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On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a twenty two year old Iranian woman, died while in the hospital, as a result of head injuries. This young lady was first arrested, by the ”morality police”, for the terrible ”crime” of not wearing her head scarf (hajib) properly. Part of her hair was still visible! She was then taken to jail, beaten and died of her wounds.

It is entirely possible that this day will go down in history, as the beginning of the World Socialist Revolution.

Almost immediately, protests erupted and quickly spread all across Iran. Women of all ages began to burn their head scarfs and cut their hair. As well, marches and demonstrations have taken place, across the country. The police have tried very hard to quell the protests, with a great many protesters being arrested, while others have been killed, but to no avail. Instead, these protests have spread around the world. Even the journalists are now referring to this as a full scale Revolution.

Comparisons with the first Russian Revolution of 1917, referred to as the February Revolution, come to mind. The similarities are striking. For one thing, Iran is a big country, and while it is no where near the size of Russia, it is still about three times the size of France. As well, the current government of Iran states that ”Irans Republican and Islamic foundations are inextricably linked together Constitutionally”.

The implication is that there are two sets of laws, which are ”inextricably linked together”. On the one hand, there are the laws of the Republic of Iran, the ”laws of man”, and on the other hand, there are the Islamic Foundation laws, the ”Laws of God”! In other words, the ”laws of man” are ”inextricable linked together” with the ”laws of God”! Those two laws were never meant to be ”linked together”!

Under a democratic republic, no monarch is recognized, and citizens have certain democratic rights. One of those democratic rights is that of worshiping the God of our understanding, as we see fit. No one, and certainly no government, has any right to impose their beliefs on any citizen! Yet by ”linking together” the laws of the Republic with the Islamic Foundation laws, that is precisely what is happening!

The people of Iran are going to have to separate the two! No doubt the Revolutionary uprising is determined to separate the laws of the Islamic Foundation, from the laws of the Republic of Iran.

By comparison with Russia in early 1917, the common people of Russia were being crushed by the nobility and the capitalists. By the ”common people” I am referring to the workers and the peasants. The power of the Czar was almost absolute, while the conditions of life for the working class people was deplorable. The peasants in turn were also exploited by the landlords. All were cold, hungry and being used as ”cannon fodder” in the war with Germany and the Central Powers. They wanted nothing so much as bread, peace and land. The Czar and the capitalists had no intention of giving them any of that. I should add that by ”capitalists”, I am referring to the monopoly capitalists, at that time referred to as millionaires, not those who own a small business.

Yet as is well known, the Revolution became so strong that in February of 1917, Czar Nicholas was overthrown. The three hundred year long reign of the Romanovs was finished! The common people of Russia had accomplished the impossible! No one thought this was possible! The power of Revolution!

Now it is up to the common people of Iran, the workers and peasants, to also overturn the laws of the Islamic Foundation. By that, I mean to get the clergy out of the business of governing! Religion has no place in politics! The Iranian Republic must separate from the Islamic Foundation!

Assuming that takes place, then the situation will be similar to that which existed in Russia, after the Czar was overthrown. A Russian democratic republic was established, with the class of capitalists in power. At that time, the capitalists placed a self proclaimed socialist, a fool by the name of Kerensky, as the figure head leader, a mere puppet of the capitalists. The land remained in the hands of the landlords, the war continued, the promised Constituent Assembly was delayed, and all the common people, both workers and peasants, remained as cold and hungry as ever, still used as cannon fodder, all truly desperate.

Yet the Czar was no longer in power, and that was a step in the right direction. The next step, that of overthrowing the capitalists, required the direction of scientific socialists. The common people had gone as far as they could. The hated Czar was overthrown. By themselves, they could do no more. They needed a leader.

In April of that year, their leader returned from exile. His name was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, commonly known as Lenin.

It was Lenin who explained to the common people the necessity of Revolution. He pointed out that the class of people who were running the country, the capitalists, technically known as the bourgeoisie, had to be overthrown. They are concerned only with their profit. Just as a Revolution was required, to overthrow the Czar, so too another Revolution was required, to overthrow the capitalists.

The Russian working class was not aware of this, for good reason. The working class, the proletariat, is not aware of itself, as a class. The conditions of life, of the proletariat, do not lead to this awareness. That awareness must be brought to the working class, from an outside source. That outside source is middle class intellectuals. Make no mistake, Marx and Lenin were middle class intellectuals.

Lenin worked all his life to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to make them ”class conscious”. There is a reason for this. It is the working class, the proletariat, that is a truly Revolutionary class. Even though in Russia, at that time, they were in a minority, it was up to them to lead the Revolution, against the capitalists, to victory. This they accomplished, in magnificent style, in October of 1917.

Now a similar situation exists, and not just in Iran, but around the world. Just as the working class of Russia was not aware of itself as a class, with its own class interests, so too the working class, the proletariat, of other countries of today, are not class conscious.

In Russia, in 1917, Lenin and other Communists, provided the working people of Russia with the class consciousness they so desperately needed. Now it is up to middle class intellectuals of today, to provide the working class Revolutionaries, of all countries of the world, with that class consciousness.

There are a few important differences between Russia of 1917, and the present. Not the least of which is the fact that currently, we have no true Communist Party. Or at least, none of which I am aware. Certainly there is no Communist Party in any highly industrialized country of the world. Bear in mind that a true Communist Party embraces the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ”touchstone” of a true Marxist, according to Lenin.

Mind you, there is no shortage of Parties which claim to be Marxist. Social chauvinists, one and all, those who are socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds. They are all ”revisionists”, those who try to ”revise” the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. They are among the most dedicated, devoted servants of the billionaires, the capitalists. Belly crawling boot lickers, one and all.

Then too, we have the self described Democratic Socialists, those who are fighting for democracy and socialism. We have no quarrel with these people, as they make no claim to be Marxists. These are our friends and allies.

The point being that it is now up to people who are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to raise the level of awareness of the common people. Further, not just in America, but around the world. As the fires of Revolution are raging, in perhaps all of the industrialized countries of the world, the need is immediate and urgent.

All working people, and especially the proletariat, must be made aware of themselves as a class, with their own class interests. The class of people in charge, the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, must be overthrown. This can only happen through Revolution. Further, the state apparatus, which has been set up to crush the working people, must be smashed. It must then be replaced with a different state apparatus, one which is designed to crush the capitalists, as they try desperately to restore their ”paradise lost”. This working class state apparatus is known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Lenin explained this supremely well in his excellent article, State and Revolution. That is required reading for all Revolutionaries.

With respect to the current Revolution taking place in Iran, as well as in other countries of the world, may I suggest that we learn from the experience of previous Revolutions. In particular, the Russian Revolutions, as they so closely resemble our own. We can learn from their successes, as well as their mistakes.

At the time of the Russian Revolution, about three quarters of the people were peasants. The conditions of life, of the peasants, do not lead to the awareness of the necessity of Revolution. It is also very likely that few of them could read. Yet the situation was desperate, and under the leadership of the working class, the proletariat, a great many peasants became Revolutionary. That is especially true of the poor peasants.

As previously mentioned, at that time, Russia was blessed with a true Communist Party. The members of this Party were most valuable in raising the level of awareness of the common people, both workers and peasants.

Another important difference of today, which can work in our favour, is the fact that the working people of Iran are now quite ”cultured”. According to the Internet, in this country of possibly 85 million people, around 80 percent of the men, and 65 percent of the women, are literate. Excellent! No doubt many of those people have digital devices of some sort, generally referred to as computers. These can be used to download Revolutionary literature from the Internet.

That is also very likely the case in various other countries of the world, where Revolution is raging, especially in the most highly industrialized countries.

There is currently wide spread support, in various countries of the world, especially concerning the Revolution in Iran. No doubt the people of Iran speak various languages, although Farsi is predominant. So I suggest that people in other countries support these Revolutionaries, by sending Revolutionary literature in their own language. State and Revolution is absolutely critical. Other important works of Lenin include What Is To Be Done?, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder.

