relevant. The Insurrection, which will start the Revolution, could happen at any time. It is that book which stresses the importance of smashing the existing state apparatus, and replacing it with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

It is very likely that most members of the Democratic Socialists of America are well aware of this, as well as other revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. The reason I say this, is because they have been exposed to those Scientific Socialist theories in University. Bear in mind that there is a big difference between being exposed to those theories, and learning them. After all, the Universities merely teach the bourgeois distortion of those theories.

To those people, may I suggest that you take the standpoint of practice, of experience. It is experience that confirms the correctness of the theories of Marx and Lenin. As the American Revolution is about to break out, it is urgent to face that fact. 

Further face the fact that the experience of the Soviet Union and China, both formerly socialist countries, now capitalist, confirms the fact that the capitalists must be crushed, after the revolution, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Otherwise, they will return to power, as they did in those two countries.

As I have previously pointed out, the capitalists were able to return to power in those two countries, because of the mistakes made by Stalin and Mao. It is up to us to learn from those mistakes, and not repeat them. Here too, it is a matter of learning from experience. 

We can also learn from the experience of the Occupy Movement of 2011. It was superb, broad based and deep. Yet it failed to overthrow the multi billionaires, as it was not guided by any principles of Scientific Socialism, which is to say Marxism. For that reason, the best it could achieve was paltry reforms, which were quickly clawed back, at the earliest opportunity. 

Unless the current Hands Off Movement is given the proper direction, towards Revolution and the subsequent Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, this movement will also flounder. 

The choice is now stark and clear. Either Donald Trump and the rule of the Oligarchy, along with a Second Great Depression, or Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Choose wisely.

Gerald McIsaac

Bourgeoisie Divided

A video, recently posted on the internet, caught my attention. It has the most unusual title, ‘’Uh Oh, Right Wing Paper Floats Impeaching Trump’’. Despite the strangeness of the title, there appears to be something significant in the video.

The reason I say this, is because of other videos, also posted on the internet, concerning the same topic. It is alleged that Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., a ‘’columnist and editorial board member of the Wall Street Journal’’, wrote a ‘’blistering article’’, concerning President Trump and his tariffs. It is his opinion that Trump ‘’appears to be asking for impeachment with his ill founded trade war’’.

Bear in mind that the WSJ is owned by ‘’conservative media mogul Robert Murdoch’’, so that this is a very significant event. It means that the ruling class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, is now deeply and openly divided.

Certain members of that class of multi billionaires, have spent hundreds of millions of dollars, in order to get Trump elected, to the White House. The idea was to give him the title of President, set him up as the figurehead Stooge, and then establish the rule of the Oligarchy. The richest men in the country were assigned, to steer Trump in the right direction.

At first, everything went according to plan. Trump was elected, sworn in as President, and was surrounded by these few supremely wealthy men, multi billionaires, one and all. Then came April 2, 2025, which he has labelled ’’Liberation Day’’. On that day, he imposed massive tariffs on all countries. 

The stock market responded by ‘’plunging to its worst day since March 2020’’, in the process wiping out several trillion dollars, of a paper fortune. Not that Trump was concerned. On the contrary, Trump was busy golfing! That man certainly has his priorities well established!

In the couple weeks since ‘’Liberation Day’’, the stock market has fluctuated wildly, as the investors respond to every impulsive statement that Trump makes. Yet the trend is downwards, with no ‘’bottom’’ in sight. Hence the talk, by certain members of the bourgeoisie, of impeaching Trump. 

Reality check! Trump has already been impeached! Twice, no less, in his first term! Which did absolutely no good, as the Senate refused to convict and remove him from office. So what makes them think that the ‘’third time is a charm’’? Nothing of substance has changed in the Senate! The House of Representatives can vote to impeach Trump, to their hearts content! The resulting trial, by the Senate, will merely result in another acquittal! This is not rocket science!

Yet as Lenin pointed out, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, such ‘’muddled thinking’’, is characteristic of even the most ‘’intelligent members of the bourgeoisie’’, and shows that ‘’they cannot help but commit irreparable blunders. That, in fact, is what will bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie’’. Good to know!

As the members of the bourgeoisie are too stupid to figure this out, perhaps a few members of the middle class, the petty bourgeois, can assist them. Strictly for their own reasons, mind you. After all, these tariffs are bound to lead to something more than a ‘’deep recession’’. That something more is a Second Great Depression, which will have the effect of completely wiping out the middle class. 

With that in mind, may I suggest that middle class attorneys, those who are experts on Constitutional law, challenge the 2024 Presidential Election, on the grounds that it did not follow the procedure laid out, for all federal elections, in the Twelfth Amendment, to that Constitution. That Amendment is as follows:

‘’The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, 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 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 whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.

‘’The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.’’

As I have pointed out in previous articles, the Twelfth Amendment makes no mention of any popular vote. American citizens have nothing to say, concerning any federal election. That is completely at the discretion of the Members of the Electoral College. Further, those Electors are appointed by the states, and only by the states. Various Districts, including Columbia and Puerto Rico, are not represented.

In those same articles, I pointed out that the Electoral College is a remnant of slavery, and should be abolished. That in no way changes the fact that it is Constitutional Law, and must be respected. It is also a fact that all federal officials have chosen to disregard that particular Amendment, in direct violation of their oath, to ‘’Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution’’. They have no right to ‘’pick and choose’’ the articles they choose to defend!

