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Canada has two main railroads, Canadian National Railroad, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad, commonly referred to as CN Rail, and CP Rail. On August 22, 2024, for the first time in history, both Railroads went on strike, at the same time. 

Even before the anticipated strike date, the Railroads refused to transport certain articles, perishable goods, such as meat and medicines, as well as hazardous materials, including chlorine. 

This strike, or ‘’labour dispute’’, to use the stilted jargon of the capitalists, is expected to have a ‘’ripple effect’’ across the country, and beyond. One immediate effect, within the country, is that a great many commuters, in several large cities, will have to secure a different means of transportation. 

Without doubt, the bourgeois economists are correct, when they say that ‘’Canada relies on rail’’. After all, perhaps one billion dollars worth of goods are transported, each day, across the country. With the Railroads shut down, we can expect ‘’supply chain hold ups’’, so that ‘’both small and large businesses’’, will be ‘’effected’’.

The fact is that all businesses, large and small, make a supreme effort to ‘’reduce their inventory’’, to keep as little ‘’capital on hand’’, as possible. Rather than ‘’stock up’’, in preparation ‘’for a rainy day’’, as working people do, they are careful to keep as little as possible, on hand. 

In this way, they are able to keep taxes to a minimum. After all, the more stock they have on hand, the more taxes they are forced to pay. 

The two Railways are represented by the same Teamsters Union, but for reasons which defy rational explanation, negotiate separate contracts. Up until the present, the contracts have been careful to expire at different times, so that never before, have both Railroads been on strike, simultaneously. In this way, a strike by one Railroad allowed the other Railroad to ‘’take up the slack’’, thus reducing the pressure on the capitalists, to negotiate a fair settlement. 

According to the internet, ‘’A one year contract extension at CN Rail, in 2022, led to its contracts lining up with CPKC Rail, which expired in 2023. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference has been in negotiations since then’’. 

Clearly the workers have been working without a contract, since the start of the year. The fact that the Teamsters Union was able to force negotiations to take place, with both companies, at the same time, increases their leverage. 

It is significant that this strike is completely legal, as according to a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada, on January 30, 2015, ‘’the right to strike is Constitutionally protected’’, at least for workers who are not classified as providing ‘’essential services’’. The Railroad workers are not classified as an essential service.

Both Railroad companies responded to these strikes, by imposing a ‘’lock out’’. This is a tactic the companies use, that of preventing the workers from entering the workplace to work, during a strike, which is precisely the very thing the workers are refusing to do. Even though this makes no sense, it is meant to pressure the workers to accept a new contract. 

On the first day of the strike, on August 22, the leader of the New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, visited the workers on strike in Montreal, and expressed his support for them. He told the workers that if necessary, he will vote against back to work legislation. 

The ruling Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, was clearly in favour of a ‘’negotiated settlement’’, between the Railroads and the Teamsters Union. That was made abundantly clear, up until the day of the Railroad strike. On that day, the government made it quite clear that the strike was not acceptable. The very height of hypocrisy!

With a view to ending this ‘’labour dispute’’, the Labour Minister ‘’passed the buck’’ to the Canada Industrial Relations Labour Board, CIRLB.

In an attempt to ‘’do an end run’’, around the Supreme Court ruling, which guarantees the workers the Constitutional ‘’right to strike’’, the Labour Board applied a rather obscure rule, of the Canada Labour Code:

‘’Under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, the Minister of Labour can refer the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for binding arbitration and prohibit a strike, lockout or end any ongoing stoppage pending a resolution. Alternatively, the government can also reconvene Parliament and introduce back-to-work legislation’’.

As the Parliament was not sitting, it was up to the CIRB to ‘’take action’’. They immediately ruled that the strike by CN Rail was illegal, despite the Supreme Court ruling, and ordered them back to work. 

The response of the Teamsters Union was to return to work, at CN Rail, but at the same time to issue CN Rail with a 72 hour strike notice, so that they will be in a legal position to strike by August 25. CPKC Rail was already in a legal position to strike, so they were not forced back to work.

Then, according to the press, on Aug 24, the government issued a surprise ruling:

‘’The Federal Labour Board orders Rail employees back to work, on Saturday, after three days. Work to start Monday, to continue until binding arbitration process is complete. Also ruled that the contract between CN and the Union, that expired on December 31, has now been extended, until a new agreement comes into effect’’.  

In response to this ruling, a Spokesman for the Teamsters  Union had this to say:

‘’The two major railways in Canada manufactured this crisis, took the country hostage, and manipulated the country once again, disregarding the rights afforded to working class Canadians. The government took this unprecedented step, using this seldom utilized section of the labour code, only because they knew their minority could not gather the support needed to pass a legislated resolution to appease the railroads’’.

This reference to a ‘’minority’’, requires an explanation. 

The Prime Minister of Canada, has to be a member of the Party which has the majority of seats, within Parliament. As no one Party currently has a majority, it was necessary to form a ‘’coalition government’’, of two Parties. Those two Parties are the Liberal Party and New Democratic Party. Taken together, the two Parties have a majority in Parliament. 

The Teamsters Union is correct when they state that the ‘’minority’’, the Liberal Party, ‘’could not gather the support needed to pass a legislated resolution’’. The NDP would merely oppose it!

In fact, such an attempt, by the Liberal government, to legislate the Railroad workers back to work, would almost certainly fail, and probably lead to a ‘’no confidence vote’’, which would force a federal election. That is the last thing the Liberals want!

