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In my previous article, I argued that the current situation, around the world, is comparable to that which existed in Russia, in early 1917. Immediately after the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas, the political climate can best be described in one word: Revolutionary!

At that time, the Revolution was raging in Russia. The ‘’First Revolution’’, which was a reference to the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas, was widely anticipated to be followed by a ‘’Second Revolution’’, one which was expected to overthrow the capitalists. 

Of course, Lenin was following events, as best he could, from ‘’afar’’, as he was still in exile. Yet even with the scarce news reports at his disposal, he was able to get a pretty good grasp of the events, as they unfolded in Russia. 

He noted that the ‘’slogan of the moment’’ was ‘’organization’’. Yet as that slogan contained no class content, it meant nothing. After all, organization is always needed. 

For that reason, most working people are already organized in trade unions, as well as clubs of various sorts, such as sports, books, dancing, cycling and so forth. This is a natural result of working people wanting to associate with others, those who share the same interests. There is nothing wrong with this.

The trouble comes when leaders insist that workers confine themselves to such organizations. That is the very thing the capitalists want, in order to strengthen their rule. They are determined that the ‘’workers should not go beyond their ordinary ‘legal’ organizations’’, according to Lenin. (italics by Lenin)

Fortunately, in 1917, the Russian common people, by whom I mean the workers and peasants, were not listening to such leaders, those who were trying to limit them to their ‘’legal’’ organizations. Indeed not!

Instead, they took a ‘’page from the book’’ of the previous Russian Revolution, that of 1905. They set up a Soviet of Workers Deputies! What is more, they expanded upon the Soviets, which had first been created in 1905. Indeed, they created a Soviet of Soldiers Deputies, a Soviet of Poor Peasants Deputies, as well as a Soviet of Rural Wage Workers Deputies. 

For the benefit of those who are not aware, the word Soviet means Council, in English. These Soviets, or Councils, are created as a result of Revolutionary Motion. 

As various Revolutions, or perhaps more accurately, Revolutionary Motion, is raging in various countries around the world, it is reasonable to assume that these Soviets have also spontaneously appeared. 

For his part, Lenin stressed the importance of these Soviets. As he phrased it, ‘’The prime and most important task, and one that brooks no delay, is to set up organizations of this kind in all parts of Russia, without exception, for all trades and strata of the proletarian and semi proletarian population, without exception’’. 

That is as true now, as when it was first written. Soviets of Workers, Peasants, Military Personnel and Rural Workers must be established, in the various countries of the world, which are experiencing Revolutionary Motion. 

I use the expression ‘’Military Personnel’’, instead of ‘’Soldiers’’, as it is possible that various branches of the military may object to being referred to as ‘’Soldiers’’. Some of them may prefer to be referred to as Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard, Airmen or even Military. That is entirely up to them. 

For that matter, here in North America, we have family farmers who may object to the name ‘’peasant’’. So perhaps the term Soviets of Family Farmers is acceptable. Of course, the industrial farmers should not be allowed to join those Soviets, as they correspond to the ‘’kulaks’’, rich peasants, the Russian rural bourgeoisie. 

That ‘’begs the question’’: What is the function of the Soviets? The answer, according to Lenin, is that they ‘’must be regarded as organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary Rule’’. This calls for a little explanation. 

A couple of years earlier, in October of 1915, in his article ‘’Several Theses’’, Lenin went into this in some detail. As it is so important, we have decided to quote the pertinent parts here, while not going into the parts which dealt with the Russian autocracy: 

‘’We consider that the consolidation and extension of Social Democratic work among the proletariat and its extension to the rural proletariat, the rural poor and the army are the immediate and pressing tasks. It is Revolutionary Social Democracy’s most pressing task to develop the incipient strike movement…

‘’Soviets of Workers Deputies and similar institutions must be regarded as organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary rule. It is only in connection with the development of a mass political strike and with an insurrection, and in the measure of the latter’s preparedness, development and success, that such institutions can be of lasting value. 

‘’Only a Revolutionary democratic Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the peasantry can form the social content of the impending Revolution in Russia…We have urged and still urge the absolute need, in any and all circumstances, for a separate organization for rural proletarians…

‘’We consider it admissible for Social Democrats to join a provisional Revolutionary government with the democratic petty bourgeoisie, but not with the Revolutionary chauvinists…

‘’Revolutionary chauvinism is based on the class position of the petty bourgeoisie. The latter always vacillates between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat….

‘’Our slogan is: Against the chauvinists, even if they are Revolutionary and republican – against them, and for an alliance of the international proletariat for the Socialist Revolution…

‘’The international solidarity of the Revolutionary proletariat is a fact, despite the scum of opportunism and social chauvinism.’’ (all italics by Lenin)

Incidentally, at the time Lenin was writing this, all Marxists were referred to as Social Democrats, as they were fighting for Democracy as well as Socialism. Later they became known as Bolsheviks, and then Communists.

By the Social chauvinists, he is referring to those who are socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds. Their goal is to take over the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution, and set themselves up, as the new rulers.

Note that Lenin referred to Soviets as ‘’organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary rule’’. They must be as broad as possible, embracing all common people. That includes urban, city workers, those in industry, as well as those in rural, country areas, such as farm labourers. It is also important to set up Soviets in the military, as most enlisted personnel are working people. As well, there should be a Soviet of Poor Peasants, or Family Farmers. In fact, all working people, in all walks of life, must be organized in Soviets.

There is a good reason for this. At the time of the Revolution, the existing state apparatus, that which has been set up, by the capitalists, for the purpose of crushing the working people, must be smashed! This is to say that the ‘’organs of government’’, by which we mean the police force, army and bureaucracy, must be abolished!

It may come as a great surprise, to so many people, to find that Lenin referred to this state apparatus as a ‘’magnificent organization’’! But only because that is precisely the case! After all, it is the creation of the entire bourgeoisie, and the entire bourgeois intellectuals, in all capitalist countries! Further, they have had several hundred years to perfect this state apparatus!