It is significant that the Iranian Revolution is being led by women and students. In North America, the women and students are also playing a key role. No doubt many women, and almost all students, are familiar with the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Equally without doubt, all are determined to ”make a difference”. Now is your chance! Get together with people from Iran, or of Iranian descent, and make contact with the Revolutionaries in Iran, through the Internet, of course. Support them in any way possible, especially with Revolutionary literature, in a language they understand.

The Revolutionaries of Iran are in the forefront of the Revolutionary Movement, soon to become part of a World Socialist Revolution. They are not the only ones! China is also in ”turmoil”, to use the expression of the bourgeois. The Chinese censors are doing their best to keep all reports on the protests, secret from the world, but the occasional email does get through. There are also wide spread protests in Russia. As I write this, Peru is ”in the news”. Apparently the whole country is in a ”state of anarchy”.

Clearly, the Revolution is spreading around the world. The Revolutionaries of all those countries need our help, and not just those in Iran. Very soon the Revolution will touch down on the shores of North America. It is about to become part of a World Socialist Revolution!

The fact of the matter is that the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are supremely well aware of this. They are an exceptionally class conscious group of people! They recognize this Revolutionary Movement, while carefully avoiding the word Revolution. At the same time, they go to great lengths, resort to verbal gymnastics, in an effort to avoid the use of the word ”Revolution”, as well as the word ”capitalism”!

We are currently experiencing a ”crisis in capitalism”, and the capitalists admit that they ”have no solutions”. Yet the Obama duo have recently set up the ”Obama Foundation”, with the goal of ”finding a cure”. We can only marvel at such starry eyed optimism! They honestly think that they can ”fix” capitalism!

Having said that, allow me to add that I believe in ”giving credit where credit is due”. I have to say that the Obama Foundation certainly has a done a fine job of pointing out the problem, as well as the solution! At the same time, they were careful to make no mention of Revolution! For that matter, they made no mention of classes!

In fact, they ”hit the nail on the head”, with this statement: ”ordinary people working together can change history”! True! In fact it is a fundamental tenet of Marxism that ”the masses are the makers of history”!

It gets even better when they go on to say: ”Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone”!

Outstanding! To think that the Obama Foundation is encouraging people to do precisely the same thing that I am recommending! By all means, get together and change the world! Take action! Unite with Revolutionaries in other parts of the world! The one and only way the world can be changed for the better, is by overthrowing international capital! Take to heart the immortal words of Marx, and Unite With the Workers of the World!

Here in North America, the capitalists are trying desperately to ”hold it together”. Inflation is out of control, gun violence is widespread, drug overdoses are common place, the number of homeless are increasing, the food banks are running out of food, the trains may quit running, and the country may soon shut down, possibly facing bankruptcy. So what is the response of the politicians in Washington? They are in gridlock, fighting among themselves! Rather than face the problems of today, they are focused on the federal election of two years hence!

For the benefit of those who are just now becoming politically active, may I point out that this is merely capitalism, in a state of crisis. The finest bourgeois economists admit that they cannot see any solution. But then they cannot imagine a world of socialism. Yet they are able to describe it!

In fact, one of the finest of the bourgeois economists, a man who was formerly the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors under President Obama, stated the problem quite clearly, while working for the Obama Foundation. His ”solution”, to the current crisis in capitalism, was to suggest ”approaches and solutions that are responsive to citizens and create inclusive and equitable economic realities for everyone”.

To think that one of the finest bourgeois economists suggested ”inclusive and equitable economic realities for everyone”! To put this in simple terms, that is called Socialism! He just made the argument for Socialism, without realizing this! In fact, he refers to this as ”inclusive capitalism”! Reality check, dear fellow! Socialism is just that! Socialism! Referring to this as ”inclusive capitalism” does not change the fact that it is Socialism!

As strange as this may seem, it is quite common! In his article, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, Lenin quoted a statement by the British Prime Minister, Lloyd George. That statement, by the Prime Minister, made absolutely no sense! As Lenin then stated, ”this argument shows in particular how muddled even the most intelligent members of the bourgeoisie have become, and how they cannot help committing irreparable blunders. That, in fact, is what will bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie.”

That explains the ”peculiar behaviour” of this highly respected bourgeois economist! Even though he is one of the ”most intelligent” of the lot, he is truly ”muddled”.

Perhaps someone should explain to this simple soul, this top bourgeois economist, that he is misguided! The Fundamental Law of Capitalism -assuming such a law exists- is that sentiment has no monetary value! All billionaires are supremely well aware of this! All attempts to ”tug on their heart strings” are futile, as they do not have any! Each and every one of them is a highly successful psycho path!

It is significant that another name for ”inclusive capitalism” is ”woke capitalism”. Apparently the word ”woke” is a reference to the idea that capitalists ”have a conscience”. Nonsense! Capitalists have about as much conscience as snakes have feathers!

It is significant that certain journalists, those who are the strongest supporters of capitalism, and in particular those of Fox News, ridicule the idea of ”woke corporations” and ”woke capitalism”. Properly so! The sole purpose of capitalism is to make a profit! They refer to this as their ”bottom line”! Conscience be damned! Whatever it takes to ”make a buck”!

Yet even though capitalism has reached a state of crisis, around the world, the system will not collapse, under its own weight. It has to be smashed!

With that in mind, the fact is that Councils, otherwise known as Soviets, appear spontaneously, or ”pop up”, during a time of Revolution. By all means, become involved with those Councils. Take part in training people for the approaching Insurrection. Organize study groups with Marxist literature. Make such literature widely available. Use the Internet and social media to carry the message. In America, join the two mainstream political parties, Democrat and Republican, as card carrying members. Coordinate Revolutionary actions with other Councils, and with Revolutionaries of other countries. Those who are familiar with the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin can work towards forming a Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. We can expect the most advanced workers to also take part in creating a true Communist Party, in various countries of the world, as they become aware of those Revolutionary theories.

The fact of the matter is that most of the people who are leading this World Socialist Revolution, at least in Iran and in America, are women and students. That is very likely also the case in other countries of the world. That places a huge burden on their shoulders. That is not the way it should be. The men should be leading the Revolution. No doubt as the Revolution grows in strength, countless men will become active. Until then, it is up to women and students to ”blaze the trail”. I deeply regret that. Yet there is no other way! But then, quite recently, it was women and students who proved to be excellent organizers. For that reason, I have complete confidence in them.

As for those who think that perhaps I am overstating the case, bear in mind that Revolutions tend to spread, and rapidly. That which the press is referring to as ”social upheaval” is Revolution, happening now, in various parts of the world. I consider this to be the beginning of a full scale World Socialist Revolution. I fully expect it to spread across the world. A World Socialist Revolution, which will in turn give rise to a World Socialist Republic.

No doubt, some may argue that the Revolution may not be Socialist. To such people, I can only respond that we live in a class society. We live under the rule of the capitalists. The capitalists are in charge. This is referred to as the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. The one and only alternative is Socialism, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. There is no middle course. No one in his right mind wants to continue to live under capitalism. Aside from the billionaires, of course. And they are not about to take part in any Revolution!

We will know that we are successful, when the term Dictatorship of the Proletariat is common place, when common people are openly calling for a Communist Party, for Socialism, and an end to capitalism.

May I suggest to the people who are now protesting, that they become more creative. Feel free to harass the capitalists, and their political servants, in various ways. Make their lives as miserable as possible. Create disturbances at their homes and businesses. Go to their restaurants and disrupt their fancy meals. Hound them at their vacation resorts. Sing to them the Internationale! Give them no peace! Protesters who have experience in entertainment, can no doubt devise methods of protest which are not only annoying, but also entertaining. Such events tend to make the evening news! Perhaps even the late night entertainment shows! In this way, the bourgeois journalists will assist us in spreading the message. Ever more working people will become politically aware. Bear in mind, that the best way to educate, is by entertaining, at the same time!

Make sure that banners and signs are placed in public locations, for all to see. These may read:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Soviet Power!

Scientific Socialism!

World Socialist Republic!