The President of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, stated his response in somewhat stronger terms: 

‘’ This decision by the CIRB sets a dangerous precedent. It signals to corporate Canada that large companies need only stop their operations for a few hours, inflict short term economic pain, and the federal government will step in to break a Union. The rights of Canadian workers have been significantly diminished today’’.

It is significant that these statements make references to the existence of classes, and to the fact that the government represents the interests of the ruling class of capitalists. The first statement even mentions the working class, while the second statement refers to ‘’large companies’’ and ‘’corporate Canada’’. This is a none too subtle reference to the multi billionaires, the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, the class of people who rule the country. 

It is to the credit of the Teamsters Union, that they plan to fight this ruling, in federal court. As the President of Teamsters Canada stated, ‘’our legal team is looking at all our options now’’. They are determined to defend the Constitutional right of all Canadians, to engage in strike action. Bravo, Teamsters Union!

The Director of CN Rail has issued a statement, which can  only be considered to be an attack upon the working class. He says the jobs provided, by the Railroad, ‘’are not minimum wage’’, that ‘’they pay one hundred twenty thousand for a conductor, and one hundred fifty thousand for a locomotive engineer’’. 

That may well be true, but is no reason to not fight for higher wages. After all, wages are ‘’tied together’’. It may help to think of this as ‘’invisible chains’’, linking the wages of all workers. If the wages of the highest paid workers go up, so too, the wages of the lowest paid workers go up. It follows that the way to raise the wages of the lowest paid workers, is to raise the wages of the highest paid workers. For that reason, workers should always fight for higher wages. We all benefit!

Allow me to stress the fact, that this is true, only under capitalism. Under Scientific Socialism, a far different social system, we will have a far different economic system, so that we can focus on directly raising the wages of the lowest paid workers. 

As I write this, it is Sunday, August 25, and the workers have been ordered to go back to work on Monday morning. 

It has been reported that a ‘’case management meeting’’ will be held on Thursday, August 29, with the ‘’Board and Parties involved’’, to discuss the ‘’binding arbitration process’’. 

Without doubt, the striking Railroad workers are angry and frustrated. They have the strong Teamsters Union fighting for them, using every legally available option, but that is not enough. They also need to become class conscious, aware of the existence of classes, the war between the classes, of the necessity of revolution, and the subsequent Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Scientific Socialism.

These Railroad workers are in the vanguard of the Canadian working class revolutionary motion. They deserve our complete support. Perhaps the best support can come in the form of copies of State and Revolution, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, by Lenin. Of course, there is also the ‘’Essential Works of Lenin’’, which include What Is To Be Done?, as well as Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. The Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, is a basic work. 

In this way, they will become aware that their struggle, for better wages and working conditions, is part of the broader struggle, of the working class, against the class of  monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie. Until they are overthrown, and crushed, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, nothing of substance will change. 

We will know that we are being successful, when the posters, carried by striking workers, read something more than ‘’on strike’’. They will also contain revolutionary slogans, such as:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Now that President Joe Biden has ‘’dropped out of the race’’, as he ‘’decided not to run for re-election’’, he has decided to ‘’pass the torch’’ to his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Now it is up to Harris, to make the Democratic Party proud, to bless the country with its first female President, and a ‘’Black Female President’’, at that. Or at least, so say the political pundits.

In fact, Biden was forced to step aside. The ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, decided that he had to go, for whatever reason. The fact that Biden is very feeble, and probably suffering from dementia, was very likely a factor in this decision. As well, Trump was trouncing Biden in the polls. Better to ‘’place someone else’’ in the White House, someone more ‘’reasonable’’ than Trump, someone who can be counted upon to do as they are told. That ‘’certain someone’’, that more ‘’reasonable’’ person, is Kamala Harris. 

The appointment of Kamala Harris, as the nominee of the Democratic Party, by the Democratic National Convention, is a mere formality. There is no harm in this. The harm comes when the American voters are forced to choose between the two candidates, of the two mainstream political parties, Democratic and Republican, for the office of the Presidency. Especially as they have nothing to say about this! 

In fact, it is completely illegal. Unconstitutional. A violation of the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution. As I have published that Amendment in previous articles, along with the fact that the whole ‘’November Presidential Election’’ process is completely illegal, there is no need to repeat it here.

Of course, the mainstream press is well aware of this, but makes no mention of this ‘’little detail’’, this perversion of the federal election. Completely understandable, as that same press serves the class of people in charge, the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie. Yet the ‘’Leftist’’ press, the ‘’Underground’’ press, is also remaining silent! Strange but true. And completely unacceptable!

These ‘’November Presidential Elections’’ give rise to fraudulent Presidents, and fraudulent Vice Presidents. Just as Biden is a fraudulent President, so too, Harris is a fraudulent Vice President. And now she is determined to become a fraudulent President!

At the moment, the press is reporting that a great many protesters have flocked to Chicago, ‘’Ahead of the DNC’’. If nothing else, they are very loud and clear, ‘’making their voices heard’’. The journalists report that they are ‘’calling attention to abortion rights, economic injustice and the war in Gaza’’. They also maintain that their ‘’mission remains the same’’, that they ‘’learned their lesson from the RNC’’, that they ‘’predict bigger crowds and more robust demonstrations’’. 

If only that were true! If only they had ‘’learned their lesson’’! They have not learned a thing! They are merely repeating the same mistakes! Only louder!

