Author: Gerald Mcisaac

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism, that the state apparatus came into existence, at the same time that classes came into existence. Of course, those first classes were composed of slaves, and slave owners. As the slaves had a rather ‘’annoying’’ habit of rebelling, the slave owners created an organization, a ‘’state apparatus’’, whose sole purpose was to ‘’discourage’’ such behaviour. 

This generally involved men, frequently mounted on horseback, armed with weapons such as spears, swords, whips and clubs. In addition, as a means of discouraging any further ‘’acts of insurrection’’, a method of execution was devised, which was as prolonged and painful, as possible. This was meant, not so much as punishment for rebelling, but to serve as a warning, to all other slaves. They were made aware that there was a heavy price to be paid, for rebellion.

The Romans perfected this method with the art of crucifixion, in which an individual could be nailed to a tree, and suffer a prolonged, painful death, for as long as a week.

Since that time, various classes have come into existence. The state apparatus has evolved, as the classes have evolved. It is now more subtle, less barbaric, but is still used by the ruling class, as a means of crushing the ‘’lower classes’’. 

It was Engels who conducted a detailed analysis of society, and published his conclusions, in his landmark work, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State. Concerning the state, Engels wrote: ‘’The state is therefore by no means a power imposed on society from the outside; just as little is it ‘the reality of the moral idea,’ ‘the image and reality of reason’, as Hegel asserts. Rather, it is a product of society at a certain stage of development; it is the admission that this society has become entangled in an insoluble contradiction with itself, that it is cleft into irreconcilable antagonisms, which it is powerless to dispel. But in order that these antagonisms, classes with conflicting economic interests, might not consume themselves and society in sterile struggle, a power apparently standing above society became necessary, for the purpose of moderating the conflict and keeping it within the bounds of ‘order’; and this power, arising out of society, but placing itself above it, and increasingly alienating itself from it, is the state.’’

It was Lenin, who also made clear his attitude to the state, in his great work, State and Revolution. As he stated: ‘’The state is the product and the manifestation of the irreconcilability of class antagonisms. The state arises when, where and to the extent that class antagonisms cannot be objectively reconciled. And, conversely, the existence of the state proves that the class antagonisms are irreconcilable. (italics by Lenin)

In State and Revolution, Lenin stresses the necessity of smashing the existing state apparatus, which has been set up by the capitalists, for the sole purpose of crushing the working class. It must be replaced with a different state apparatus, for the purpose of crushing the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, as they make every effort, after the revolution, to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’, to return to power. This new state apparatus, is referred to as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

That is quite well known, at least among Leftist people, especially Marxists, Communists. That which is not so well known, is that Lenin was referring to something more than the ‘’physical force elements of repression’’. These physical forces include the police, military, jails, prisons and courts. As they are visible, it is relatively easy to target them! And rest assured, at the time of the Insurrection, they will be targeted and destroyed.

This brings me to the spiritual forces, which are also part of the bourgeois state apparatus, also used to crush the working class. As they are not visible, they are, all too often, at the time of the Revolution, overlooked. A huge mistake!

In the case of the formerly socialist Soviet Union, as well as the formerly socialist country of China, the capitalists were able to return to power, at least partly due to the fact that the spiritual power of the bourgeois, was not smashed. 

As for those who are skeptical, concerning the existence of ‘’spiritual power’’, may I refer you to that which Marx said, concerning the first working class attempt at self government, the Paris Commune:

‘’Having once got rid of the standing army and the police, the physical force elements of the old government, the Commune was anxious to break the spiritual force of repression, the ‘parson power’’’. (my italics)

Allow me to add that there are various sources of spiritual power. That of the clergy, Marx referred to as ‘’parson power’’. That of the scientists, academics and intellectuals, I refer to as ‘’professor power’’. That professor power, the spiritual power of the bourgeois, was not smashed, in the Soviet Union, or in China. 

Yet spiritual power is every bit as real, as the physical elements. Also invisible, which makes it more dangerous, in my opinion. The American bourgeois is supremely well aware of this, and has mastered the art of spiritual power, through their use of propaganda. It is a master piece of distortions, half truths, lies and deception. American propaganda sets the standard for bourgeois ideology! 

For the benefit of those who are skeptical, allow me to provide one simple example. Most Americans are aware that slavery was abolished, by President Abraham Lincoln, with his historic Emancipation Proclamation, of January 1, 1863. The Great Emancipator! The pride of the Republican Party! His statue is displayed in Washington. Countless people visit that statue, every year, to honour his memory. 

Reality check! Every fifth grader is well aware that the president does not have the authority to amend the Constitution. They are also well aware that, in 1857, the Supreme Court ruled, in the Dred Scott case, that slavery was guaranteed, in the Constitution. To abolish slavery required an Amendment to the Constitution, which is completely beyond the authority of the president.

Yet to this day, people continue to believe that Lincoln abolished slavery! Even those who know better, or should know better, continue to believe this lie! The spiritual power of bourgeois propaganda!

The sad fact is that very few Americans have even bothered to read that Proclamation. Even middle class, intellectual Americans, tend to believe those lies! Including those who consider themselves to be ‘’Independent Socialists’’!