In fact, this bourgeois state ‘’machine’’ -as that is the word the capitalists use- is so precious, it is closely guarded! Cherished and protected! The capitalists consider this state ‘’machine’’ to be their ‘’Crown Jewel’’! The Crown Jewels of the royalty could not be more closely guarded!

As Lenin pointed out, ‘’All bourgeois Revolutions merely perfected this state machine, merely transferred it from the hands of one party to those of another.’’ (italics by Lenin)

To think that this ‘’state machine’’, this closely guarded ‘’Crown Jewel’’ of the capitalists, is the very thing that we must destroy, at the time of the Revolution! That is indeed a ‘’tall order’’!

Yet we are not anarchists, those who are opposed to any sort of state apparatus. On the contrary, we are well aware that a different sort of state apparatus is required. After all, the capitalists can be counted upon, after the Revolution, to make every effort to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’. They are so predicable! They will stoop to any depth, to any deception, in their efforts to return to power!

The capitalists are not to be under estimated! After all, they managed to return to power, in the Soviet Union, after the death of Stalin. Not only that, but they also managed to return to power, in China, after the death of Mao!

As I have covered that in a separate article, and have suggested a course of action to prevent such a further reversal, there is no need to repeat it here.

For the purposes of this article, it must be stressed that at the time of the Revolution, after the capitalists are overthrown, after the bourgeois state apparatus has been smashed, a new state apparatus must be set up. ‘’But not the kind of state the bourgeoisie has created everywhere’’, as Lenin stated. (italics by Lenin) 

Instead, we need a state apparatus of a different sort, one that will crush the capitalists. We must substitute a new one, ‘’by merging the police force, the army and the bureaucracy with the entire armed people!’’  as per Lenin (italics by Lenin)

Lenin goes on to say that ‘’the proletariat must organize and arm all the poor, exploited sections of the population in order that they themselves should take the organs of state power directly into their own hands, in order that they themselves should constitute these organs of state power.’’ (italics by Lenin) 

As Lenin pointed out, after the Revolution, we will need ‘’a militia that will really embrace the entire people, be really universal, and be led by the proletariat!’’ He referred to this as the ‘’task of the day’’.

He went on to say that what we need is a ‘’genuine people’s militia, one that first, consists of the entire population, of all citizens of both sexes; and second, one that combines the functions of a people’s army with police functions’’ (italics by Lenin)

This new, soon to be created state apparatus, has been given the title of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. After the completion of the Socialist Revolution, and the smashing of the bourgeois state apparatus, this proletarian state apparatus will be set up, as a means of crushing the capitalists, of exercising dictatorship over them. 

In my opinion, the most important thing now, is to prepare for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

With that in mind, Soviets must be set up in all areas of the country. By that I mean, all countries that are in the midst of Revolutionary Motion. Further, those Soviets must be trained, armed and equipped. The most advanced workers must be placed in positions of leadership. Such advanced workers, those with little or even no training, will be placed in positions of authority, after the Revolution. Any training they receive now, will prove to be most valuable.

As I have gone into this in previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here. 

In conclusion, we can only state the fact that most, if not all, of the most highly industrialized countries of the world, are in the midst of a crisis. All are deeply in debt. The banks are also ‘’overextended’’, to use the polite term. Both the banks and countries, are on the verge of bankruptcy. Even the finest bourgeois economists are admitting the ‘’possibility’’ of world financial collapse. In fact, it is a certainty. 

It is also a fact that the working class, around the world, is in Revolutionary motion. Excellent! Yet that is not enough. 

In previous writings, I have compared the class struggle -or war, more accurately!- to two boxers, slugging it out. Yet one boxer is blindfolded. This gives the other boxer a huge advantage. 

Of course, in this extremely over simplified manner, I have compared the working class, which is not aware of itself as a class, with its own class interests, to the capitalist class, which is supremely well aware of itself, as a class. Further, the capitalists are well aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. That includes the theory of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. They have learned this in university. 

By contrast, the working class is largely barred from university, and the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, are not taught in public schools. So of course the working class is not aware, and can not be aware, of those Revolutionary theories. It follows that the workers are fighting the class war ‘’blindfolded’’, so to speak. 

So it is up to middle class intellectuals, to ‘’remove the blindfold’’, so to speak, to bring the awareness of those theories, to the working class.  

This is to drive home the necessity of a true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

As the crisis in capitalism intensifies, ever more middle class people will be impoverished. They will be forced into the ranks of the proletariat. Some of them will be intellectuals. No doubt, they will bring with them the awareness of those Revolutionary theories. Equally without doubt, some of them will focus on establishing a true Communist Party. It is in their best interest to do so! Self preservation!

With a proper Communist Party, Dictatorship of the Proletariat, CP, DP, to offer direction, we are almost guaranteed a future of Scientific Socialism. 

As is well known, there is a certain news outlet which is considered to be supremely ‘’Right Wing’’. No one has ever accused them of being ‘’Leftist’’, of being sympathetic towards socialism. They are one of the most outspoken defenders of capitalism, and appear to be quite proud of that fact. 

Yet it is also a fact that they tend to give a very accurate description of that which is taking place. They even dare to report on events, which the other main stream news outlets tend to ignore.

One example of such an event, which the other news outlets ignored, was the recent appearance of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, in New York City. It is very likely that the other news outlets did not cover the event, for fear of offending certain members of the capitalist class.

There followed an exchange, between Nancy Pelosi, and various members of the audience, which I consider to be of the utmost importance. It reveals the level of passion of the working class, which is an indication of the strength of the Revolutionary motion.

Also of importance, is the reporting and analysis of the journalists. The reporting is excellent, the analysis is faulty. 

For that reason, I have attempted to repeat it, as accurately as possible. 

Journalist: ‘’Every once in a while, there is a moment in history when both sides of the political aisle wake up. We have reached a turning point.’’

The journalists are right when they say that ‘’we have reached a turning point’’. That ‘’turning point’’ is the Revolution! The common people, the working class, the proletariat, is ‘’waking up’’! That is indeed ‘’one side of the political aisle’’, commonly referred to as the ‘’Left’’! 