These ‘’bigger crowds and more robust demonstrations’’, merely amount to an increase in volume. People are already well aware of the fact, that the American government supports the Israeli’s, in their ‘’War In Gaza’’. Yet protesters are screaming this, at the top of their lungs!

The fact is that the American government represents the interests of the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie. Those same capitalists have decided to support the government of Israel, no matter what. President Biden merely does as he is told. Assuming Vice President Harris becomes President, as is very likely, she too, will do as she is told. Different faces, serving the same class. 

No amount of ‘’bellowing’’, on the part of the protesters, will change that fact.

What is needed is not more noise, but an increase- a dramatic increase!- in the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. It has to become class conscious, aware of the existence of classes, and the irreconcilable differences between those classes.

The conditions of life, of the working class, does not lead to the awareness of itself, as a class. Nor are they aware of the fact that they are in a constant state of war with the monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie. This war is usually quiet, hidden below the surface, but it occasionally flares up, into open rebellion. Revolution. We are close to a full blown Revolution.

As Marx stated, in the Communist Manifesto: 

‘’The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. 

‘’Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes’’.

Now we are at the point that the ‘’class struggle’’, of the ‘’oppressor and oppressed’’, of the proletariat with the bourgeoisie, is about to become an ‘’open fight’’, which is about to end in a ‘’reconstitution of society at large’’. This ‘’open fight’’ is referred to as a Revolution, and the resulting ‘’reconstitution of society at large’’, is referred to as Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

As yet, the working class, the proletariat, is not aware of this. It is the duty of conscious people, those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to bring that awareness to the working class. The most advanced workers must be raised to the level of conscious people, referred to as Communists. 

Lenin explains this supremely well, in his excellent work, What Is To Be Done? As he stated, in reference to the history of the Russian proletariat, ‘’the workers were not, and could not, be conscious of the irreconcilable antagonisms of their interests to the whole of the modern political and social system….This consciousness could only be brought to them from without. The history of all countries show that the working class, exclusively by its own efforts, is able to develop only trade union consciousness, that is, it may itself realize the necessity for combining in unions, for fighting against the employers and for striving to compel the government to pass necessary labour legislation, etc. The theory of socialism, however, grew out of the philosophic, historical and economic theories that were elaborated by the educated representatives of the propertied classes, the intellectuals. According to their social status, the founders of modern scientific socialism, Marx and Engels, themselves belonged to the bourgeois intelligentsia.’’

We can add that Lenin also, was a middle class intellectual, an attorney by training. I mention this for the benefit of certain working class people, those who are prejudiced against middle class intellectuals. Get over it! Such a prejudice can only work in favour of the capitalists, and do great harm to the revolutionary motion. 

It is our duty, that of conscious people, previously referred to as Social Democrats, or Bolsheviks, now referred to as Communists, to bring this awareness to the working class, to explain to them the revolutionary Scientific Socialist theories of Marx and Lenin.

This class struggle can be compared to a boxing match, in which one of the boxers is blindfolded, swinging wildly in all directions. No doubt, an occasional blow will be landed, but strictly by chance. Of course, the other boxer, being able to see quite well, is able to land blow after blow.

In this extremely over simplified comparison, the boxer who is blindfolded, is of course the working class, the proletariat. The boxer who can see very well is the monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie. Rest assured, the capitalists are supremely class conscious!

The ‘’solution’’ to the problem, is quite simple: Remove the blindfold. In class terms, this means raising the level of awareness of the proletariat, so that they are class conscious, aware of themselves as a class, with their own class interests. In this way, they can focus on striking out against their class enemies, the monopoly capitalists, as opposed to swinging wildly.

Of necessity, class consciousness includes becoming aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. The working class, or at least the most advanced workers, must become familiar with those theories. Those advanced workers will in turn, lead the less advanced.

Now to return to the protests at the DNC. 

Of all the signs and posters that were displayed on the internet, only one made any reference to class content. That was a poster by the Green Party of the United States, GPSU, which stated, ‘’We Need A New Party For The Working People’’.

That is most emphatically true! We need a new Party, but not that of the Green Party. They have a Party Platform of ‘’non violence, social justice, environmentalism, grassroots democracy, anti war, anti racism’’. Pacifist nonsense!

We need a true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Scientific Socialism! That is the one and only alternative to monopoly capitalism!

It is only such a Communist Party which can properly lead the working class, can raise the level of awareness of the proletariat, in preparation for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Working people need to hear about the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin! They need to become class conscious! At least the most advanced workers must be raised to the level of true Communists!

In the absence of a true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, we can still raise the consciousness of the proletariat, if only by becoming involved in the struggles which interest them, and in the process, explaining the class conflict.

At the moment, working people are focused on the DNC, and the protesters. For that reason, we need to make sure that the protesters carry signs and posters, which contain class content.

It is best if these posters are written in a manner which is entertaining. After all, the best way to educate people, is by entertaining them, at the same time. Such details are best left to entertainment specialists. Or as working people phrase it, ‘’never tell a mechanic how to pull a wrench’’!

Having said that, it is important that workers be made aware of the fact that the scientific name for their class, is that of proletariat. They must also be made aware that the scientific name of the monopoly capitalist class, is that of bourgeoisie. The current lack of awareness, of the proletariat, of the scientifically correct class terms, is used by the capitalists, against the working class. 

As well, such posters must call for Revolution, for the over throw of the bourgeoisie, for Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. We will know that we are being successful, that the level of awareness of the working class is being raised, when these expressions become common place. 