The first Russian Revolution of the twentieth century, referred to as the Revolution of 1905, or simply Oh Five, began on January 22, old style calendar, OSC, or January 9, new style calendar, NSC, of that year. At that time, in the capital city of Saint Petersburg, a priest, by the name of Father Gapon, led a procession of unarmed citizens to the Winter Palace of Czar Nicholas of Russia. As the loyal subjects of His Majesty, their one and only desire was to present to their monarch a petition, with a list of their legitimate grievances. In response, Czar Nicholas turned loose his Imperial Guard. By the end of the day, the streets of Saint Petersburg were littered with the bodies of countless dead and wounded Russian citizens.

This has gone down in Russian history as ”Bloody Sunday”.

Incidentally, at that time, they were using the Old Style Calendar, OSC, as opposed to the New Style Calendar, NSC. For the purposes of this article, I use the abbreviation of OSC and NSC.

Historians consider Bloody Sunday to be the start of the Revolution of 1905. As outrage spread across the country, a series of massive strikes spread across the industrial centres of the Russian Empire. The trains quit running. In outlying areas, the peasants attacked the landlords. Prisons were stormed and the inmates were released. For two years, the Russian Empire was shaken, but it did not collapse. In 1907, the uprising died down, and Czar Nicholas was still in power. There followed several years of reaction.

Not all Revolutions can be assigned a start date.

The European Revolution of 1848 is one such Revolution. Historians are agreed that it started in Sicily, in January of 1848, and spread across much of Europe. These are referred to as ”republic revolts”, in that the citizens rose up against their monarchies. All ended in failure, followed by widespread reaction, as the various monarchs punished the common people, for the terrible sin of challenging their ”betters”, daring to demand democratic rights.

It is significant that this Revolution has characteristics which are common to all modern Revolutions. They tend to spread! Even though it started in Sicily, it did not end there! The industrial Revolution has given rise to communications networks, which were completely unknown to our ancestors. We are now at the point of being made aware of events taking place, around the world, as they happen!

To return to Russia of the early twentieth century, after the Revolution of ”Oh Five”, reaction set in, as it always does, after the suppression of a mass movement. For several years, things ”returned to normal”, in the sense that the trains were running, the factories were producing, the peasants were growing their crops, the nobility was living a life of luxury, and the capitalists were making nothing but money! Life was good! At least for the ”upper classes”! They thought nothing had changed! They could not possibly have been more mistaken! The situation had changed, and changed quite dramatically! They just did not know it!

At the start of the Oh Five Revolution, the ”common people”, by whom I mean the workers and peasants, were the loyal subjects of His Majesty. After the Revolution, they remained the subjects of His Majesty. Just not so loyal.

That Revolution had succeeded in revealing, to common people, the true nature of the nobility! They were concerned only with their power and wealth! Any challenge to their authority was simply not allowed! Their response to the legitimate demands of the common people of Russia, left no room for any doubt!

In scientific jargon, we can say that the ”level of awareness” of the masses had been raised. (I tend to generally avoid the use of the word ”masses”, in reference to people, as it sounds so impersonal. I prefer the expression ”common people”, or ”working people”, or the ”rank and file”, as that is the manner in which they refer to themselves.)

It is also a fact that they were veterans! There is no substitute for experience! Those who took part in the Oh Five Revolution, knew what to expect! What is more, they knew how to respond!

As is well known, after several years of reaction, the Revolutionary motion picked up again. Only this time, it was much stronger! The common people had no illusions! They recognized the Czar as the butcher that he was! Nicholas the Bloody! They were focused on removing him from power, and they did! In February of 1917, he was overthrown. Not that the bourgeois writers state it in those terms. Those writers say that the Czar was forced to ”abdicate the throne”.

For that reason, the second Russian Revolution of the twentieth century became known as the February Revolution. It is one of those Revolutions which has not been given a ”start date”. This is understandable, as a Revolution comes about as the result of a mass movement. Yet some mass movements give rise to Revolutions, while others do not. Frequently, there is no clear distinction between the two. It generally comes down to common usage. As I am not terribly concerned with titles, I consider this to be a matter of indifference.

One such mass movement, of recent times, is that of the Occupy Movement. At no point has anyone referred to it as a Revolution. Be that as it may, it has been assigned a ”start date” of September 17, 2011. On that day, a group of people occupied a park in New York City. The bourgeois press referred to this as the ”’beginning of a populist socio-politico movement”.

It is important to remember that the ”press” is completely owned and operated by the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. Those who work for them, referred to as journalists, are careful to report events precisely in a manner of which the capitalists approve. These journalists are referred to as ”bourgeois”, as they are loyal, devoted servants of their ”lords and masters”, the bourgeoisie. For that reason, it is important to ”read between the lines”, to distinguish between the facts they state, as opposed to their analysis.

The following report is an example:

”The first Occupy protest to receive widespread attention, Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park, Lower Manhattan, began on 17 September 2011. By 9 October, Occupy protests had taken place or were ongoing in over 951 cities across 82 countries, and in over 600 communities in the United States. Although the movement became most active in the United States, by October 2011 Occupy protests and occupations had started in dozens of other countries across every widely inhabited continent. For the first month, overt police repression remained minimal, but this began to change by 25 October 2011, when police first attempted to forcibly remove Occupy Oakland. By the end of 2011 authorities had cleared most of the major camps, with the last remaining high-profile sites – in Washington, D.C. and in London – evicted by February 2012.”

This paragraph is somewhat exceptional, in the sense that it is rather accurate. It merely states the facts, without giving any analysis. The fact is that the Occupy Movement, was a Revolutionary Movement, one which started and spread around the world within a matter of days!

When I say ”around the world”, I am referring mainly to the countries of the world which are industrialized. Sometimes I over simplify, in order to make a point.

The writer is also correct in documenting the fact that the various government agencies wasted no time in crushing that Revolutionary Movement. In that process, the democratic rights of all citizens, in all capitalist countries, to peaceful protest, was disregarded. In each country, the class of people in charge, the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, made it abundantly clear, that they will tolerate no challenge to their authority.

In the following paragraph, the writer ”reverted to form” and presented more facts, but complete with a ”proper analysis”, in the sense that it was biased, or ”slanted”, in favour of the capitalists:

”The Occupy movement took inspiration in part from the Arab Spring, from the 2009 Iranian Green Movement, and from the Spanish Indignados Movement, as well as from the overall global wave of anti-austerity protests of 2010 and following. The movement commonly used the slogan “We are the 99%” and the #Occupy hashtag format; it organized through websites such as the now defunct Occupy Together. According to The Washington Post, the movement, which Cornel West described as a “democratic awakening”, is difficult to distill to a few demands. On 12 October 2011, the Los Angeles City Council became one of the first governmental bodies in the United States to adopt a resolution stating its informal support of the Occupy movement. In October 2012, the Executive Director of Financial Stability at the Bank of England stated that the protesters were right to criticise and had persuaded bankers and politicians “to behave in a more moral way”.

It is true that the protesters referred to themselves as the ”99%”, as opposed to the ”1%”. This is a step towards class consciousness, or perhaps it is more accurate to say that it is ”class consciousness in embryonic form”. There was an ”instinctive awareness” on the part of the ”vast majority”, or the ”common people”, or the ”rank and file”, as they refer to themselves. They instinctively distinguished themselves, the 99%, from the ”insignificant minority”, the ”extremely rich”, whom they referred to as the 1%.

All of those protesters were either working class, proletarians, or middle class, petty bourgeois. This calls for a little explanation, which some readers may find to be tiresome. Yet it is important, so bear with me.

Working class people are composed of those who have nothing to sell but their labour power. They sell themselves by the hour, for the fine reason that they have no choice in the matter. It is either that or starvation. Yet the conditions of life of the working class do not lead to the awareness of themselves as a class. The scientific name for this class is that of ”proletariat”.

The middle class people are those who may own a small business. They have something to sell. They are ”small time capitalists”, or ”petty bourgeois”. They are under extreme pressure from the monopoly corporations, as those who own those corporations, the billionaires, or ”bourgeoisie”, take a ”dim view” of competition. In fact, they are determined to wipe out all competition, no matter how minor.

In short, these are the three main classes of people in North America. The bourgeoisie, the proletariat, and the petty bourgeois. The middle class has been decimated, but is still a force. The class of peasants, or farmers, have been all but wiped out. They are ”hanging on by their finger tips”.