Allow me to stress the fact that the Emancipation Proclamation is not called the Abolition Proclamation, for a reason. The word abolish is not mentioned, in that Proclamation! 

The only slaves Lincoln ‘’emancipated’’, were those over whom he had no control! Those were the slaves who were under the control of the Confederates! Those slaves were not released from bondage!

The slaves over whom he had control, those who were owned by slave owners, within the ‘’slave states’’ which remained loyal to the Union, Lincoln did not emancipate!

Slavery was abolished in December, of 1865, almost three years after that famous Proclamation. By an Act of Congress, as required by Constitutional law.

There is a reason that I have gone into this, in such detail. Certainly not to offend any American middle class intellectuals! Especially not Independent Socialists! I consider such people to be my Brothers and Sisters, my Comrades In Arms! And very soon, they will be! Whether they know it or not, and they probably do not!

Some things just have to be said! Regardless of the consequences! Certain facts have to be faced! No matter how unpleasant those fact may be! One of those unpleasant facts, is that countless people, including middle class intellectuals, are under the influence of the spiritual power of the bourgeois! And most of them, are not even aware of this!

I can only hope that this will serve as a ‘’wake up call’’. In that case, feel free to break those ‘’invisible chains’’, the spiritual power of the bourgeois. Further face the fact that Marx and Lenin were correct. Social Scientists! Embrace those revolutionary theories! Take part in overthrowing the monopoly capitalists! The Oligarchy! Put Trump and Musk in their place! Under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

The alternative is a Dictatorship of the Oligarchy, led by Elon Musk. 

Gerald McIsaac

On January 20, 2025, at the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk gave the straight arm Nazi salute. It is entirely possible that it was merely a display of exuberance, and not meant to embrace fascism. Yet the actions of Elon Musk suggest that he is a great fan of fascism. 

There are numerous videos on the internet, which express deep concern that the American democratic republic is under attack. With good reason, I might add! Because it is under attack! There is even a strong possibility of a fascist dictatorship. That requires an equally strong response, from all of those who are determined to defend democracy, regardless of their political convictions. This includes those who are considered to be very ‘’conservative’’, or ‘’Far Right’’, as well as those who are considered to be very ‘’progressive’’, or ‘’liberal’’, or ‘’Far Left’’, or even ‘’Independent Socialists’’. This is referred to as an ‘’anti fascist, popular alliance’’, in defence of the democratic republic.

In a time of crisis, those who do not normally associate with each other, tend to come together, against a common enemy. They put aside their differences, even their mutual animosity, at least temporarily, in pursuit of a common goal. This is a time of crisis.

Perhaps an example will be helpful. 

Immediately after the Great Russian Proletarian October Revolution of 1917, the country was still at war with Germany and the Central Powers. The Russian army was also collapsing, literally falling apart, as countless soldiers deserted. 

As a result of this, the German troops were able to advance, practically unopposed. In this time of crisis, as ‘’desperate times call for desperate measures’’, Lenin ‘’rose to the occasion’’, and did that which was normally unthinkable. He requested assistance from the French. 

As the French were also at war with Germany, they responded by sending some demolition experts, led by a French officer, a monarchist, a rabid anti Bolshevik. He met with Lenin, and they were civil with each other, even though there was mutual hatred. After all, they had a common enemy.

I can only suggest that all of those who are defenders of democracy, come together, put aside your differences, at least temporarily, and unite against the trend towards a dictatorship, if not outright fascism. 

That being said, it is best not to expect too much from these ‘’democratic allies’’. They are completely restricted by their bourgeois ideology, simply unable to think in revolutionary terms, that of combining legal and illegal activity. Perhaps the finest example of this, is the video titled: ‘’Trump’s Sparks Dictatorship Fears With Chilling Declaration’’. 

The narrator thoughtfully presents the story, ‘’from two very different angles’’. One ‘’angle’’ is represented by a journalist from CNN, a mainstream news outlet that is considered to be quite ‘’moderate’’, and the ‘’second angle’’ from a news outlet that is considered to be quite ‘’Right Wing’’, Fox News.

The narrator first states that the ‘’breaking news’’ is that of ‘’Trump signalling his plans to take his authoritarian ambitions to a new and dangerous level’’.

The journalist from CNN decries the fact that the ‘’mugshot’’ of Trump, taken at the time he was arrested and charged, ‘’for his efforts to overturn the election’’, is now proudly displayed, in the Oval Office, of the White House. She clearly thinks this is terrible!

By contrast, the journalist from Fox News considers this to be a ‘’great message’’! A ‘’badass mug shot’’! (Trump) ’’channelled the anger of the American people, that the government was weaponized in this way, against a political candidate. We have never seen anything like this, in the United States…something that was supposed to humiliate him, he turned into a triumph’’. This was followed by a comparison to Christianity! As if Trump is a living, breathing, walking, talking, martyr! The Messiah! Sent to rule America!

This is confirmed by a post, allegedly made by Trump, in which he states that ‘’He who saves his country does not violate any laws’’. This is similar to the statement, by Richard Nixon, to the effect that, ‘’When the President of the United States breaks the law, it is not a crime’’.