This brings us to the ‘’legal front’’, so to speak, one which is closely followed by the workers. 

With that in mind, may I suggest a court challenge to the ‘’November Presidential Election’’, as it is in direct violation of the Twelfth Amendment. Unconstitutional. 

No doubt, there are people who may object that the Twelfth Amendment is hardly democratic, as it does not allow the voters to cast a ballot for their President and Vice President. True. But that is not the issue. The fact is that the democratic republic must be defended. Every effort must be made, to force the government to abide by the Constitution. That is a matter of principle. 

It is of the utmost importance to defend our democratic rights, as they are constantly under attack, by the capitalists. These democratic rights include that of a free and fair ‘’federal election’’, as guaranteed in the Constitution. There is no mention of a ‘’November Presidential Election’’, in the Constitution! Nor is there any mention of any political party! The voters have nothing to say, concerning any federal election! As well, the states have no right to meddle in any federal election! Forcing the Electors to vote for a particular candidate, of one political party, is Unconstitutional!

It is up to the Electors to choose an individual of their choice, for the office of President, as well as an individual of their choice, for the office of Vice President. As per the Constitution!

We will know that the protesters have indeed ‘’learned their lesson’’, when those same protesters challenge the ‘’November Presidential Election’’ in a court of law. We can only ‘’dream of the day’’, when middle class attorneys, experts on Constitutional law, stand before the Supreme Court, making these arguments.

Without doubt, the working people will be closely following these proceedings. For that reason, it is up to conscious people, Communists, to explain to those people, in terms they can understand, that which is happening. This, in turn, will serve to raise the level of awareness of the proletariat.

To have the Supreme Court declare the ‘’November Presidential Election’’ to be Unconstitutional, is to be regarded as a bonus. It is also quite likely. At that point, the Electors will be allowed to vote for the individual of their choice, for the office of President, and on a separate ballot, vote for the individual of their choice, for the office of Vice President. 

The ‘’individual’’ they vote for as President, could well be Kamala Harris. Or not. As well, the ‘’individual’’ they vote for as Vice President, could well be her ‘’running mate’’. Or not. That is entirely at the discretion of the Electors. As per Constitutional law. 

For the moment, may the signs and posters also read:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat! 

Bangladesh is a densely populated country in South Asia. With a population of 174 million people, it is the eighth most populous country in the world. The country is largely agrarian, with possibly half of the population working in agriculture. Rice is of course the primary staple food crop, as well as wheat and corn, referred to as maize. The cash crops include tea, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, tobacco and jute, otherwise known as burlap.

Yet it also has a considerable amount of industry, especially textile mills, sugar factories, fertilizer factories, cement factories and aluminum works.

These industrial plants are of vital importance, as they employ a great many workers, proletarians. It is these workers who are about to play a key role in the revolution, which Bangladesh is now experiencing. 

It is the students who are ‘’spearheading’’ the revolution. It started when they called for the abolition of the ‘’quota system’’, in which thirty percent of all government jobs, go to the descendants of the ‘’freedom fighters’’, those who won the war of independence in 1971.

The Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, denied this request, and ‘’cracked down’’ on the protesters. This involved the use of wide spread violence, on the part of the police and military, which resulted in the death of numerous people. As well, a great many student leaders, and members of opposition parties, were arrested. In addition, a country wide curfew was imposed, along with an internet blackout. The fact that Hasina was referring to these protesters as ‘’traitors and terrorists’’, did not endear her to them.

These measures did not have the desired effect of ‘’quelling the protests’’. On the contrary, the protests ‘’spiralled into a campaign of social disobedience, all across the nation, worsening by the day, with more and more people joining the students’’, according to the journalists.

In fact, the student led protests spread all across the country, so that all ‘’common people’’, workers and farmers, from all walks of life, young and old, joined the students in demanding the end to the quota system. 

This placed a great deal of pressure on the government, so that the quota system was annulled. Perhaps it was thought that this would satisfy the protesters, as their demands were being met. It most certainly did not. Instead, their demands merely changed, increased to that of demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

To those of us who are ‘’conscious people’’, which is to say Marxists, Communists, this came as no great surprise. After all, according to Marx, ‘’Reforms are a byproduct of revolutionary motion. They merely serve to strengthen and further the revolutionary movement’’.

It is estimated that in the capital city of Dhaka alone, a ‘’crowd’’ of possibly four hundred thousand people defied the curfew, and marched on the ‘’most highly guarded residence in the country’’, the private home of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. 

The journalists report that the ‘’mob’’ ignored the police, military and armoured vehicles, and ‘’stormed the home of Prime Minister Hasina’’. Those who were guarding that building, rather wisely decided to ‘’step aside’’.

In a state of shock and disbelief, with mere minutes to spare, Hasina was able to jump on a helicopter and escape to India. Rather than facing the people she has been ‘’leading’’, for the last fifteen years, she chose to seek political asylum, in a foreign country. 

Even though she was allowed to enter India, it is not clear that she is entirely welcome. The ‘’Indian Intelligence Services’’ have placed Hasina in ‘’protective custody’’, and moved her to an ‘’undisclosed location’’. She has been granted permission for an ‘’interim stay’’. (Bear in mind that interim means temporary)

Other countries also, are ‘’less than enthusiastic’’ about accepting her. The United States has rescinded her passport, and the United Kingdom has reportedly ‘’shut its doors’’, at least temporarily.  

By contrast, Bangladesh is certainly anxious to welcome her back! They have even requested that India arrest Hasina, and send her back, so that she can face criminal charges. 