In other parts of the world, the peasants are still quite numerous. In certain countries, they make up the majority of the population. The Revolutionaries, in such countries, must take this into account.

The point being that during the Occupy Movement, the class of people known as the proletariat, as well as the class of people known as the petty bourgeois, came together and demanded change. The class of people known as the bourgeoisie, those who are in charge, made it quite clear that they will tolerate no discontent.

Now to return to the second paragraph. Perhaps the most glaring absurdity is the statement that ”the protesters…had persuaded the bankers and politicians to ‘behave in a more moral way”’. Nonsense! The ”bankers and politicians”, to whom the writer of this article refers, are the loyal and devoted servants of the the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie! Such people are not capable of acting ”in a moral way”! They are strangers to morality! They would not know a moral, if they tripped over it! To suggest that such people acted ”in a moral way”! They do not know how!

On the other hand, the journalist comes close to the truth, when he refers to the ”movement” as a ”democratic awakening”, which is ”difficult to distill to a few demands”. In fact, all Revolutions are characterized by the fact that common people get into motion, not aware of that which they are doing. For that reason, their demands were ”difficult to distill”.

The fact of the matter is that the Occupy Movement was absolutely Revolutionary! Countless people, those who were ”formerly apathetic”, become ”politically active”. Or as those who took part in the Occupy Movement phrased it, they ”woke up”.

This is characteristic of all Revolutions. Lenin went into this, in detail, in his excellent article, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. That too, is required reading for all Revolutionaries.

To proceed with our analysis of the second paragraph. The reference to the slogan, ”We are the 99%”, is a reference to the fact that the ”lower classes” were beginning to become class conscious! This calls for a little explanation.

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism, that the working class is not aware of itself as a class! The conditions of life, of the working class, do not lead to that awareness! That awareness, that class consciousness, must be brought to the working class, from an outside source. That outside source is middle class intellectuals, scientific socialists, which is to say, Marx and Lenin.

Marx lived and worked in the mid to late nineteenth century, while capitalism was still in its pre monopoly stage, referred to as competitive capitalism. Through his scientific analysis of capitalism, he proved that it inevitably gave rise to socialism. This is referred to as scientific socialism, which includes the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

By contrast, there are a great many well meaning people who think that socialism is a good idea, even if it is ”not likely”. They are referred to as ”utopian socialists”. They are about to receive a ”rude awakening”!

At the ”turn of the century”, which is to say the end of the nineteenth century, and the beginning of the twentieth century, capitalism reached the stage of monopoly. Monopoly capitalism is technically referred to as ”imperialism”. Naturally, the monopoly capitalists are referred to as ”imperialists”. That merely stands to reason.

Lenin conducted a thorough examination of capitalism, in its monopoly stage, that of imperialism. He found that imperialism has characteristics which are different from capitalism in its early, competitive stage. He documented this in one of his greatest works, titled Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.

In contrast to competitive capitalism, monopoly capitalism, imperialism, has absolutely no progressive characteristics! As Lenin phrased it, it is ”reaction, right down the line!” That is another book that I consider to be essential, in the development of a proper scientific socialist, a true Communist.

To return to Russia, in early 1917, immediately after the Czar had been overthrown. The capitalists immediately established a democratic republic, under their rule, of course. This is referred to as the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. A fool, by the name of Kerensky, was the ”figure head” they placed in charge. This gave birth to the short lived Kerensky Regime.

For the common people of Russia, the workers and peasants, not a great deal changed. The great slaughter of working people, referred to as the First World War, continued. They remained cold and hungry, used as ”cannon fodder” by the military commanders. The land which was promised to the peasants, remained in the hands of the landlords. The Constituent Assembly was another promise that was never kept.

Under the Kerensky Regime, the Russian people were no longer being crushed and exploited by the Czar and the capitalists. They were ”merely” being crushed and exploited by the capitalists! Not a vast improvement!

That situation is similar to the one we are living in now. Whereas in Russia, the working people were veterans of the Revolution of Oh Five, here in America the working people are veterans of the Occupy Movement.

One important difference is that, in Russia at that time, there was a Communist Party, led by Lenin. The members of the Communist Party were able to explain, to the common people, the fact that the capitalists have to be overthrown. Further, the state apparatus, which has been set up by the capitalists, with the sole purpose of crushing the working people, must be smashed. It must be then replaced with another state apparatus, with the sole purpose of crushing the capitalists. This state apparatus is known as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Incidentally, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat is a basic tenet of Marxism. In fact, it is the ”touchstone” of a true Marxist. Only those who embrace the Dictatorship of the Proletariat are Marxists.

Yet the fact that we do not have a proper Communist Party, is no reason for despair. We have a cultured working class, and the Internet. Most working people have computers and know how to use them, or can find someone to help them. (I rely heavily on my grandchildren)

Revolutionary literature can now be downloaded from the Internet. Also, Revolutionary books are readily available, ordered from outlets on the Internet. Now it is a simple matter of reading those Revolutionary works, by Marx and Lenin. In that way, working people can become true Revolutionaries. There is no other way!

It is clear that the Revolutionary motion is once again sweeping the world. The press reports confirm this. Here is a sample, of headlines taken within the last few days, starting with the country of China:

”There are protests and defiance across China, against zero covid policy. There is a heavy police presence. Thousands risk safety protesting over covid lockdown. There is widespread fury and frustration. Shanghai is traumatized. All of China is fed up. There are protests in at least ten cities. Hong Kong is protesting. Chinese police are checking cell phones, in a bid to crush mass protests. Protesters in Guangzhou clash with riot police. The largest cell phone factory in the world is now shut down. The largest chip manufacturing company is now shut down. The riot police are seen across the country. A fire in Xinjang killed ten people, in part because of covid restrictions. The unrest is the worst in thirty years.”

It is perhaps not too surprising that the American press is quite concerned with the ”unrest” in China. After all, the American capitalists have invested a great deal of capital in that country. Even though the press documents the squalid conditions of life within those factories, the journalists are more worried about a possible shortage of cell phones!

The United Nations is also making headlines:

”The United Nations says the cost of living crisis is the worst the world has experienced so far in the twenty first century. An estimated seventy one million more people are now living in poverty. There is no clear solution. There is civil unrest around the world.”

The United Nations is correct when they say that the ”cost of living is the worst the world has experienced in the twenty first century”. They are also correct when they refer to ”civil unrest around the world”. They are careful to not mention the dreaded ”R word”, that of Revolution!

On the other hand, they are absolutely mistaken when they state that ”There is no clear solution”. There is a ”clear solution”. That clear solution is scientific socialism! That is only possible through Revolution, the overthrow of the capitalists, and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat! But then, they are also careful to not mention the word ”capitalism”!

Then there are the headlines which refer to the strike movement:

”Strikes are becoming ever more common, from truck drivers in Chile and South Korea, to rail workers and nurses in the United Kingdom. Industrial unrest is spreading across large areas of the world. A global cost of living crisis is pushing workers to go on strike. The unions in South Korea are excessively strong, so the government is determined to break the truckers strike. The striking truckers in Chile are holding their ground. The truckers in Chile walked out of talks.”

Please note that here too, the term ”industrial unrest” is used, instead of Revolution! The bourgeois journalists have so many creative ways of avoiding the word Revolution!

”The rising cost of living is leading to global unrest. Economies barely recovering from the pandemic are now facing more hardship. The war in Ukraine, climate crisis, cost of fuel, food and fertilizer, have pushed several countries beyond their ability to cope. Farmers and truck drivers are feeling the impact. Around the world, workers are demanding better pay and working conditions.”

Now we can add the term ”global unrest” to our list of expressions the bourgeois journalists use, instead of Revolution!

”In London, the scale of unrest is mounting. No one has seen anything like it. Teachers, postal workers, and others are going on strike. A winter of discontent is predicted. They are no closer to a solution.”

This writer ”hit the nail right on the head”! It is true when he says, they are ”no closer to a solution”. Because there is no solution! Not under capitalism! Socialism is required, but then that requires a Revolution! Followed by the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

It seems clear that the Revolutionary Movement is now raging around the world. Just as the Occupy Movement quickly spread around the world, in a matter of days, so too this current Revolution is spreading, almost as quickly. It has very likely already ”touched down on the shores” of America. The Truckers Protest of several months ago, may well be regarded as the beginning of the American Socialist Revolution.