It has been objected that the current method, of electing a President and Vice President, through a popular vote, has been in place since the days of the Civil War, one hundred and fifty years ago. True! That does not make it legal! It just means that all Presidents, as well as all Vice Presidents, who  have been elected during that time, have been fraudulent! As they are now!

A possible ruling by the Supreme Court, to the effect that the 2024 federal election was fraudulent, as it did not follow the procedure laid out in the Twelfth Amendment, would result in the removal from office, of both Trump and Vance. Hallelujah! Then again, what other possible ruling could the Supreme Court give? Even the staunchest, most conservative Justices on the Supreme Court, would fail to be impressed by appeals to tradition! Not when such tradition flies in the face of Constitutional Law! Both President Trump, and Vice President Vance, are fraudulent! As such, they must be removed from office! 

That is the best advice I can give for fighting Trump and his insane tariffs, on the ‘’legal front’’, so to speak. But as Lenin pointed out, such activity must take place in combination with work on the ‘’illegal front’’. This illegal, or ‘’underground work’’, can include involvement with various Councils, among other things. 

In Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, Lenin made this abundantly clear. In fact, he stressed the ‘’importance of combining legal and illegal struggle. This question is of immense importance both in general and in particular, because in all civilized and advanced countries, the time is rapidly approaching when such an application will more and more become -and has already partly become- mandatory of the Party of the revolutionary proletariat, inasmuch as civil war between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is maturing and is imminent, and because of savage persecution of the Communists by republican governments and bourgeois governments generally, which resort to any violation of legality.’’ (italics by Lenin)

Our current situation involves the rounding up and deportation, of countless immigrants, to ‘’concentration camps’’ in other countries, without regard for ‘’due process of law’’. All ‘’detainees’’ are being denied their Constitutional right to legal representation, their ’’day in court’’. In fact, the Trump administration is openly defying federal court orders, in this respect. 

As regards illegal activity, may I suggest that Councils, or Soviets, which have appeared spontaneously, must be armed, equipped and trained, in preparation for the approaching Insurrection. Without such preparation, it is doubtful that the Insurrection will succeed. 

It is absolutely necessary to overthrow and then crush, the completely reactionary class of monopoly capitalists, the imperialists, the bourgeoisie. The one and only way that this can be done is by first smashing the existing state apparatus, and then setting up a different state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

At the same time, we must learn from the mistakes of previous great revolutionaries, such as Stalin and Mao. They failed to crush their own bourgeoisie, or they did so with insufficient enthusiasm, so that after the deaths of each leader, the capitalists were able to return to power, in both the Soviet Union and China. 

After the forth coming American Revolution, under the American Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the American imperialists, the multi billionaires, will be completely crushed. It is not enough to crush them in the fields of politics and economics. It is also necessary to root them out in all fields of culture, science and academia. We must, and we will, exercise ‘’well rounded’’ Dictatorship over the bourgeoisie. They will not be allowed to return to power!

With that in mind, our immediate task is to raise the level of awareness of the proletariat, or at least the most advanced workers, to that of Scientific Socialists, Communists. As Lenin pointed out, the ‘’Proletarian vanguard’’ must be ‘’won over ideologically. That is the main thing. Without this, not even the first step towards victory can be made’’. 

Of course, it requires something more than the vanguard of the proletariat, to mount a successful Insurrection. Yet the less advanced pay strict attention to the more advanced. They are the leaders of the working class!

This is not to imply that the less advanced should be neglected. On the contrary, they should be guided, encouraged to support the politicians they admire, as well as taking part in protests and demonstrations. Not to mention joining the two mainstream political parties, as card carrying members, and running for political office. Their families and friends can also become card carrying members, and support each other. 

As part of a campaign ‘’platform’’, may I suggest getting the support of the Senior Citizens, by going to the Seniors Centres, and promising to fight to increase the pensions, tax free, if elected. Also free medical, dental, vision and hearing. 

The students will come around to your way of thinking, if you promise free education, while cancelling all student loans. 

Do not neglect the sports people. Go to the sports clubs, and promise to defend their democratic right to bear arms, as is guaranteed in the Constitution.

The Union Halls are a good place to get the support of the working people. They are only too anxious to raise the minimum wage, for example. 

Feel free to take the advice of the imperialists! They say that, ‘’if you do not like the way things are, then you should try to change it from within.’’ Outstanding! Join both parties, and run against yourself! Go to Washington, or any state capital, and fight for the common people, the workers and farmers. See how far you get!

In this way, by becoming politically active, the less advanced workers will soon learn, from their own- bitter!- experience, that the ruling class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge. As a result, they are sure to come around to our way of thinking. 

Bear in mind that, after the successful Insurrection, after we establish the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, certain advanced workers will be placed in positions of authority. Some of these workers will have little training, if at all. The point being that any training they receive now, will prove to be most valuable. 

The Oligarchy is determined to abolish the existing democratic republic, and set themselves up as the new dictators. They have already made great strides in this direction! 

The working people have responded with the Hands Off Movement. Even now, young as it is, it is very powerful, steadily growing. For that reason, the imperialists are attempting to divert it onto some harmless path of social reform. It is our duty, that of Scientific Socialists, Communists, to make sure that does not happen.

Time is not on our side. If nothing else, Trump is determined to force the issue. The class struggle could break out into open civil war, at any time. We had best be prepared.

Gerald McIsaac