As a result of this revolution, the curfew has been lifted, and all previously arrested ‘’protesters’’ have been released from jail. They even succeeded in dissolving Parliament.

Into this ‘’power vacuum’’, an ‘’interim government’’ is being created, with Mohamed Yunus as the ‘’chief advisor’’. He is a very popular figure, an ‘’entrepreneur, banker and economist’’, the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, for ‘’pioneering the concepts of micro credit and micro finance’’. 

It is perhaps not too surprising that the army has plans of their own. The Army Chief of Staff is calling for people to have ‘’faith and trust’’ in the army, as the army promises to ‘’protect the lives and property of people’’, to ‘’bring peace and harmony back to the country’’, to ‘’stop the violence, murders, looting, hooliganism and protests’’.

In other words, the Army Chief of Staff wants to crush the revolution! 

These plans include taking over the interim government. As the Army Chief of Staff stated, ‘’Now we will form an interim government and continue our work to lead the country. The country is witnessing a period of revolution right now. I have invited all the leaders of the political parties. They came here and we had a good discussion. We have decided to form an interim government. Through the interim government, all the functioning of the government will take place.’’

From this, it is clear that the army and all ‘’opposition parties’’, plans to replace the rule of Hasina and her political party, with their own rule!

The leaders of the revolution have made it perfectly clear, that they are opposed to the plan of the army, to seize power! As they stated, ‘’We do not want a military government, this is not just the end of the tyrant Hasina, we are going to ensure a citizens government….We were ignored by authorities when we were protesting peacefully to reform the quota system. They thought that the students would get tired after protesting for two days. But because they were mistaken, it is no longer a quota reform protest. It’s been turned into a protest to reform the state. The state must take responsibility for all those who have been killed and injured so far…. what we need is a citizens charter, we need a civilian government, and we are going to ensure it’’. 

It is clear that the Bangladesh revolution is far from over! Now that Hasina has been removed from office, the common people have now secured some democratic rights, and not just on paper. 

We can compare this to the revolutionary situation which existed in Russia, immediately after the Emperor, Czar Nicholas was overthrown, in February of 1917. 

At that time, the capitalists seized power, and established a democratic republic. This provided the common people, workers and family farmers, referred to as peasants, with some democratic rights, if only on paper. Yet it did not provide them with much more. 

They remained largely poverty stricken, hungry and cold, still at war with Germany and the Central Powers, longing for ‘’peace, land and bread’’. Their new government responded with an abundance of promises. Nothing else. Sound familiar?

Yet Lenin, who was in exile, was able to return to Russia, in April of that year. He found that, as a result of the revolution, there existed a ‘’dual power’’ in Russia. On the one hand, there was the state power of the capitalists, as was expressed in the government, and supported those capitalists. On the other hand, there was the ‘’Soviet Power’’, in that Soviet means Council, which represented the common people, the workers, military personnel and farmers. 

The ‘’state power’’, of the Soviets, was almost as strong as that of the capitalists! For that reason, the capitalists dared not arrest Lenin, as soon as he stepped off the train, much as they desired to do so. 

The fact is that revolutionary motion frequently gives rise to Soviets. It is a spontaneous creation of working people. They first appeared in Russia, in the first revolution of 1905. They reappeared in 1917. They have since appeared in numerous other revolutions. It is entirely possible that they have also been created in Bangladesh. 

Assuming that is the case, then those Soviets are the nucleus of a new state power. These may take the shape of Soviets of Workers, Farmers, Military and possibly Intellectuals. It is these Soviets which are destined to assume power in Bangladesh. 

As yet, the leaders of the Bangladesh revolution are not speaking in class terms. They are speaking merely in terms of democracy, and that is certainly a step in the right direction. Now they have to be made aware that democracy is nothing other than a method of class rule! It is a form of government in which one class, in this case the ruling class of capitalists, subjugates all lower classes! The classes of workers and farmers. For that reason, no democratic republic can be inclusive! The government can represent only the class in power!

In this case, the ruling class is that of the capitalists, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. The ‘’lower classes’’ include the family farmers, also known as peasants, and the working class, technically referred to as proletarians.

This brings us to that which the protesters refer to as a ‘’civilian government’’. This is really a ‘’state apparatus’’, or a ‘’state machine’’, to put it in popular terms. Such an apparatus has been set up, by the ruling class of capitalists, in order to crush the ‘’lower classes’’, the workers and family farmers. This apparatus includes that of the police, military, courts, prisons and other ‘’coercive institutions’’.

It is not at all surprising that the Army Chief of Staff wants to quell the revolution, to restore ‘’peace and harmony’’. As part of the state apparatus, one which supports the ruling class of capitalists, the leaders of the Army are most emphatically counter revolutionary!

Incidentally, by contrast, the ‘’rank and file’’ members of the military, the ‘’enlisted personnel’’, and not just those of the army, also tend to be revolutionary. Not too surprising, as most of them are workers and farmers.

Now to return to the fact that the leaders of the army want to seize power, to ‘’form an interim government’’. 

Their plan is to seize control of the existing state apparatus, which was abandoned by Hasina, as she fled the country.

It should be noted that this ‘’state apparatus’’ is treasured, by the capitalists! Even the Crown Jewels could not be more highly valued! Or protected! 

Now with Hasina ‘’out of the way’’, this has created that which is referred to as a ‘’power vacuum’’. She may be gone, but she left behind the ‘’state apparatus’’! It is still very much intact! Just waiting for someone to gain possession!