That is a mere selection of the topics that are being reported, mainly on foreign news outlets. There are numerous others, all concerning Revolutionary motion, in various countries. The American press tends to ignore such topics.

It is very likely that this will end up being a World Socialist Revolution. The Revolution is raging in so many highly industrialized countries! As well as a number of countries which are not so highly industrialized!

It is not by chance that the press is reporting so many strikes by truckers and railroads. Most Revolutions start in the transportation industry!

Now on the ”home front”, a possible railroad strike could happen very soon. In response, President Biden, a self declared ”friend of the Unions”, has just declared an ”imposed labour agreement”. He proposed a law, passed by both Houses of Congress, which forces the Railroad Unions to accept the contract, which they voted down! Some friend of the Unions!

It remains to be seen if the railroad workers will stay on the job, or defy the government order to keep working.

The Revolutionary motion is becoming ever stronger, in ever more countries of the world, on a daily basis. Yet the American journalists remain quite complacent. Perhaps that is a reflection of the attitude of the politicians. It is entirely possible that they are oblivious to the Revolutionary storm that is about to wash over the country.

There is an expression to the effect that ”Nero fiddled while Rome burned”. If there was ever an occasion when that was applicable, it is now. It is quite possible that the trains will soon quit moving. If that happens, it is very likely that the truckers will join them. Also the airline workers. For a start. Revolution!

So what are the politicians concerned with? The next Speaker of the House! The 2024 presidential election, still two years away! Volcano in Hawaii! Madness!

Yet this is perhaps typical. Immediately before the common people of France broke down the walls of the castles of the Nobility, the nobles were squabbling among themselves, gossiping and planning their next balls. The Revolution caught them completely unaware! Even though it had been building up for many years!

Perhaps the American billionaires are similar to the French nobility. They may be unable to even imagine a world in which they are not the rulers! It is entirely possible, that they cannot imagine the idea of losing their wealth and power! The idea of a Socialist American Revolution, of being crushed under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, may never have crossed their minds!

A more recent Revolution, one that is more pertinent, was the third Russian Revolution of the twentieth century, on October 25, OSC, or November 7, NSC. It was led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks, as that was the name by which they referred to themselves. It was well organized and almost bloodless. The Kerensky Regime was overthrown. The state apparatus was smashed. It was replaced by the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The first Soviet Socialist Republic was born.

The next American Socialist Revolution should follow the example of that October Revolution. But then that is true for most of the highly industrialized countries of the world. Yet each country is different, so that the Revolutionary leaders of each country will have to devise an appropriate course of action.

The next few weeks should prove to be critical for the World Socialist Revolution. Events are happening at breakneck speed. Revolution could take place in any number of countries, giving rise to Socialist Republics.

I can once again stress the importance of becoming familiar with Revolutionary literature. If nothing else, by all means study State and Revolution. Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. What Is To Be Done? and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. All written by Lenin. All supremely relevant. I can think of no better way to prepare for the Revolution.

It is entirely possible that we may soon be facing that which Lenin foresaw:

World Socialist Republic

The press is now reporting that the railroads may soon shut down. As they phrased it, ”On the eve of the holiday season, workers at the heart of the supply chain are once again threatening to strike”. They report that if no deal is reached by December 8, or even as early as December 5, ”the railroads could lock workers out, or the workers could go on strike”.

There are a number of unions involved, but if even one of them goes on strike, none of the other unions will cross the picket lines. This would immediately bring to a halt the freight that is moved by rail in the country, roughly thirty percent of the total. It would also effect some Amtrak and commuter rail systems, as they operate on tracks that are owned by the freight railroads.

It is clear that the press is biased towards the owners of the railroads, as their main concern is with the ”disastrous 2 billion dollar a day hit to our economy”. With that in mind, they quite cheerfully report that, ”Should there be a strike, Congress would likely intervene within hours. The Railway Labour Act allows Congress to take any number of measures to get trains running again – including imposing some version of the contract or extending the status quo, kicking any decision to the next Congress”.

In this, the journalists are supremely optimistic. Just because Congress has the authority to act, does not mean that they are prepared to do so. It is far more likely that Congress will do that which it does best, which is ”pass the buck”, or as the press reports, ”kicking any decision to the next Congress”, which convenes on January 3. Or at least, they may try! Even if Congress ”legislates the railroad workers” back to work, that does not mean that the workers will return to work!

Some of the most highly respected politicians, from both mainstream Parties, Republican and Democratic, are predicting ”widespread chaos” in both Houses of Congress. That is perhaps the kindest forecast. The more cynical ones are comparing it to ”the lunatics taking over the asylum”. No one can deny that both Parties are deeply divided. Many within the Democratic Party want to git rid of President Biden, while many Republicans want to get rid of Trump. Yet neither leader is prepared to ”relinquish the reins of power”, and each has a sizeable following within his Party.

The Democrats have a ”razor thin” majority in the Senate, with a couple Senators considered to be ”loose cannons”. This is to say that they have a rather annoying habit of ”thinking for themselves”, not always voting along Party lines.

By contrast, it is the Republicans who have a ”razor thin” majority in the House, but they too have Members who are also considered to be unreliable. The point is that neither Party has any great confidence of passing, or blocking, any piece of legislation.

It is clear that the working class, including the members of Unions, are completely fed up. Apparently the railroad workers have been trying to negotiate a contract for three years. It was only after President Biden ”intervened” and appointed an ”Emergency Board”, that the Union leaders were able to sit down with the railroad owners, and a ”Framework” agreement was reached. This contract was rejected by the Union members, the rank and file. The proposed raise in wages barely covers the cost of living increase. As well, the main ”sticking point” is the ”quality of life” issues, which were not resolved.

Yet the journalists, although biased, were correct in stating the fact that ”other workers are making their voices heard”. These workers include the nurses, mental health workers, warehouse workers who are trying to form unions, and others. Although the journalists did not mention the ”others” by name, the fact is that they include the truckers!

In fact, it was the truckers who took part in the Freedom Convoy! It was the truckers who occupied downtown Ottawa! It was the truckers who shut down the Ambassador Bridge! It was the truckers who closed various other border crossings! It was the truckers who were joined by numerous farmers! It was the truckers protest, including the Freedom Convoy, that – temporarily! – became side tracked.

The issues the truckers protested against, have not been resolved! On the contrary, they have intensified! The truckers have not lost interest! It is quite possible – even likely!- that any railroad strike will be joined by those who haul the other seventy percent of the freight in the country! The truckers!

The history of previous Revolutions have shown that such uprisings usually start in the transportation industry. This is to say that it is usually the railroad workers that first go on strike. After the trains quit running, the workers in other industries join them. With industry shut down, workers take to the streets, frequently storm the prisons and release the inmates, and attack the houses and businesses of their class enemies, in our case the capitalists. Given the proper leadership, they also overthrow the government, smash the existing state apparatus, and set up a new workers government, under the new state apparatus, called the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

At least, that is precisely the thing that happened in October of 1917, in Russia. It has since gone down in history as the Great October Socialist Revolution. It was successful because, at that time, the country was blessed with a true Communist Party, led by Lenin.

I stress this because it is so important. It is quite possible, if not likely, that the Revolution will break out very soon. I say this because the fact of the matter is that Soviets, or Councils, first appeared during the Russian Revolution of 1905. They were then crushed at the time the Revolution was crushed, in 1907. Yet they spontaneously reappeared in the build up to the February Revolution of 1917. The point is that Soviets appear during, or immediately before, a Revolution. In fact, Soviets have already appeared in America! It means that the American Revolution is very close!

Yet as Lenin pointed out, in What Is To Be Done?, ”Without a Revolutionary theory, there can be no Revolutionary movement”.

As for those who doubt that previous statement, bear in mind that at the beginning of the twentieth century, there were no less than three Revolutions in Russia. The first two were completely spontaneous, as all the Marxists at that time, those who were first referred to as Social Democrats and later as Bolsheviks, had been thrown in jail and were either killed or exiled. Lenin had been exiled.