The narrator then points out that ‘’this is a line straight out of the dictator playbook’’, a ‘’Napoleonic level delusion’’. It means that ‘’laws do not apply to him if he decides he is ‘saving’  America. That’s how authoritarians justify everything’’. 

This is followed by a lovely young lady, a ‘’career public defender for fifteen years in Manhattan’’, who expressed her deep concern, over this ‘’terrifying’’ post by Trump. She considers this to be truly ‘’dangerous’’, a true ‘‘Constitutional crisis in the making…This is how authoritarian regimes operate….In a democracy, it is supposed to be that no one is above the law…and if someone gets to decide that their actions …are justified, no matter what, then there are no laws, there is no Constitution…no democracy….’’ She is so right!

The narrator referred to this statement, by Trump, as a ‘’glimpse into the mindset of a madman…the question is who can stand up to stop him…’’

In this video, the facts were presently, quite accurately. The more ‘’moderate’’, progressive individuals, are deeply concerned with preserving the democratic republic. The more ‘’conservative’’, reactionary, ‘’Right Wing’’ people, are clearly in favour of a dictatorship, by the Oligarchy, led by Trump and Musk.  

The proper question was even asked, that of how to stop Trump and Musk, from establishing a dictatorship. So far, so good. Their answer? To call your Member of Congress!

There is certainly no harm in this, and it is completely legal. At the same time, I cannot help but wonder why they are not also calling for a challenge to the 2024 ‘’Presidential Election’’, on the grounds that it was Unconstitutional. It clearly violated the Twelfth Amendment, which lays out the procedure to be followed, in all federal elections. A Supreme Court decision, on this matter, in our favour, would serve to clear out the whole ‘’pigsty’’, currently referred to as the White House. 

It is also a fact that the proper Marxist approach, is to combine legal with illegal activity. One such illegal activity, is to get involved with Councils, as happened in Russia, before the Revolution. Working people must be trained, armed and equipped, in preparation for the approaching Insurrection. 

There is a second Video, which serves to drive home the urgency of this preparation. That video is titled: ‘’George Conway on defiance of court orders: We are basically a criminal regime’’.

As the title suggests, George Conway made a few fine points. In his words, he alleges that ‘’Donald Trump is a criminal sociopath…they do not want to obey laws, they don’t want to obey rules, they do not think they apply to them,….Donald Trump has no moral conscience, no empathy, he cares only about Donald Trump… (he maintains) that ‘Article two allows me to do whatever I want’. …now we are at stage three, where we are ignoring laws…refusing to spend money  appropriated by Congress, which is against the law,….Musk has not been appointed lawfully under the Constitution …now at stage four, where democracy can die…the rule of law can die and Constitutionalism can die….charges would have to be brought by Trump’s DOJ …the legal mechanism…everyone friendly with Trump gets a pass….the Justice Department is the only way the courts can enforce the orders…the marshals service is part of the Justice Department….   which reports to Trump.…a lawless criminal…a criminal regime…we will soon be in open defiance’’.

Considering the fact that these accusations, even though disjointed, barely coherent, were being made by George Conway, is a very serious matter. This is to say that Conway has never been referred to as a ‘’Leftist’’ person, and would probably be insulted by the suggestion. Yet he is concerned by the attack, on the democratic republic, by Trump and Musk. 

He also pointed out the fact that the courts rely on the Marshals service, to carry out their rulings. The fact is that the Marshals service is under the Department of Justice, which answers to President Donald Trump. No wonder Trump is ‘’purging’’ the Justice Department! Replacing officials who are determined to uphold the Constitution, with those who are loyal only to Trump!

Yet opposition is growing. This is pointed out quite clearly, in another video, titled: ‘’A six resignation kind of day at DOJ, following Trump’s sketchy deal with NYC mayor Eric Adams’’. 

In this video, it is reported that, according to the New York Times, the headlines read, ‘’Order to Drop Adams Case Prompts Resignations in New York and Washington’’. It goes on to state, ‘’Manhattan’s US attorney on Thursday resigned, rather than obey an order from a top Justice Department official to drop the corruption case, against New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams. 

‘’Then, when Justice Department officials transferred the case to the  Public Integrity section in Washington, which oversees corruption prosecutions, the two men who led that unit, also resigned.’’

This was followed by a report, from a separate journalist, to the effect that: ‘’At least three more DOJ, Public Integrity Unit, senior officials resigned, after meeting the same top Justice Department official, on the Eric Adams case. Five in Public Integrity overall. That is six officials who have resigned…’’!

This is referred to as ‘’passive resistance’’, and is most commendable. These highly trained professionals took a stand, on principle! They sacrificed their careers, rather than compromise their principles. Bravo! If only I could meet them in person, and shake their hands!

That being said, I have no doubt that there are a great many other officials, who feel the same way. They have taken an oath to ‘’preserve, protect and defend the Constitution’’, and that is precisely what they are doing. If that involves disobeying an illegal order, from a superior, then so be it!

Truly, the revolutionary movement is now very broad and deep. Trump and Musk may not realize it yet, but their days are numbered.

Gerald McIsaac