It is this supremely valuable state apparatus which is now ‘’up for grabs’’! The leaders of various political parties, as well as the leaders of the army, are determined to seize control of that apparatus, and set themselves up, as the new rulers!

This is to stress the fact that the existing state apparatus, which has been established by the capitalists, with the sole purpose of crushing the working people, cannot be used for any other purpose! It must be destroyed! Smashed!

It is up to the revolutionaries to smash the existing state apparatus, as it cannot be used to crush the capitalists, after the revolution. Yet their resistance will ‘’increase tenfold’’, after they lose power, as they make every effort to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’, according to Lenin. 

For that reason, a new state apparatus is required, to be established after the revolution. This apparatus is known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! Lenin explains this supremely well in his master piece, State and Revolution. 

To put this book in historical perspective, it was written in the summer of 1917, in preparation for the Russian Great October Socialist Proletarian Revolution, of that same year. That revolution was successful, because it followed the advice of Lenin. 

Now it is up to the leaders of the Bangladesh revolution to become class conscious, to raise their level of awareness,to become aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. 

They can then bring that revolutionary awareness to the ‘’common people’’, the workers and family farmers, or at least to the most advanced strata of those classes. Those advanced members will in turn explain it to the less advanced.

In this way, the Bangladesh revolutionaries will secure their ‘’citizens government’’, one which will ‘’hold accountable’’, those responsible for the death of so many innocent people. There is no other way! The existing state apparatus cannot be reformed!

Although this is indeed a ‘’tall order’’, it is nowhere near as difficult as it once was. A careful reading of the essential works of Marx and Lenin will be sufficient, at least for the present. At a bare minimum, State and Revolution, by Lenin, is absolutely required. That work is readily available on the internet.

A proper understanding of that work will ‘’pave the way’’ towards a successful Bangladesh Great Proletarian Socialist Revolution. 

With Fraternal Revolutionary Communist Greetings,

Gerald McIsaac 

The Republican National Committee, RNC, has now officially endorsed Donald Trump, as their candidate for the office of President, in 2024. Trump, in turn, chose J.D. Vance as his ‘’running mate’’, the candidate for Vice President. Vance is a Senator from the state of Ohio, considered to be a ‘’swing state’’.

It is anticipated that on August 19, the Democratic National Committee, DNC, will officially endorse Kamala Harris, as their candidate, for the office of President, in 2024. It is further anticipated that, even before the official endorsement, Harris will choose a suitable ‘’running mate’’, as the candidate for Vice President. Various officials have been mentioned, with the field narrowed down to three, from the states of Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Arizona. It is not by chance that all three candidates are from states that are considered to be ‘’swing states’’.

In the stilted political jargon, a ‘’swing state’’ is ‘’any state that could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican candidate for President’’. 

It stands to reason that the choice of a ‘’running mate’’, from such a state, makes it far more likely for the candidate for President, to win that state. 

Now the mainstream press is conducting a ‘’countdown’’, the days remaining until the ‘’Presidential Election’’ of November 5. As well, they are also keeping track of the money being donated to the two ‘’Presidential Campaigns’’. This money is being measured in ‘’hundreds of millions’’!

Each ‘’Campaign’’ is anticipated to cost several billion dollars!

This will culminate on the day voters ‘’go to the polls’’, of course on November 5, to vote for their candidate for the office of President. Not that American voters get to directly vote for their candidate for the President. Indeed not. It is not that simple. Under the complicated ‘’electoral system’’, the candidate, of one of the two Parties, Republican or Democratic, either Trump or Harris, who wins the majority of votes, in a particular state, will in turn receive all of the Electoral votes, of that state!

It is reasonable to assume that, shortly after all the votes are counted, probably late in the day of November 5, the bourgeois journalists will be able to announce the next ‘’President Elect of the United States’’. 

The voting of the Electors, who are appointed by the States, as well as the District of Columbia, is a mere ”formality”, to take place ‘’on or before January 3’’. Or at least, that is the plan.

There is just one little problem. That which they have planned, all of the aforementioned, is completely Unconstitutional! It is in direct violation of the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution!

Even though I have reproduced it before, it is of vital importance, so I have chosen to do so again:

Twelfth Amendment

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 of 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 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.

By law, Constitutional law, there is no ‘’presidential election’’! There is only a federal election! It is the Electors, and only the Electors, who are appointed by the States, and only by the States, who get to vote for the individual of their choice, for the office of President. As well, those same Electors get to vote, on a separate ballot, for the individual of their choice, for the office of Vice President. The states have no right to meddle in a federal election!

Further, the Twelfth Amendment makes no mention of any political party! Nor is there any mention of any ‘’popular vote’’! The scheduled November 5 vote is meaningless! For that reason, there is no ‘’President Elect’’! In fact, by Constitutional Law, the American voters are excluded from any federal election!

As for those who may object that this is hardly democratic, I can only respond this is the law! Constitutional Law! Further, all elected federal officials have taken an oath, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution!

Hold those federal officials accountable! Demand that they honour their oath! Demand that the 2024 federal election follow the procedure laid out in the Twelfth Amendment! Also demand that both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris be removed from office immediately! Both came to office by means of a fraudulent election!

As for those who may suggest that I am being ridiculous, I can only respond that you are correct. The federal officials are not about to perform their duty! That would never occur to them! The very thought would never cross their minds! Such heresy!