The first Revolution, that of 1905, raged for two years, and was then crushed. Although it failed to achieve its stated goals, it managed to dispel any illusions the common people had, concerning the Czar and the government. It also succeeded in training a great many workers and peasants, in preparation for the second Russian Revolution of the twentieth century, that of February, 1917. That second Russian Revolution succeeded in overthrowing the Czar, so that a democratic republic was established.

That was as far as the working people could go! They could go no farther! Without the proper leaders, socialism was out of the question!

Under that democratic republic, the slaughter of the First World War continued. The common people were cold and hungry. Inflation sky rocketed, so that basic necessities were out of reach. Crime was out of control, so that people dared not step out of their homes. Sound familiar?

The Russian Revolution is so important, as it so closely resembles our own. The situation is so similar. The people who took part in the Occupy Movement, of twenty year ago, also had their illusions dispelled. They learned that the government does not represent them. They also learned some valuable lessons in the class struggle. They are now veterans, just as those who took part in the earlier anti war movement, are also veterans.

As is well known, Lenin was able to return to Russia in April of 1917. Of course the capitalists had to be overthrown, and with that in mind, he wrote State and Revolution. It may help to think of that as a ”road map”, a ”detailed guide” to overthrowing the capitalists and establishing a socialist society, as that is precisely the case. An understanding of that Revolutionary book is essential to conducting a successful socialist Revolution.

That book is required reading for all Revolutionaries. Lenin makes the point that the existing state apparatus, which has been set up by the capitalists, in our case the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, with the express purpose of crushing the working people, the proletariat, must be smashed! It must in turn be replaced by a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

The reason for this is that after the Revolution, the capitalists will be determined to regain their ”paradise lost”! They will stoop to any level, any bit of deception, to achieve this goal. Hence the need to crush their resistance. That Dictatorship of the Proletariat will be administered through the Soviets. In English, these Soviets are referred to as Councils.

The importance of smashing the existing state apparatus must be stressed. Otherwise the social chauvinists, those who are merely socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds, will attempt to take over this apparatus, at the time of the Revolution, and use it for their own purposes. This is to say that they will set themselves up as the new rulers. That is the last thing we need!

There is a sense of urgency in this matter, that of preparing for the approaching Revolution. The situation is certainly Revolutionary. Lenin goes into this, in detail, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. As he put it, ”It is only when the ‘lower classes’ do not want to live in the old way and the ‘upper classes’ cannot carry on in the old way that the Revolution can triumph”. (italics by Lenin)

That is precisely the situation we have now. Among the ”lower classes”, we have the wage labourers, those who are paid by the hour, the proletariat. As well, there are the family farmers, those who are referred to as peasants, in most parts of the world. Then there are the small business owners, the lower strata of the middle class, the petty bourgeois. These include those who own machines, such as trucks, and work for themselves. Collectively, these are the ”lower classes” of people who refuse to continue to live in the ”old way”.

As for the ”upper classes”, which is to say the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, it is clear that they ”cannot carry on in the old way”. They are squabbling among themselves. In fact, it is safe to say that ”they are at each others throats”!

Both Houses of Congress are practically dead locked, or soon will be. The country is about to ”hit the debt ceiling” on December 15, and could shut down, unless the Congress takes action, once again raising the debt ceiling. As the capitalists are fighting among themselves, this is unlikely. The whole country could be facing bankruptcy. The trains could quit running as early as December 5, and the truckers could join them. Other unions could also join them. In fact, the whole country could shut down! That is the very definition of Revolution!

Yet without the leaders who are aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, and prepared to put those theories into action, nothing of substance will change! We will remain under capitalism! No scientific socialism!

There is a difference between modern day America – and not just America! – and Russia, in 1917. At that time, in Russia, a Communist Party was in place. The members of the Party were able to explain to people the basic tenets of Marxism. Such is no longer the case! The Communist Party no longer exists in America.

The members of the Russian Communist Party led the Revolution to victory. We do not have an American Communist Party, so in a sense, our task is more difficult. Yet as no Revolution is ”made to order”, it will happen when it happens. As that is the case, we are going to have to prepare for the Revolution, and at the same time form a true Communist Party, one which calls for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. There is no other way!

Then again, this may not be quite as difficult as it appears, on first glance. Most common people are literate, own computers and know how to use them. Those who are more advanced can be expected to download Revolutionary literature. As well, Revolutionary books by Marx and Lenin can be ordered, through the Internet. A careful reading of those key works can go a long way towards raising their level of awareness, to that of true Revolutionaries.

It is also a fact that as the Revolution gains strength, we can expect ever more people to become swept up into the whirlwind of Revolution. It is reasonable to expect that those who were ”hitherto apathetic”, even among the intellectual members of the middle class, will become politically active. Many of these people are well aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. We can expect those people to help create a proper Communist Parry.

There are also the veterans of the Occupy Movement of the previous generation. They can testify to the fact that without a Revolutionary theory, there can be no Revolutionary movement. They speak from experience! Bitter experience! They tried! They made a supreme effort! The result was nil! No doubt they have been tempered in the struggle. Now they are veterans! The same is true of the older generation, those who have the experience of the anti war movement.

The people who took part in the Womens’ March, of recent memory, can also be expected to rise up, once again. That was supremely well organized! We can use such people in our movement! Ladies, feel free to broaden your horizons! Become more ambitious! No need to be shy! Place no restrictions on yourself! Experience has proven to you that there is no point in fighting for paltry reforms! Half measures get you nowhere! Revolution! Overthrow the capitalists! Show the world how to ”fight like a girl”! Scientific socialism! Soviet Power and Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Currently the common people, by whom I mean the working class, the proletariat, as well as the lower strata of the middle class, the petty bourgeois, are doing their best. As they read the most essential Revolutionary works, that of Marx and Lenin, their level of awareness will rise. Yet they could use the help of middle class intellectuals.

It is in the best interest of intellectuals to play a vital role in the Revolution. After the Revolution, their services will be in demand, and they can expect to be rewarded, paid quite handsomely. Besides, those who are taking part in the Revolution, will have no fear of becoming a target of that Revolution. The same cannot be said of the intellectuals who oppose the Revolution!

Perhaps a word of caution is in order: Be discreet! Do not make it easy for the various governmental police agencies! There is no need to meet in person! Use the Internet! Make it clear that Soviet Power, and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, is at the heart of the program of the Party! Those of us who support those two fundamental goals, can put aside any other differences we may have, and work together. Those who are opposed to either one, are not eligible for membership.

Be active in Soviets, or Councils, if that is the name you prefer. As I have documented in other writings, that is the best way to prepare for the Revolution, and especially the Insurrection. There is no need to repeat it here.

Bear in mind that the Soviets appeared spontaneously, in Russia, at the time of the Revolution. Within a short time, they were so powerful, they rivalled the power of the Provisional Government. These Soviets are not to be underestimated! They have recently made an appearance in America. Do not be surprised if they soon challenge the authority of the government! The Second American Revolution is imminent!

We will know that the Revolution is going to be successful, that the capitalists, the billionaires, are about to be overthrown, when the protesters carry signs and posters which proclaim:

Soviet Power!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Workers of the World, Unite!

World Socialist Republic!

The revolutionary motion that is sweeping North America is very powerful. In fact, it has spread to the industrialize countries of the world. The capitalists are clearly ”feeling the heat”, are unable to rule in the old way, so that they are being forced to change their method of rule. Their latest brain storm is to ”preach the gospel” of a ”strengthened democracy”, which is that of a ”new and improved”, ”Inclusive Capitalism”.

This program is being spearheaded by the Obama Foundation. The mission of that Foundation is to ”inspire, empower and connect people to change their world”. Clearly, the wording of that mission statement was carefully chosen, as it does not specify just how it plans to inspire, which people with whom to connect, and just how to change the world. This is to say that it is devoid of class content. Yet it very likely attracts some very well meaning people, mainly young ones, especially those who are determined to ”make a difference”.

The Foundation has a Leaders Program, which has the goal ”to inspire, empower and connect regional cohorts of change makers to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities and throughout the world.” This too is carefully worded, also devoid of class content.