This is not to say that we have reached a ‘’moment in history’’ when ‘’both sides of the political aisle wake up’’! The ‘’other side of the political aisle’’, the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, the ‘’Right’’, are by no means ‘’waking up’’! On the contrary, they remain as reactionary as ever!

The journalists went on to give the example of Trump, who once referred to the Iraq war as a ‘’mistake’’. Their conclusion?

Journalist: ‘’That was a moment the levee broke, when the liberals and conservatives realized there is no Right and Left! It is more establishment and everyone else. The power players in the White House did not change. Nancy Pelosi is still Nancy Pelosi. The Left is not having it now.’’

On the contrary, at the ‘’moment the levee broke’’, the difference between the Right and the Left, the proletariat and the bourgeois, became quite sharp and clear! 

The ‘’establishment’’, as the journalists refer to the ‘’power players in the White House’’, also include the politicians in Washington, and not just the White House! Indeed, they ‘’did not change’’! They have merely ‘’revealed their true colours’’! They stand more exposed! They are, most emphatically, the Right! The differences now are sharp and clear! The Right represents the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie!

Those whom the journalists refer to as ‘’everyone else’’, are the common people, the members of the public, the working people, the ‘’liberals and conservatives’’, as well as the middle class, the petty bourgeois, the Left! 

To deny the existence of the ‘’Right’’ and the ‘’Left’’, is to deny the existence of classes!

Remarkably enough, the same journalists who are such staunch supporters of capitalism, have just now classified themselves as members of the Left! As yet, they are not aware of this.

They further went on to report that at the meeting, the spectators ‘’heckled’’ Nancy Pelosi mercilessly. They called her a ‘’War Criminal’’! She was accused of ‘’trying to start a war with China’’, by ‘’going to Taiwan’’! She was told that ‘’she belongs in the depths of hell’’! She was also accused of ‘’getting us into a war with Iraq and Afghanistan’’. She was called ‘’War Hungry Nancy’’! Other accusations were also made, but were supremely vulgar, and do not bear to be repeated. Last but not least, she was accused of supporting the war in Ukraine!

Such accusations, in a public setting, are nothing short of shocking! It is doubtful that Nancy Pelosi has ever been treated before, in such a manner! As the Speaker of the House, second in line to the presidency, she is accustomed to being treated with a great deal of respect! Yet the audience voiced their complete contempt for her!

Such a public outburst can take place only as a result of the Revolutionary Movement!

Strangely enough, the journalists have even gone so far as to lump two members of ‘’The Squad’’, AOC and Hakim Jeffries, with Nancy Pelosi, as ‘’War Mongers’’, as they ‘’support the war in Ukraine’’. 

In all fairness to these particular journalists, I can only stress, that they accurately report the facts. From these facts, they then attempt to draw certain conclusions. At that point, they become completely confused.

One of their more ridiculous conclusions is that the ‘’progressives are now pro war’’, no longer part of the ‘’anti war movement’’.

They have come to this conclusion, as a result of the ‘’progressives’’ calling for support for the Ukrainian people, in their fight against the Russian invasion.

This shows that these journalists, all of whom are petty bourgeois, cannot think in class terms! For that reason, they have managed to work themselves into a ‘’muddle’’, to use the expression of Lenin. They think that all of those on the Left are ‘’anti war’’. Such is hardly the case!

True, the ‘’progressives’’, by whom they mean those on the ‘’Left’’, were opposed to the American wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not to say that those on the Left are pacifists! It just means that the Left is opposed to wars of aggression, because they are ‘’unjust wars’’.

The war in Ukraine is also an ‘’unjust war’’, in the sense that Russia is trying to conquer the country. The Left is also opposed to this war of aggression, this unjust war. For that reason, it is correct to support the people of Ukraine, in their defence of their country. 

Yet the journalists think that because the Left opposed the American wars of aggression, we are ‘’anti war’’. They cannot understand the reason we are calling on all people to support the Ukrainians, in their war to defend their country, against the Russian aggression. 

The reason is that the Russians had no right to invade Ukraine. It is a war of conquest. This makes it an unjust war, on the part of the Russians. The Ukrainians have every right to defend their country.

Perhaps they are confused by the fact that the Right is also supporting the people of Ukraine, in their attempt to defend their country. In fact, the American government is sending vast amounts of weapons and ammunition, to the country of Ukraine! For their own reasons, mind you!

Perhaps a comparison to a similar situation, may prove to be helpful.

The current situation is similar to that of Russia, in early 1917, a time of Revolution. Also a time of mass confusion!

As is well known, at that time, the ‘’great slaughter’’ of working people was taking place. It has gone down in history as the First World War. The monopoly capitalists, the imperialists, of the most highly developed countries of the world, the so called ‘’Great Powers’’, were fighting among themselves, in an effort to redivide the world. 

One completely unexpected result of this, which is referred to as ‘’collateral damage’’, was the collapse of the Romanov dynasty! Those whom had ruled the huge Russian empire, for three centuries, were deposed, within the space of a mere eight days! Incredible!

This requires a little explanation.

As Lenin stated, in the first of his ‘’Letters From Afar’’, in reference to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, that ’’every abrupt turn in history, and this applies to every Revolution, presents such a wealth of content, unfolds such unexpected and specific combinations of forms of struggle and alignment of forces of the contestants, that to the lay mind there is much that must appear miraculous.’’  

He went on to explain that there were a ‘’number of factors of world historic importance’’ which led to the ‘’collapse of the tsarist monarchy, in a few days’’. 

Among other things, this required a ‘’great, mighty and all powerful ‘stage manager’, capable, on the one hand, of vastly accelerating the course of world history, and on the other, of engendering world wide crises of unparalleled intensity – economic, political, national and international…This all powerful ‘stage manager’, this mighty accelerator, was the imperialist world war’’.

May I suggest that the modern day equivalent of the ‘’imperialist world war’’, the ‘’all powerful stage manager’’, the ‘’mighty accelerator’’, that which is ‘’capable of vastly accelerating the course of world history’’, is a combination of the Covid Virus, and the financial crisis, which is currently sweeping the world. 

As well, a great many people have taken part in the Occupy Movement of recent memory. They are now seasoned veterans! They have no illusions! They know what to expect! We may think of them as the equivalent of the veterans of the Russian Revolution of 1905. Those veterans were another factor in the rapid overthrow of the Romanovs!

On that subject, in early 1917 Russia, there was, as Lenin stated, ‘’a profound proletarian and mass popular movement of a Revolutionary character …for bread, for peace, for real freedom’’. (italics by Lenin) For that reason, the common people, the workers and peasants, wanted Tsar Nicholas gone!

At the same time, the Russian capitalists also wanted Tsar Nicholas gone, but for completely different reasons! The capitalists wanted war! 

They were afraid that Tsar Nicholas would sign a ‘’separate’’ peace treaty with Germany! So the Russian capitalists, working with the British and French capitalists, through their embassies in the capitol of Saint Petersburg, organized a plot to depose Tsar Nicholas.

Lenin referred to this in the following terms: ‘’as a result of an extremely unique historical situation, absolutely dissimilar currents, absolutely heterogeneous class interests, absolutely contrary political and social strivings have merged’’. (italics by Lenin)

The lesson here, is that there are times when the goals of the Left ‘’merge’’ with the goals of the Right. This is not to say that we are allies. We are not. We are bitter enemies. It is to say that our goals have ‘’merged’’.

This brings us to our current situation, which involves the war in Ukraine. 

Those of us who are on the Left, consider this to be an ‘’unjust war’’, as Russia has invaded the country, in an attempt to conquer it. For that reason, those who are on the Left are calling for all people to support the people of Ukraine, in their war of defence, against the Russian invaders. That is a fact.

It is also a fact that those who are on the Right, by whom I mean the American government, are also supporting the Ukrainian people, in their war against the Russian invaders! They are shipping vast quantities of military hardware to Ukraine! For their own reasons! The American imperialists do not want the Russian imperialists to seize control of Ukraine! They want to have Ukraine join NATO, so that they can instead control Ukraine!

This is another example of ‘’absolutely contrary political strivings’’ merging! The Left wants to assist Ukraine in their struggle against Russian invaders, so that they can remain independent, while the Right wants to assist Ukraine, so that they can subdue the country! 

Without doubt, there are also a great many Leftist people, in Russia, who are also against the war in Ukraine. In this way, they too are supporting the people of Ukraine.

This brings us to the subject of war. In particular, not all wars are the same. Wars of conquest are considered to be ‘’unjust wars’’, and it is correct for people on the Left to oppose those wars. 

Just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an example of an unjust war, so too the American invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were examples of unjust wars. The opposition, by the Left, was correct, in those cases.

Such wars of conquest, ‘’unjust wars’’, stand in sharp contrast to wars which are ‘’just’’. These wars include that of national liberation, as well Revolutionary Wars!

We must stress that a true socialist, a Marxist, a Communist, is not a pacifist, an opponent of all war. Each war must be assessed, based on the facts, on the class character of that war. In each case, we must consider the events which led up to that particular war, the classes that are waging the war, and to what purpose.

In the case of the current war, which is raging in Ukraine, it is clear that the Russian imperialists, led by Putin, invaded the country of Ukraine, for the purpose of conquering the country. For that reason, we refer to this as an ‘’unjust war’’, on the part of Russia.

The citizens of Ukraine are fighting this unjust war, as they do not want to be conquered. They have no choice in the matter. They are not about to bow down to the Russian invaders! 

Now the American Left is supporting the Ukrainian people, in their defensive war,  against the Russian imperialists. This too is correct. 

No doubt, at the same time, within Russia, there is a strong anti war movement, against the Russian war of aggression. This is similar to the American anti war movement, during the time of the wars with Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Now if only the petty bourgeois journalists could understand that!

This confusion, among the journalists, is not at all surprising, but it is unfortunate. 

I say not surprising, because they are middle class, petty bourgeois, and the members of that class frequently get confused. Yet it is unfortunate, as they tend to spread their confusion. 

To this day, a great many common people still support Trump. This particular news outlet is a strong supporter of Trump. For that reason, a great many working people watch this news outlet, and are bound to become confused by that which the journalists state. After all, it makes no sense.

In conclusion, we can only stress the fact that classes exist. The working class, the proletariat, family farmers, and at least the lower strata of the middle class, the petty bourgeois – although ever more middle class people are moving to the Left! – are people whom I refer to as ‘’common people’’, the members of the ‘’Left’’.

By contrast, the billionaires, the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, also known as imperialists, along with their supporters, are members of the ‘’Right’’. 

As well, there are different types of war. Wars of aggression are ‘’unjust wars’’, and must be opposed. By contrast, there are ‘’just wars’’. These include wars of national liberation, and definitely Revolutionary Wars. 

These Revolutionary Wars we must embrace.

Especially as we are currently on the brink of a World Revolutionary Socialist War,

On March 30, 2023, American history was made. For the first time, a former president was charged with a crime. Donald Trump, in fact, was charged with over thirty crimes, which have yet to be disclosed.

The press is quite cheerfully reporting on all the gruesome details. That is awfully sweet of them, but the fact remains that most common people are not Philadelphia lawyers. For that reason, if no other, many people are quite confused. As that is the case, and as so many people are interested, it is time to explain a few things.

We can start by facing the fact that the journalists are now crowing about Trump being ‘’indicted’’ by a Manhattan Grand Jury. This is a legal term which just means that he has been charged. Perish forbid they should just use plain and simple English!

There is a big difference between a Grand Jury and a regular jury. 

A Grand Jury is composed of twenty three citizens, supposedly chosen at random. We are concerned with the Grand Jury which issued ‘’indictments’’ for Trump, in New York City.

The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, is the prosecutor. He ‘’convened’’ a Grand Jury. He then presented evidence, to that Grand Jury, in support of his contention that one or more crimes has been committed, by Donald Trump. This evidence included witnesses. We have no way of knowing what was said, as the only people who are allowed into the room are the prosecutor, the jurors, witnesses and a court reporter. 

It is significant that no judge or defence lawyers are allowed into the room, so that there can not possibly be any cross examination of any witness. Further, the defence cannot present any evidence. In fact, the people who are the focus of the investigation may not even be aware that they are being investigated!

After Bragg, the DA, presented his case, he asked the Grand Jury for an indictment, or a number of indictments, in order to charge Trump. Apparently they responded, with a certain amount of enthusiasm.

In all cases, the Grand Jury is told that if they consider it ‘’more likely than not’’, that the defendant is guilty, then they should vote to indict. A simple majority is required for an indictment. This means that if only twelve jurors, out of twenty three, vote to indict, then the defendant is charged. 

It should come as no great surprise to anyone, to find that the Grand Jury almost always votes to indict. That is the source of the ridiculous expression that ‘’a Grand Jury can vote to indict a ham sandwich’’.

Perhaps the strangest part of these proceedings, is the fact that the alleged ‘’crime’’ in question, that of paying ‘’hush money’’ to a porn star, is nothing more than a misdemeanour, one which took place seven years ago. By law, the maximum penalty for a misdemeanour is one year in jail, but this almost never happens. Yet the DA is arguing that the payment was documented incorrectly, and was used to commit another crime, a felony. As that is the case, the ‘’hush money payment’’ was also a felony. 

A great many legal experts are suggesting that the DA is ‘’standing on rather shaky legal ground’’. This is their polite way of saying that they expect the courts to throw out the charges. That is certainly the goal of the lawyers who work for Trump!

By law, a felony is a serious crime, usually punishable by imprisonment for a term of several years. By contrast, a misdemeanour is a less serious crime, so that those who are convicted, rarely go to jail. No wonder the lawyers who represent Trump are trying to get those felony charges thrown out of court!

As yet, we do not know just which charges Trump is facing, as the indictments are ‘’under seal’’, to use the legal expression.

The next step in this ‘’gong show’’ involves the ‘’accused’’, in this case Trump. He is expected to ‘’surrender’’ to the police. This is to say that he is expected to ‘’present himself’’ to the police, at a certain agreed upon time.

His lawyers are trying to work out the details, which are complicated by the fact that he is under the protection of the Secret Service! Just how the Secret Service is supposed to protect Trump, while in police custody, or even in jail, is a mystery!

After Trump ‘’surrenders himself’’, to the police, he can expect to be ‘’booked’’. This is to say that he will be treated in the same manner as all other ‘’criminal suspects’’. He will be photographed and fingerprinted!

Then he will be taken to the Supreme Court of the state of New York, in the borough of Manhattan, for his ‘’arraignment’’. In other words, he will be taken into court, escorted by the police, and brought before the judge. It remains to be seen if he will be wearing handcuffs!

While in court, before a judge, the criminal charges against Trump will be read aloud. At that point, he will become aware of the charges against him. And so will we!

He will then be expected to ‘’enter a plea’’. No doubt that will be a plea of ‘’not guilty’’. This is all part of the arraignment process. 

At that time, there is also something referred to as ‘’discovery’’, so that a prosecutor must turn over all evidence to the defence attorneys.

We can expect Trump to be released on ‘’PR Bond’’, also known as ‘’personal recognizance bond’’, which is a type of bail bond that does not require the defendant to pay any money up front. Instead, the court issues an order releasing the defendant from custody on the condition that they agree to appear for all scheduled court appearances.

It is only those who cannot afford to post the bail bond, who are required to come up with that money! Those who are filthy rich, are relieved of that burden!

The journalists are speculating that the lawyers for Trump will ‘’file a motion’’ to have all charges dropped, or more likely, a great many motions. After all, there are ‘’higher courts’’. This particular court is the Supreme Court of the state of New York, not of the country. As Trump can afford to hire a small army of lawyers, he can no doubt drag this through the courts for many years, if need be. 

Strangely enough, these charges, in the state of New York, are considered to be the ‘’weakest’’. Several other investigations have also been going on, for several years, but as yet, no prosecutor has ‘’worked up the courage’’ to charge Trump. Now that Bragg has dared to perform his duty, this may well ‘’open the flood gates’’. 

Possibly the most serious charges may soon be placed by the state of Georgia, in that they are considering charging Trump with ‘’attempting to overturn the federal election of 2020’’. Such an accusation borders on treason!

It is reported that a Grand Jury, in that state, has completed their investigation, on January 24 of this year. Now it is up to the District Attorney to ‘’take the plunge’’, to press charges against Trump. Feel free to ‘’grow a set’’!

Legal experts said that Trump may have violated at least three state election laws, all of which are very serious. A conviction of any one of those charges could result in a lengthy prison sentence.

On the federal level, the United States District Attorney may charge that Trump ‘’improperly retained classified records’’ at his Florida estate, after he left office, and then ‘’attempted to obstruct a federal investigation’’. 

The House of Representatives has requested that the Justice Department also charge Trump for the role he played, in that which they refer to as the ‘’January 6 Insurrection’’. For that reason, the Justice Department is also ‘’investigating his actions in the 2020 election’’.

As well, the Attorney General of the state of New York is reportedly investigating Trump, and his family, for allegations of various acts of fraud, in their business dealings. They claim that Trump and his company, Trump Organization, owe them 250 million.

They also maintain that they have uncovered evidence of ‘’criminal wrong doing’’, which was promptly referred to the federal prosecutors and the IRS. Another one who should ‘’grow a set’’!

Those people certainly know how to ‘’pass the buck’’!

It is entirely possible that the investigation, by the state of New York, into allegations of fraud, by Trump and his family, may become his biggest headache. Trump may not be the only one who could be facing a lengthy stay in prison!  

While there is a law forbidding married couples from testifying against each other, there is no law against children testifying against their parents! Further, there is a vicious rumour to the effect that at least one of his children has been spending some ‘’quality time’’ with the FBI! It is doubtful that these were social calls!

Numerous -former!- ’’business associates’’ of Trump can testify to the fact that he does not hesitate to throw anyone ‘’under the bus’’, if it suits his purpose. It is entirely possible that he has taught his children well!  Trump may soon find himself joining so many others, ‘’under the bus’’! Thrown there by one of his own children! One who is a ‘’chip off the old block’’! The old ‘’better you than me’’!

We have decided to go into considerable detail, concerning the charges against Trump, only because the common people are interested in this. Not for a moment, do we believe that sending Trump to jail, will change anything!

As is well known, those who are extremely rich, the billionaires, are above the law. They can do almost anything they like, and get away with it. So what is going on with Trump?

Even though Trump is a billionaire, a member of a class which we refer to as the bourgeoisie, the class of people who are in charge, he is considered to be a renegade. 

As he is a ‘’loose cannon’’, the other members of his class have decided that he must go. For that reason, they have given the ‘’go ahead’’ to various District Attorneys, across the country. Send Trump to jail! It is now ‘’open season’’ on Donald Trump!

In fact, this is just part of the ‘’process of dissolution going on within the ruling class’’, as the capitalists are losing their ‘’grip’’ on power. 

It is becoming abundantly clear that capitalism is in a state of crisis. Further, the capitalists can no longer rule in the old way. It is also just as clear that the ‘’lower classes’’, the working people, are no longer content to live in the old way, and are demanding change. This is the very definition of a Revolutionary situation! 

Now for the Revolution to be successful, it is necessary that a ‘’majority of the class conscious, thinking and politically active workers, should fully realize that Revolution is necessary’’, according to Lenin.

To such people, the working people who are demanding change, we can only stress the importance of becoming class conscious. Feel free to read the most important works of Marx and Lenin, including the Communist Manifesto, the Essential Works of Lenin, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. 

Those works stress the importance of Revolution, of overthrowing the monopoly capitalists, of smashing the existing state apparatus and setting up a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. That is necessary, in order to keep them from returning to power.

Bear in mind that the only reason this article was focused on Trump, is because that is what people are talking about. Capitalism is capitalism, regardless of the individual who is president. All presidents serve the same class.

The Revolution will break out soon. That much is clear. What is not clear, is whether or not it will be successful. That largely depends upon the most advanced strata of the proletariat.

With that in mind, may we suggest such slogans as:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Scientific Socialism!

France. ‘’The land where, more that anywhere else, the historical class struggles were each time fought out to a decision’’, according to Engels. 

It would appear that the country of France is, once again, fighting the class struggle to a decision! This time the class struggle is between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

For the last three months, the government of France, led by President Macron, has been trying to enact ‘’pension reform’’, as they put it, in that they want to raise the retirement age by two years, from sixty two, to sixty four. As the French Parliament refused to agree to this, they managed to ‘’ram the bill through’’, so that it is now law.

The trade unions have responded by calling for strikes. So far this year, there have been nine strikes. Each strike has grown progressively stronger, with ever more popular support. 

The strike on March 23 was exceptionally strong, with protests happening in 250 towns and cities across the country. The government estimated one million people took part in the protests, while the unions estimated the number at three and one half million. 

People of all ages and all walks of life took part, so that the movement is very broad and deep. Trains were shut down and flights were delayed. The workers refused to pick up the trash, so that garbage is now piled up on the streets. Most metro lines were closed. A great many teachers joined the protests. The oil refineries were picketed. In the city of Bordeaux, the Town Hall was set on fire. As well, numerous dumpsters and vehicles have been set ablaze.

The journalists who are covering these ‘’protests’’ are, for the most part, doing a rather fine job of reporting the facts. The videos support their broadcasts. On the other hand, their analysis is frequently in direct contradiction to those facts. Not too surprising, as it is in their best interest to do so. 

One of these facts is that the ‘’fury is mounting’’. The violent clashes are ‘’escalating’’. It is ‘’hitting the streets like a tidal wave’’. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and a great many police have been injured, some quite seriously. 

One sign stated, ‘’let us destroy what destroys us’’. Excellent! This is an indication that the Revolutionary Motion has now gone beyond opposition to ‘’pension reform’’, and has also gone beyond opposition to President Macron, and the government he represents. It means there is a growing sense of class consciousness, if only in embryonic form. 

It is perhaps significant that the ‘’protesters’’, those who are really Revolutionaries, have adopted a tactic which we have not seen before. They are using umbrellas, to good effect. While facing the riot police, they present the umbrellas as a ‘’wall’’, which screens them from the police, and from between these umbrellas, are able to fire ‘’projectiles’’. From the videos, it is not clear what these projectiles are, or how they are fired. Yet it is clear that these projectiles are effective, as in one video, a member of the riot police, covered in body armour, was knocked down, apparently unconscious, and dragged away by his buddies.

The press is reporting that the police are also being pelted with ‘’molotov cocktails and acid’’, although there are no videos to support this. A molotov cocktail is nothing other than a glass bottle, filled with petrol, with a rag in the spout. The rag is set afire, the bottle is thrown, and as the glass breaks, the flaming petrol splashes about. Truly a Revolutionary weapon!

Some of the protesters are now openly talking of Revolution. As one girl stated, ‘’No great Revolution was ever achieved with a bouquet of roses’’. Clearly, the level of class consciousness among the working class, the proletariat, is rising!

President Macron is being referred to as a member of the ‘’modern day royalty’’, a different class entirely. As the French have a  history of dealing rather harshly with their royalty, this does not bode well for Macron, or the members of his class. 

It is true that ‘’France is under siege, by its own citizens’’, as is reported by the journalists. The country is truly ‘’convulsing’’, with a ‘’tidal wave of violence’’ washing over the streets. Yet the press is careful to avoid the word ‘’Revolution’’!

The response of the police has been condemned by the Council of Europe, and by Amnesty International. They think the police are being too brutal. 

Now the French Revolution has reached the point where some fire fighters have joined the Revolutionaries. The experience of previous Revolutions suggests that before long, the police will also join the Revolution. 

Now unions are calling for another general strike, on March 28. Clearly, a Revolution is happening, yet it is not the duty of trade unions to lead a Revolution.

This is not to denigrate the role of trade unions. By no means. To put it in popular terms, ‘’the right tool for the job!’’ 

As Lenin explained, quite clearly, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, ‘’The trade unions were a tremendous step forward for the working class in the early days of capitalist development, inasmuch as they marked a transition from the workers disunity and helplessness to the rudiments of class organization’’. He went on to say that it is the role of trade unions to ‘’educate and school people, to give them all round development and an all round training, so that they are able to do everything’’ (italics by Lenin)

He went on to point out, ‘’the development of the proletariat did not, and could not, proceed anywhere in the world otherwise than through the trade unions, through reciprocal action between them and the Party of the working class’’. 

Of course, the ‘’Party of the working class’’ is the Communist Party. Further, the only true Communist Party is one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ‘’touchstone’’ of a true Marxist. It is up to the Communist Party to help the proletariat develop through ‘’reciprocal action’’, with the trade unions. 

This brings us to the role of the Communist Party. Lenin refers to this as the ‘’Revolutionary Party of the Proletariat, the highest form of proletarian class organization’’. It is up to the Communist Party to ‘’educate and guide the trade unions’’,  as they are an ‘’indispensable ‘school of Communism’ and a preparatory school that trains proletarians to exercise their dictatorship, an indispensable organization of the workers’’(italics by Lenin)

Perhaps as a means of stressing the difficulty of this task, Lenin went on to say that it is the ‘’necessity, the absolute necessity, for the Communist Party, the vanguard of the proletariat, its class conscious section, to resort to changes of tact, to conciliation and compromises with the various groups of proletarians, with the various parties of the workers and small masters. It is entirely a matter of knowing how to apply these tactics in order to raise –not lower- the general level of proletarian class consciousness, revolutionary spirit, and ability to fight and win.’’ (italics by Lenin)

We hope that clarifies the roles of trade unions, as well as that of the Communist Party.

It would appear that there are a number of strong trade unions in France, but no true French Communist Party. Of course, by this we mean one that calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. 

This is a serious matter, as the one and only way the Revolution can succeed, is through the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! True, the existing government, referred to as the Macron Regime, must be overthrown. Yet that is not enough! This government merely represents the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. The existing state apparatus, which has been set up, by the capitalists, in order to crush and exploit the working people, must be smashed! it must be then replaced by another state apparatus, in order to crush the ‘’desperate and determined’’ resistance of the bourgeoisie, as they try, after the Revolution, to restore their ‘’paradise lost’’. This new state apparatus is known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The worst night mare of every capitalist!

It is entirely possible -even likely!- that there are a number of social chauvinists in France, working diligently, in order to divert the Revolutionary motion onto some harmless course of ‘’social reform’’. By ‘’harmless’’, we mean harmless to the bourgeoisie! Social chauvinists are socialists in words only, chauvinists in deeds! They are among the most loyal, devoted servants of the bourgeoisie! 

Lenin refers to these people as ‘’Economists’’, or ‘’Mensheviks’’, and documents the struggle he had with them, in his excellent article, What Is To Be Done? 

But then capitalism gives rise to such people, in all countries! It is up to true scientific socialists, Marxists, Communists, to expose these people. They must be rooted out, as they are counter revolutionary.

Now it is up to class conscious people, those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to bring to the working class, the proletariat, the awareness of themselves as a class, with their own class interests. By and large, this means middle class people, as those revolutionary theories are taught only in University. 

Yet now that we have been blessed with the Internet, the situation has changed, quite dramatically. Many of those revolutionary works can be directly downloaded, such as the Communist Manifesto. Others can be ordered online. As well, with the use of email, documents can be sent, quite easily. It is no longer necessary to resort to the written word, on paper, referred to as leaflets. This makes the job of Communists ever so much easier!

Further, as mentioned in other articles, due to the ‘’process of dissolution’’ going on within the capitalist class, a great many middle class people are joining the working class. Some voluntarily, others not so voluntarily. It matters not, as long as they bring with them their awareness of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. 

To such people, we can only suggest that it is a ‘’win – win’’ situation. You have nothing to lose! After the Revolution, your experience and training will be in demand! You will be rewarded accordingly! Your past, in the service of the capitalists, will not be held against you!

That brings us to one more detail, which is conspicuous by its absence. That is Soviets, or Councils. We do not know the name in French. Yet Revolution, or more accurately, Revolutionary motion, gives rise to such organizations. They have almost certainly made an appearance, yet there is no mention of them, on the Internet.  We can only suggest that Communists become active within these strictly proletarian creations.

It is clear that the French working people are now in the vanguard of the World Socialist Revolutionary motion. We can only hope that they will honour their Revolutionary ancestors, the Communards, the heroic workers of Paris, those who took part in the Paris Commune, of 1871! The example of the Paris Communards will forever serve as an inspiration to all Revolutionaries! 

Deception! Betrayal! Collusion! These are just a few of the charges that are being levelled against Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary! And not by Marxists, but by her own people! Fellow capitalists!

No Marxist has ever accused any capitalist of betrayal, because at no point has any Marxist ever trusted any capitalist! And the one and only way you can have betrayal, is by first having trust! No trust, no betrayal!

It is the small time capitalists, the middle class, the petty bourgeois, who are levelling those serious accusations against the Treasury Secretary, as well as President Biden. There is a reason for their bitterness! They have been betrayed! It is entirely possible that they have just lost everything! At least, almost everything.

Perhaps a brief summary of recent events will prove to be helpful. 

On Friday, March 10 of this year, Silicon Valley Bank, SVB, collapsed. It was one of the biggest banking failures in American history. As we have previously documented, the Treasury Secretary wasted no time in assuring depositors that their deposits, in all banks, regardless of the amount, was safe. She assured one and all that, if need be, the tax payer would cover the payments, or the Treasury would ‘’create money out of thin air’’. This was made quite clear on the weekend of March 11 and 12.

Yet almost immediately, within the space of three days, the government policy, that of insuring all deposits, regardless of the amount, changed dramatically!  All deposits of a very few banks would be covered, regardless of the amount! Aside from that, the deposits in the vast majority of banks, would be covered only up to 250,000!

In other words, five or six of the biggest banks in the country are to be ‘’saved’’, while the rest are to be ‘’thrown under the bus’’.

Yellen then went on to explain the process which would be used to determine which banks would be ‘’saved’’, as opposed to those banks which would be ‘’thrown under the bus’’: ‘’If a super majority of FDIC board, and a super majority of The Fed Board, and I in consultation with the president, determine that the failure to protect uninsured depositors, would create systemic risk and significant economic and financial consequences’’. 

In other words, it is up to Yellen and Biden to determine which banks are to succeed! Only those which are To Big To Fail, TBTF, are to be saved. Those which are Too Small To Succeed, are to be thrown under the bus!

It is perhaps not too surprising that a great many middle class people are quite upset. After all, they have a great deal to lose! Like everything! Aside from the quarter million they may have in small banks!

The Treasury Secretary has just succeeded in drawing a clear distinction between ‘’them’’, and ‘’us’’. ‘’They’’ are the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, and ‘’we’’ are the ‘’common people’’, the working people, the ‘’rag tag and bob tail’’, the ‘’little guy’’. Now that includes the middle class, the petty bourgeois, as the billionaires are determined to drive them into bankruptcy! What better way to accomplish this, than by allowing all community banks to fail?

Perhaps a little explanation is in order. 

When we refer to the capitalists, we are referring to the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires and multi billionaires, technically referred to as the ‘’bourgeoisie’’. We are not referring to the middle class, technically referred to as the ‘’petty bourgeois’’. Granted, they are small time capitalists, but they too are being crushed and exploited by the bourgeoisie. Especially now! That is becoming clear to all of them!

Also, the word ‘’systemic’’ is being frequently used, especially in regards to banks. This is to say that the capitalists are afraid that the failure of ‘’big banks’’, will lead to the collapse of a great many other businesses.

By and large, the capitalists justify the ‘’saving’’ of big banks, by saying that their failure, could lead to the collapse of other businesses, which they refer to as ‘’systemic collapse’’. 

An indication of the level of concern of the middle class people, verging on panic, is expressed on a popular Radio Show, in an unprecedented ‘’Special Edition’’. They, by whom we mean the announcer and his ‘’guest’’, refer to the current ‘’insanity of the banking system’’. They accuse Treasury Secretary Yellen, as well as President Biden, of Deception! Betrayal! Collusion! They appear to be quite bitter! Who can blame them? Over the weekend, they were assured that all the money they had in the bank was insured. Now they realize that it was all a lie! Most of the money, which is in community banks, is not insured!

This is the reason they are screaming Deception! Because they have been deceived! They trusted the Treasury Secretary when she swore, on the weekend, that all their deposits were safe! They believed her! She lied, out of loyalty to the billionaires, so that they could draw all of their money out of the regional banks, before they collapsed! The middle class people have been Betrayed!

As for Collusion, they point out that Yellen was formerly head of The Fed, and is now head of the Treasury  Department. They also give the example of a lady who was ‘’second in command of the Federal Reserve’’, has now ‘’moved to the White House as top economic advisor and director of the National Economic Council to the Biden administration’’. They use this as an example of Collusion! They think that the government is conspiring against them! Well of course they are! This is standard practice! 

These two middle class gentlemen are among the finest, of all the bourgeois economists. They expect all regional banks to fail, including the banks with which they have deposits. In other words, they expect to soon be ruined. They say ‘’the economy is collapsing at high speed’’. They also expect that a very few American banks will survive, but that will lead quickly to a ‘’World Central Bank’’, complete with Digital Currency. It is nice to know what the capitalists have in mind!

Incidentally, there are those who blame this financial collapse on the Covid Epidemic. They are mistaken. As Lenin stated, in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, ‘’Crises of every kind -economic crises more frequently, but not only these- in their turn increase very considerably the tendency towards monopoly and concentration’’. 

The crisis of the Covid Epidemic did not cause this financial collapse. It merely ‘’increased very considerably the tendency towards monopoly and concentration’’. 

This brings us to a couple events, on that broadcast, which were rather strange. First, the announcer stated that the biggest banks were ‘’Marxist’’! As if Marxists are in charge of the biggest banks, the ‘’pillars of capitalism’’! Could that fellow be on drugs? Likely some good stuff! Perhaps he would care to share! No need to be greedy!

Then, later on in the program, he held up a book by Marx and Engels, the Communist Manifesto, no less! What ever that boy is on, we could all use a taste!

Perhaps this can be explained by the fact that even the ‘’most Intelligent members of the bourgeoisie’’ can ‘’become muddled’’, so that they ‘’cannot help creating irreparable blunders’’. In fact, this will ‘’bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie’’, according to Lenin, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder.

Or it could be that they are giving thought to joining the working class, the proletariat. For that matter, they may not have much choice in the matter! From the broadcast, it is clear that they, and a great many more, just like them, are in the process of being ruined! We can certainly use such people!

As Marx and Engels stated, in the Communist Manifesto, it is such people who ‘’supply the proletariat with fresh elements of enlightenment and progress’’. 

The Manifesto further states that ‘’in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the process of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands’’. 

We are convinced that we are close to the ‘’decisive hour’’! Now is the time for those who are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to become active! That includes those who are, or were formerly, members of the middle class! Feel free to join the Proletariat, the ‘’class that holds the future in its hands’’! The middle class has no future with the bourgeoisie! The few who are not now ruined, soon will be!

The Proletariat has use for such people! After the Revolution, your services will be in great demand! You will be rewarded accordingly! But for the moment, focus on raising the level of awareness of the Proletariat! Make them aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin! Make them aware of themselves as a class! Make them aware of the necessity of smashing the existing state apparatus, and replacing it with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! This can only be done through Revolution! Take part in the creation of a truly Communist Party, Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Become active! Organize demonstrations and protests! Carry signs and posters that proclaim:

Scientific Socialism! 

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Workers of the World, Unite!