As I have mentioned in various previous articles, my focus is on the ‘’common people’’, and in particular the working class, the proletariat. That is the class which ‘’holds the future in its hands’’. It is just not aware of this, or at least, not as yet. 

In the interests of raising the level of awareness of the proletariat, it is necessary to expose the monopoly capitalist class, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie. That is the class of people in charge. They are running the country. In fact, they are running the country right into the ground! Yet so many working people still believe their lies.

Those same working people pay strict attention to the news, at least as presented by the mainstream press. As well, countless workers are now quite cultured, in possession of various digital devices, so that they have access to the ‘’Leftist’’ press. All the press is now focused on the ‘’Presidential election’’, and the two ‘’running mates’’, for the Presidency. For that reason, we can use this to our advantage. 

All ‘’conscious people’’, those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, must become active. It is your duty! The level of awareness of the proletariat must be raised. They, or at least the most advanced workers, must become class conscious. The working class, the proletariat, must become aware of themselves as a class, with their own class interests. They must be made aware of those same revolutionary theories. They must be prepared for Scientific Socialism. This can happen only through overthrowing the bourgeoisie, smashing the existing state apparatus, and replacing it with a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

Middle class attorneys, preferably experts in Constitutional law, must challenge both federal elections, that of 2020 and 2024. Every effort must be made to remove both Biden and Harris from office. As well, the 2024 federal election must follow the procedure laid out in the Twelfth Amendment. These are the arguments which must be made in federal court, preferably the Supreme Court.

Such a court challenge will be closely monitored by the press, both mainstream and Leftist. The working people will be sure to follow all developments, and in the process, receive a valuable education. 

There are various other suggestions I have made, in previous articles, concerning the manner in which we can assist the working class, or at least the most advanced members of the proletariat, in becoming true Marxists, Communists. Much as I tire of repeating this, perhaps a brief summary is appropriate. 

Flood social media with Leftist literature. Join the two mainstream political parties, as ‘’card carrying members’’. Take part in marches and demonstrations, as Communists, carrying signs with class content. Unite the various Councils- Soviets- which have spontaneously taken shape. Encourage ‘’celebrities’’, especially ‘’Hollywood Movie Stars’’ to become active. Their fans pay strict attention to anything they say! 

There is an urgent need for a true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Middle class intellectuals, in cooperation with the most advanced, ’’internationalist workers’’, can take part in that creation. 

Encourage all workers to read the Essential Works of Marx and Lenin. The importance of State and Revolution, must be stressed. The Revolution could break out at any moment. It is best to be prepared! 

That which the press, rather politely refers to as ‘’popular uprisings’’, and is in fact revolutionary motion, is taking place in various parts of the world. These include the West European countries of France, Britain and  Germany, among others.

There are also revolutionary uprisings in South America, in the country of  Venezuela. In South Asia, the country of Bangladesh is ‘’seething’’. In West Africa, Nigeria is ‘’in turmoil’’.  

Bear in mind that these ‘’revolutionary motions’’, these ‘’mass movements’’, tend to spread, to other countries. It is not just in North America that a Revolution is about to take place!

It was Lenin who foresaw a ‘’World Socialist Republic’’. Sadly, he was murdered, so that he never lived to see that day. We can only honour his memory by taking his advice, ’’following in his footsteps’’, carrying out the policies, that he was able to only outline. 

In this way, the younger generation will live to see a world without classes, a world without capitalists fighting to re-divide the world. A world of working people living together in peace. A world of Communism.

That is a goal upon which we can all unite. 

Venezuela is a South American country of possibly thirty million people, and quite highly industrialized. The main industries are oil, mining and steel. There are not a great many family farmers, referred to as peasants. This means that there is a high percentage of workers, proletarians. 

As it is located in South America, it is considered to be a ‘’Latin American’’ country, in that the official language is Spanish. In fact, all countries of South America are considered to be Latin American. For that reason, people from such countries are referred to as ‘’Latinos’’. 

Incidentally, the word ‘’Latino’’ comes from the fact that Latin gave rise to various ‘’Romance’’ languages. These include Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian. Yet the expression ‘’Latino’’ is generally restricted to Spanish speaking people from South America. 

A Presidential election was recently held in Venezuela. President Nicholas Maduro is claiming victory, even though the opposition, led by Maria Machado, says that Edmundo Gonzales won the election, in a ‘’landslide victory’’. 

The political party of Maduro, refers to itself as the Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela, PSUV, or in English, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. 

Regardless of the fact that they refer to themselves as ‘’Socialist’’, they are anything but Socialist! They are supremely ‘’right wing’’, completely reactionary. It is important to bear in mind that any political party can refer to itself as ‘’Socialist’’. The only requirement is the ability to spell the word!

Since the vote, there have been widespread protests. The mainstream press is reporting that ‘’Venezuela is on the brink of collapse’’, that ‘’there is chaos in the streets’’, that ‘’the country is in the midst of a popular uprising’’. 

Without doubt, the country is experiencing a ‘’mass movement’’, or a ‘’revolutionary uprising’’, to phrase it in scientific terms. Most common people think that the election was ‘’rigged’’, that Maduro ‘’stole the election’’, that Gonzalez was the ‘’real winner’’. This has given rise to ‘’violent demonstrations’’, with protesters chanting such slogans as  ‘’Out the Dictator!’’, and ‘’Long Live Freedom!’’.

It is clear that the ‘’common people’’ of Venezuela, both workers and family farmers, are determined to secure their democratic right to elect the leaders of their choice, through free, fair and independent elections.