The Foundation has other Programs, including a Girls Opportunity Unity Alliance, a Voyager Scholarship, a Fellowship Program and a Scholars Program. No doubt a great many dedicated young people are drawn to this Foundation. In this article, I will focus on their latest program, the Democracy Forum.

About a week ago, Michelle Obama launched the Democracy Forum. Her speech is on the Internet, lasts around a minute, and her delivery was impeccable. The people who coached her, referred to as her ”handlers”, did a fine job! Every detail was carefully orchestrated! The clothes were selected, as was her hair style. Her tone of voice was one of concern, as was her facial expression, not to mention her body language. That in no way changes the fact that her speech was pure Hog Wash!

Yet this speech is vitally important, as it is a clear cut example of the change in the method of rule, adopted by the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. For that reason, I have chosen to give the full speech:

”Democracy: It’s more than a system of government. It’s a set of values. Freedom. Justice. Equality. Openness. Truth. It’s not about blood or pedigree or wealth. It’s about making sure everyone has a voice and a fair shot. And it’s up to all of us, as individuals, to not only hope for a better future, but work together to build one. So we have got to push each other, and lean on one another, and recognize the power each one of us has, to ensure that this moment is not a twilight, but a dawning of the next great chapter of democracy around the world. And that is exactly what we are here to do.”

Dear lady, you are so right, when you say that ”Democracy” is ”more than a system of government”. Democracy is a method of class rule! It involves a state apparatus! It is the police, prisons, courts, bureaucracy and standing army, which is used to suppress the working class! It is a method, by which one class of people, in our case the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, use to crush and exploit the members of another class, in our case the working class, the wage labourers, the proletariat.

It has nothing to do with a ”set of values”. It has everything to do with ”power and wealth”! The billionaires are concerned with one thing, and one thing only, their profit, their bottom line! The billionaires are focused! The billionaires are determined! They are focused and determined to become Trillionaires! That has nothing to do with ”voice” and ”fair shot” of ”everyone”, which is to say the working class!

You are also correct when you say that ”it’s up to all of us”, to ”work together” to ”build a better future”. At least, it is correct if you are referring to the members of the working class! That can only happen under socialism!

The only ”better future”, is a future without capitalism! A future of socialism. A future in which people will be working together, for the common good. A future that is possible only under socialism!

Under capitalism, we have ”democracy”, but democracy for the capitalists! For the proletariat, we live under a dictatorship! The dictatorship of the bourgeoisie!

Lenin explains, quite clearly, in State and Revolution, that your ”democracy” consists of a ”state apparatus”, a ”special repressive force” for the ”suppression of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, for the suppression of the millions of toilers by the handful of rich”, which is to say the capitalists, the billionaires. He goes on to say that this state apparatus must be smashed, at the time of the Revolution, and replaced by a ”special repressive force” for the suppression of the capitalists, the billionaires, by the working class. This is referred to as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

Yet the Obama Foundation has set up a Forum, one with ambitious goals. The spokesman for that Forum is the former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. As such, he is, without doubt, a dedicated supporter of capitalism. He also has a two minute speech on the Internet, titled Obama Foundation Democracy Forum. This too, I found to be most interesting. It may help to think of this as their ”new and improved” proposed method of rule:

”If you want to strengthen democracy, you also have to think about the economy. And what does that mean? I would highlight three things:

”The first is, from an economic perspective, there is a serious question of whether growth is more sustainable and stable when everyone benefits, versus when only a very few benefit. You see around the world and in the United States, special interests, changing the tax code, changing regulations, to benefit a small group of people that undermines and accentuates the ordinary people that they cannot get ahead, and they can’t win.

”The second thing is that we have seen over recent decades that as there are big increases in economic inequality, there are also big increases in social polarization and in the efforts of the few and the special interests to make sure they get theirs, and that our politics gets biased towards those with money. That leads to number three.

”The rise of distrust in our institutions, the rise of cynicism among voters and citizens. They no longer trust that the government is looking out for them. That is why it is so important for democracy that we make sure that it is an inclusive capitalism and inclusive growth.

”At the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum, we are bringing in leaders that are proposing approaches and solutions that are responsive to citizens and create inclusive and equitable economic realities for everyone.”

It is quite surprising to find that this man has stated the facts, quite accurately, while at the same time, carefully avoiding class terms. His reference to the ”few”, the ”very few”, ”small group of people”, and ”those with money”, is a reference to the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. His reference to ”everyone”, ”ordinary people”, to ”voters and citizens”, is a reference to the common people, the working class, the members of the public, the proletariat.

He starts out by making the point that ”growth is more sustainable and stable when everyone benefits”, as opposed to our current situation, ”when only a few benefit”. This is a result of ”changing the tax code” and ”changing regulations”, so that the capitalists, the billionaires pay little taxes, if any at all. It is the working class, the ”ordinary people”, that pays all the taxes! Those same ”ordinary people” are well aware of this, aware that we ”cannot get ahead”, that we ”cannot win”! But only because we live under capitalism!

In his second ”highlight”, he points to the ”economic inequality”, which has led to ”social polarization”, as the capitalists make sure they ”get theirs”, as the government policies are ”biased towards those with money”. This is a convoluted way of saying that which everyone knows, the ”rich are getting richer”, while the ”poor are getting poorer”! The poor, the working people, are also well aware of the fact that the government makes sure that the rich get ever more rich!

His third ”highlight” also says that working people are now cynical! Not at all! Workers merely see now that the government is ”looking out for” the capitalists! Of course they no longer trust the government! That is not cynical! That is merely facing the facts!

He deserves credit for stating certain facts, even though in a convoluted manner, while carefully avoiding any mention of the existence of classes. He even went so far as to acknowledge the fact that the working class no longer trusts the government. His proposed solution to this problem is to make capitalism inclusive!

This cannot be done! Capitalism is anything but inclusive! Perhaps someone should explain to this simple soul- the former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors!- the ”nuts and bolts” of capitalism!

The capitalists own the ”means of production”, which is to say the factories, mills, mines, the land and buildings, as well as everything else that is used to produce goods. They also own all of the ”means of transportation”, which is to say railroads, airlines, shipping lines and trucking companies, for example. They also own all communications networks, such as the Internet, radio and television stations, newspapers and so forth. In fact, they own anything and everything of any considerable value. They regard this property as ”capital”, as indeed it is. Their one and only income is from their ”invested capital”. That is the reason they are referred to as ”capitalists”. They do no useful work. They merely collect interest on that invested capital. They contribute nothing to society! They are leaches! Human parasites!

These capitalists, those who are commonly referred to as billionaires, are part of a separate class, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. They are small in number, but very powerful, because of their great wealth.

As opposed to the class of capitalists, we have the working class, technically referred to as the proletariat. As we have no ”capital”, we are forced to sell our labour power. We work for the capitalists, if only because we have no choice in the matter. We sell ourselves by the hour, so that we are ”wage slaves”.

It is in the interests of the workers, the proletarians, to sell ourselves at the highest possible price, while it is in the interests of the capitalists, the bourgeois, to pay us as little as possible. It does not take a ”rocket scientist” to figure out that our interests are ”diametrically opposed”! That which is in the best interests of the workers, is in the worst interests of the capitalists!

We are class enemies! There is a constant state of war going on between workers and capitalists, proletarians and bourgeoisie! Usually this war is hidden, but occasionally it breaks out into the open. When this happens, it is referred to as Revolution! We are close to open Revolution, as capitalism has reached the point of crisis, and the capitalists are forced to change their method of rule. Hence the nonsense of ”inclusive capitalism”!

It was Lenin who gave a very clear definition of democracy, in State and Revolution. In referring to the democratic republic, under capitalism: ”Democracy for an insignificant minority, democracy for the rich – that is the democracy of capitalist society.” This is to drive home the fact that democracy, under capitalism, cannot be inclusive! It is strictly for the ”insignificant minority”!

Yet we cannot help but feeling grateful to the Obama Foundation, and especially to the Democracy Forum, for drawing the attention of so many members of the working class, to the issue of democracy. We can only hope that they will continue to point out the hypocrisy of democracy under capitalism, bourgeois democracy.

This will no doubt inspire working people to read State and Revolution. In this way, we will all be more prepared for the forth coming Revolution. I can think of no better way to close this article than with my usual slogans. I can only hope that these will soon become common place expressions:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Soviet Power!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

World Socialist Republic!

Now that the midterm elections are over, the presidential election campaigning of 2024 has already begun, even though not all of the midterm ballots have been counted.The American people cannot get a break from all the political posturing!

Yet all of this campaigning for an election, which is still two years away, reveals the entire range of thinking of the class of people who are running the country. Of course, I am referring to the billionaires, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. More accurately, it reveals their mind boggling stupidity!

Even the billionaires are now admitting that they are at a crisis point, with a ”severe recession imminent”, high inflation, crime ”out of control”, immigration plagued by an ”open border”, and widespread ”voter discontent”. This does not stop them from resorting to ”verbal gymnastics”, in an effort to avoid using the word capitalism. Instead, they use the word ”democracy”.

Their most visible ”headache” comes in the form of one of their own, Donald Trump by name, a former president, a member of their class, a successful capitalist, a fellow billionaire. That boy just will not ”play by the rules”!

The rules are that government officials must lie and deceive. The working people, the class of people they crush and exploit, must be ”kept in the dark”. Under no circumstances must working people be told the truth! Yet Trump once again ”shot his mouth off”, and blurted out that which everyone knew, but was supposed to deny! These are his very words:

“The citizens of our country have not yet realized the full extent and gravity of the pain our nation is going through, and the total effect of the suffering is just starting to take hold,” Trump said. “They don’t quite feel it yet, but they will very soon. I have no doubt that by 2024 it will sadly be much worse, and they will see much more clearly what happened and what is happening to our country. And the voting will be much different. Twenty twenty-four. Are you getting ready? And I am too. I am too.”

In fact, Trump is correct when he states that ”by 2024 it will sadly be much worse”, unless the working people take action! Of course, I am referring to the working class, the proletariat, as well as the lower strata of the middle class, the petty bourgeois.

As a monopoly capitalist, an imperialist, Trump is well aware of the fact that capitalism gives rise to periodic crises. In this, he is correct.

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 concentration and monopoly”. Today we are facing an economic crisis, along with a political crisis.

It was Marx and Engels who explained these crises, in The Communist Manifesto:

”A similar movement is going on before our own eyes. Modern bourgeois society, with its relations of production, of exchange and of property, a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like the sorcerer who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells. For many a decade past the history of industry and commerce is but the history of the revolt of modern productive forces against modern conditions of production, against the property relations that are the conditions for the existence of the bourgeois and of its rule. It is enough to mention the commercial crises that by their periodical return put the existence of the entire bourgeois society on its trial, each time more threateningly. In these crises, a great part not only of the existing products, but also of the previously created productive forces, are periodically destroyed. In these crises, there breaks out an epidemic that, in all earlier epochs, would have seemed an absurdity — the epidemic of over-production. Society suddenly finds itself put back into a state of momentary barbarism; it appears as if a famine, a universal war of devastation, had cut off the supply of every means of subsistence; industry and commerce seem to be destroyed; and why? Because there is too much civilisation, too much means of subsistence, too much industry, too much commerce. The productive forces at the disposal of society no longer tend to further the development of the conditions of bourgeois property; on the contrary, they have become too powerful for these conditions, by which they are fettered, and so soon as they overcome these fetters, they bring disorder into the whole of bourgeois society, endanger the existence of bourgeois property. The conditions of bourgeois society are too narrow to comprise the wealth created by them. And how does the bourgeoisie get over these crises? On the one hand by enforced destruction of a mass of productive forces; on the other, by the conquest of new markets, and by the more thorough exploitation of the old ones. That is to say, by paving the way for more extensive and more destructive crises, and by diminishing the means whereby crises are prevented.

”The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the ground are now used against the bourgeoisie.”

That is precisely the current state of affairs! We have here a crisis in capitalism, in no small part because we have too much! So many people are hungry, homeless, unemployed or under employed, because of over -production! Because we have a vast surplus! Truly, that which was considered to be an ”absurdity”, in years gone by, is now a reality!

Naturally, as a typical capitalist, Trump embraces this ”absurdity”. He is well aware that the ”destruction of a mass of productive forces” is currently taking place. Of course that will in turn lead to further mass unemployment, countless more workers out of work, hungry, cold and homeless, but that is of no consequence to the capitalists.

The Communist Manifesto also mentions the workers, the proletarians, those whom the capitalists ”discard”, much as we throw away old newspapers:

”But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring death to itself; it has also called into existence the men who will wield those weapons – the modern working class – the proletarians.”

No member of the capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, including Trump, can imagine the proletariat, the working class, rising up in revolt. Hence the reason that Trump, as well as other billionaires, are openly predicting that ”things are bound to get much worse”.

This crisis in capitalism has spread across the country. In particular, the governor of the state of Texas has effectively announced that he plans to go to war with the ”army of invading immigrants”!

No doubt, many people are thinking that the governor was merely posturing, making threats which he absolutely did not plan to implement. America could not possibly go to war with defenceless civilians! Think again! Recently, border officials separated mothers from their young children, and then locked up those children in jails! That is quite possibly still happening! It stands to reason that the people responsible for such actions, are also capable of mass murder!

The Governor of Texas has ”justified” this proposed war on unarmed civilians, including women and children, by invoking a clause of the American Constitution. That clause, Article 1, Section 10, is as follows:

”No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

This article I downloaded from the Internet, hence the italics.

The governor of Texas is arguing that unarmed civilians, families who are attempting to escape poverty, persecution and violence, amount to an invading army!

It is significant that Trump agrees with that Governor. It is also significant that the act of an individual state, ”going to war”, would almost certainly result in that state separating from the Union!

Texas was, at one time, a self declared separate country, and will very likely, once again, become a separate republic. The American Empire just moved one step closer to dissolution.

In this article, I have focused upon Donald Trump and the Republican Party. There is a reason for this. They are in the news! That is the only reason I have focused upon them! The Democratic Party is also in disarray! Both Parties serve the same class! As that is the case, the two are equally reactionary! They are part of the same state apparatus, which has to be destroyed, at the time of the Revolution!

The current situation is absolutely Revolutionary! Various ”crises in capitalism” have come together, at the same time, and created the ”perfect storm”! The capitalists are ”at their wits end”! They do not know ”which way to jump”! Which is not to say that the system is going to collapse, under its own weight! It is not going to collapse! It has to be destroyed! That can only happen through Revolution!

This is to stress the fact that a Revolution can be successful, only if it follows the Revolutionary guidelines of Marx and Lenin. This is to say that the existing state apparatus, which has been set up by the capitalists, in order to crush the working class, must be destroyed. It must be replaced by a different state apparatus, in order to crush the capitalists, as they try to ”restore their paradise lost”. That state apparatus is referred to as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. It is to be administered through the medium of the Soviets.

For the members of the working class who have just recently become politically active, or ”woke up”, I can urge you to read State and Revolution, by Lenin. He wrote that article immediately before the Great October Socialist Russian Revolution. That Revolution was successful, but only because the Revolutionaries followed the Revolutionary line, laid down by Lenin.

Perhaps a word of caution is in order. You can expect the ”social chauvinists” to oppose the ”smashing of the existing state apparatus”. There is a good reason for their opposition. Their plan is to ”take over” the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution, and set themselves up, as the new rulers. Perish forbid! They too, are in the service of the capitalists! Their choice! They must be treated accordingly.

As most people enjoy company, may I suggest that workers get together on the Internet, through computer programs of some sort, and discuss the Revolutionary works of Marx and Lenin. It may help to think of it as a book club, as that is precisely the case. At the same time, you can form Councils, otherwise known as Soviets, and prepare for Revolution. I have covered this in a separate article, so there is no need to go into detail here.

Bear in mind that Revolution is ”right around the corner”. The success of that Revolution depends upon the most advanced members of the Proletariat. As you are reading this article, that very likely means you!

We will know that the Revolution is sure to be successful, when certain expressions become common place:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Soviet Power!

World Socialist Republic!