This is most encouraging, as according to Engels, ‘’Universal suffrage is an index of the maturity of the working class. It cannot, and never will be, anything more in the modern state’’.

This ‘’spontaneous mass movement’’, these protests against a ‘’stolen election’’, is an indication that the Venezuelan working class is ‘’quite mature’’. 

Further, according to Lenin, ‘’The omnipotence of ‘wealth’ is thus more secure in a democratic republic, since it does not depend on the faulty political shell of capitalism. A democratic republic is the best possible political shell for capitalism, and therefore, once capital has gained control of this very best shell…it established its power so securely, so firmly, that no change, either of persons, of institutions, or of parties in the bourgeois democratic republic, can shake it’’. (italics by Lenin)

This is to say that, even if the protesters succeed in securing a new, democratically elected President, complete with a different Party, nothing will change! The monopoly capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, will still be in charge! Now it is a matter of making the working class, the proletariat, aware of this!  

President Maduro has responded to these protests with a display of brute force. He has ordered the police and military to ‘’crush the attempt of the far right to seize power’’. This despite the fact that Maduro represents the ‘’far right’’! He has also ordered the arrest of ‘’opposition leaders’’.

For that reason, Maria Machado has gone ‘’into hiding’’, in fear for her life. She has also called for ‘’nation wide protests’’, to be held on Saturday. 

The journalists have conducted interviews with numerous protesters. As a result, they are convinced that these protests are ‘’different from previous protests’’, in that the common people are ’’fed up’’, that they are ’’determined to enact change’’. As the protesters phrase it, ‘’enough is enough’’!

Perhaps we can compare this situation, in Venezuela, to that of Russia, in the spring of 1917. 

In February of that year, the Russian Czar, or Emperor, had been overthrown, and a democratic republic established, with Kerensky as the leader. The common people, workers and family farmers, had some democratic rights, if only on paper. This made it possible for Lenin to return from exile, in April of that year. 

As I have documented, in previous writings, he found a ‘’dual power’’ in place. The state power, of the Kerensky regime, was being challenged, by the state power of the ‘’Soviets’’- or ‘’Sovietica’’ in Spanish- of the working people!

The fact is that revolutionary motion frequently- but by no means always!- gives rise to Soviets. These are also referred to as Councils, in English. For the purposes of this article, I will refer to them as Soviets. 

It is very likely that Soviets have also made an appearance in Venezuela, as a result of that revolutionary motion. Assuming that is the case, then they are the nucleus of a new, proletarian state power. It is up to the Venezuelan Soviets to unite, to overthrow the corrupt capitalist regime of Maduro, smash the existing state apparatus, and establish a state of Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

But first it is necessary to raise the level of awareness of the common people, especially the working class, the proletariat. They must become ‘’class conscious’’, aware of themselves as a class, complete with their own class interests. The conditions of life, of the working class, do not lead to this awareness. 

For that reason, it is up to middle class intellectuals to bring that awareness to the proletariat. It is only the middle class which is aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, as those theories are taught only in Universities, and then only with a view to distorting those same theories. 

This is the duty of a true Communist Party, but it is doubtful that such a Communist Party exists in Venezuela. Bear in mind that the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is the ‘’touchstone’’ of a true Communist Party, according to Lenin. 

In the absence of a Communist Party, those whom Lenin refers to as ‘’internationalist workers’’, will come together. To such groups of advanced workers, I can only suggest a careful reading of State and Revolution, by Lenin. 

Bear in mind that in the summer of 1917, as the Russian Revolution was gaining strength, the Russian officials, under Kerensky, determined to kill Lenin. For that reason, he went into hiding, and prepared for the Russian Revolution. In anticipation of the Insurrection, he wrote State and Revolution.

That article lays out the procedure to be followed, in order to conduct a successful revolution. At the time of the Insurrection, the government must be overthrown, the existing state apparatus must be smashed, and replaced with a new and different state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

This is to stress the fact that the existing state apparatus, which has been set up by the ruling class of capitalists, the bourgeoisie, in order to crush the ‘’lower classes’’, the proletariat and the family farmers, has to be destroyed. A new state apparatus is required, in order to crush the capitalists, as they make every effort, after the Revolution, to return to power, to ’’restore their paradise lost’’. 

The alternative, that at the time of the Revolution, the existing state apparatus is not smashed, then the current batch of rulers will merely be replaced by different faces, according to Lenin. Nothing of substance will change. The working people will continue to be crushed and exploited. 

The only alternative to capitalism is Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Lenin makes that quite clear, in State and Revolution.

This book is available for sale, on the internet, and possibly also in audio form. It may even be possible to download it for free. As Venezuela is highly industrialized, it is reasonable to assume that the working class is cultured. No doubt a great many workers have digital devices, or at least have access to such devices.

Bear in mind that in Russia, in the summer of 1917, the Russian common people, workers and family farmers, were far less cultured. Many were illiterate. There was certainly no internet! Yet under far more difficult circumstances, Lenin and the Communist Party were able to raise the level of awareness of the common people, especially the proletariat, to the point that a successful Scientific Socialist revolution could take place. This has gone down in history as the Great October Russian Proletarian Socialist Revolution. 

With a supreme effort, on the part of the middle class intellectuals and advanced workers of Venezuela, we can expect to soon see a Great Venezuelan Proletarian Socialist Revolution. I have complete confidence in you!

With Fraternal Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac