Blog

The first presidential debate of the 2020 election is history, and most of the world is having themselves a great laugh. Two elderly men, one a sitting president and the other a former vice president, both vying for the top political office in the country, have succeeded in making great fools of themselves. The journalists are comparing this to two kindergarten children, fighting in the school yard. Those journalists are the kind ones.

The journalists who are less kind, but perhaps more accurate, are referring to the debate as a disgrace, chaotic and combative, complete with interruptions and personal insults, a train wreck complete with cross talk, a monstrosity, a disaster, an insult to the American people. They also said that it was difficult to refer to this debate without resorting to expletives. That did not stop one lady from describing it as a gong show, although the word she used was not ”gong”. All agreed that it was an insult to the American people.

This is all very true, just as it is also true that a great many Americans were watching this spectacle. As that is the case, it is up to class conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to explain to people that this is a very clear cut example of bourgeois democracy. Such childish behaviour, including name calling and personal insults, usually takes place behind closed doors. Then the bourgeois politicians come to an agreement and present a united face to the public. The fact that this behaviour is now being openly displayed is an indication of the strength of the revolutionary movement, and the fact that the bourgeois is now deeply divided. They can no longer rule in the old way!

The moderator tried to pin down Trump, to the statement that he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, in the event of losing the election. Of course, Trump refused. But then, Trump is not legally obligated to honour the election results of the presidential vote! Such a vote is merely a formality. The real power rests with the few hundred Electors, the members of the Electoral College. Their vote is the only vote which matters.

The Twelveth Amendment to the Constitution makes it quite clear that the President, as well as the Vice President, are elected by the members of the Electoral College. It should be stressed to the working people that the tens of millions of voters do not elect the president, but that the few hundred Electors do elect the president. Further, the Electors are not accountable to the state which they represent. They are under no legal obligation to vote for the candidate who won the most popular votes.

No doubt many voters, or at least the more advanced voters, will object that this is hardly the case. Many states, if not all, have laws passed which require the Electors to vote for the candidate who receives the majority of popular votes. Equally without doubt, the lawyers who represent Trump are prepared to argue, in the Supreme Court, that these laws are unconstitutional!

The fact is that Trump has a small army of lawyers working for him. Some of them are experts in Constitutional law, which is the reason he hired them. They have been assigned the task of making sure Trump is re-elected, and they are determined to do just that. They are prepared to argue that no state has the right to interfere in any federal election. As that is the case, any and all state laws which require the Elector to vote in a manner which the state demands, is unconstitutional. It is very likely that the Supreme Court will agree with them, and rule in their favour. It is also very likely that the ruling will be unanimous.

The opposing lawyers will likely argue that this is traditional, that it is customary for the Electors to vote for the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state. Yet the Supreme Court justices will reply that they are concerned with the Constitution, the law of the land, and not with custom and tradition. The only reason these state laws have not been struck down before now is because no one has challenged them!

It is perhaps ironic that Trump, one of the finest, most successful liars, cheats and swindlers of modern times, may be able to weasel his way into a second term as president, using legal means! He merely has to persuade various state legislatures to appoint two hundred seventy Electors to vote for him. The popular vote be damned!

The press is now counting down the days to the election. They would have us believe that it is the sacred Day of Salvation, the day upon which society will be relieved of the burden of the Spectre of Trump. Such is hardly the case, but as the working people watch the news, and are interested in the election, it presents us with an opportunity to raise their level of awareness.

The federal election, ”or election day”, to which it is being referred, is on November 3. On that day, or more accurately that evening, it is customary for one of the candidates for the presidency to declare victory, while it is also customary for the other candidate to rather graciously concede defeat. This year, that is not about to happen.

Both candidates, as well as the press, are focused upon the Electoral College. Each state has a certain number of ”Electoral Votes”, based upon the population of the state. This means that the more people in the state, the more Electors the state can nominate to vote for the next president. It is the Electors who vote to determine the next president, not the citizens.

It is customary for the candidate who wins the majority of popular votes in any particular state to receive all of the Electoral votes for that state. This means that the Electors from that state are required to vote for that particular candidate, either Republican or Democrat. It is referred to as the two party system, and it has served the bourgeois well, for a great many years. In certain states, there is even a law to that effect. In this way, on election day, each candidate is able to determine the number of Electoral votes they are about to receive. The popular vote is important only in that it determines the candidate for whom the Electors from that state are obligated to elect. As the successful candidate is required to receive two hundred seventy Electoral votes, that is the ”magic number”.

At least, that is the way it is supposed to work, and has worked for many elections, since the days of the Civil War. The only flaw in the system is that it is strictly against the law. That is the argument the lawyers for Trump are prepared to make to the Supreme Court.

It is very likely that Biden, as the Democratic candidate for president, will declare victory on election night. He will announce that he has the majority of Electoral votes. We can expect Trump to deny this, as the popular vote does not determine the Electoral vote!

In addition, due to the fact that most citizens plan to vote by mail this year, it is anticipated that the vote count will be delayed. As Trump has gone to great lengths to delay mail delivery, this is not too surprising. Still, by law, all votes must be counted by December 8. This is referred to as the ”safe harbour” day. Any ballots not counted by that day, will never be counted.

The next step in the complicated process to elect a president takes place on December 14. On that day, the Electors, in the various states, cast their ballots for president. Yet even that does not end the process. On December 23, the votes arrive in Washington. Then after New Years, on January 6, the Electoral votes are counted in Congress. It is only at that point, two months after the election, that a new president is determined.

The system was set up in the days of horse and buggy, so to say that it is obsolete is an understatement.

Trump and his team of legal eagles have detected a few flaws in the system, which they fully plan to exploit. The only votes he requires for re-election is that of the Electors, and a mere two hundred seventy of them. Any state interference can and will be challenged in the Supreme Court, as no state has the right to meddle in a federal election. Or at least the lawyers will make those arguments.

This also helps to explain the reason Trump is so determined to appoint another Justice to the Supreme Court. He no doubt thinks that the Justice he appoints, will rule in his favour. That remains to be seen.

The final step in the presidential gong show will not take place until January 20. On that day, by Constitutional law, a new president will take the oath of office. If it cannot be determined which candidate should be president, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, will become the next president, as a ”place holder”. The expression is not mine.

It is entirely possible that there will never be another president of the United States. Some of the most highly respected members of the bourgeois press are of the opinion that American democracy is ”teetering”, that the country has lost its ”moral compass”. They are afraid that the American empire is on the verge of collapse, and in this they are absolutely correct. This is not to say that the American imperialists have lost their ”moral compass”, because they have not. They never had a moral compass, so they could not possibly have lost it.

It must be explained to working people that we live in a class society, and that those who own and control the factories, mills, mines, railroads, airlines, press and internet, are the capitalists, referred to as the bourgeois, and that those of us who work for them are workers, referred to as the proletarians. We are members of different classes, and our interests are diametrically opposed. This is to say that they are completely opposite. It is in the interest of the capitalists to work us as hard as possible, while paying us as little as possible, while it is in the interests of the workers to earn as much as possible. The capitalists are concerned with their profit, their ”bottom line”, while workers are concerned with putting food on the table.

The conditions of life of the working class do not lead to the awareness of itself as a class, so that this awareness must be brought to the proletariat. As the vast majority of working people are now concerned with the presidential election, now is the time to use this controversy as a means of raising their level of awareness.

We may also point out that the capitalists, the bourgeois, are careful to not use the word ”capitalism”. They refer to themselves as ”entrepreneurs”, as people engaging in ”free enterprise”, and the political system as that of ”democracy”.

There is a particle of truth to this, in that we indeed live in a democratic republic. It is indeed democracy, but democracy for the capitalists, the tiny minority of the population, the billionaires, the ”one percent”. For the working people, the proletariat, it is a dictatorship, the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.

It may be objected that there are many capitalists who are not billionaires. That is true, and such small time capitalists, or middle class people, are referred to as petty bourgeois. They form a separate class, and are under increasing pressure, as the monopolies become ever stronger, ever more complete. Most of these ”small business owners” are now bankrupt, or in the process of going bankrupt. The current crises in capitalism are destroying this class, forcing the members of the middle class into the ranks of the proletariat.

The ”good news” is that the petty bourgeois is well aware of themselves as a class. In the process of being financially ruined, they are forced to abandon their hopes and dreams of becoming billionaires, members of the bourgeoisie. It is with bitterness and despair that they join the ranks of the proletariat, kicking and screaming, as it were, but joining the ranks nonetheless. They bring their awareness of the existence of classes with them.

Most of these people are well educated, aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. As such, it is the duty of these freshly minted proletarians to bring this class awareness to the working class.

As a means of encouragement, perhaps it would be best to bear in mind the words of Lenin, that which he refers to as the ”fundamental law of revolution”. He explains that a revolutionary situation is one in which ”the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way”. In addition, ”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 in which we now find ourselves!

At the risk of being accused of pointing out the obvious, even the most highly respected members of the ruling class, the bourgeoisie, have basically admitted that they can no longer rule in the old way. The two party system is being destroyed by Trump, one of their own, no less. They are now being forced to change their method of rule! They just have no idea what changes to enact.

The current crises in capitalism have served to not only devastate the middle class, but also to further impoverish the working class. Of course I am referring to the Corona virus, which has currently killed over 200,000 Americans, and that number is expected to double by the end of the year. As well, the stock market is expected to crash at any time, which will give rise to a second Great Depression. Countless people are out of work, with almost no prospects of a job. The ”economic stimulus checks” are about to expire. As soon as it becomes legal for landlords to issue eviction notices, the number of homeless is expected to skyrocket.

A similar situation existed in the ”dirty thirties”, at the time of the Great Depression. For no less than a decade, ten years, our grandparents suffered through unemployment, homelessness and starvation. The suffering of the working people was terrible, yet they failed to rise up in revolution. Part of the reason for this is because, as Engels pointed out, ”without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary motion”. The working people had no Marxist leaders!

It was Lenin who stressed the importance of the theoretical struggle, in his work, What Is To Be Done?, where he stated that the ”role of vanguard can be fulfilled only by a party that is guided by an advanced theory.” (italics by Lenin) This is to stress the importance of a truly Marxist, Communist Party, one guided by the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Without such a Communist Party to guide the working class, it is doubtful that the revolution can be successful.

The social chauvinists have a particular hatred for that article. It deserves careful study, as Lenin condemns those whom he refers to as ”Economists”. Such people claim to be socialists or Marxists, while arguing that working people should fight only for improved wages, living and working conditions. They disapprove of even any mention of the existence of classes!

As for those who are of the opinion that there is no harm is fighting for such paltry reforms, I can only respond that such a struggle will not lead to class consciousness. Of course they are important, mainly as a means of raising the level of awareness of the working class. I would even go so far as to say that the struggle to abolish the Electoral College, which I would classify as a political reform, is acceptable to the Economists, as such a political reform is not a threat to the rule of the capitalists.

Without doubt, the current situation is revolutionary, as the ruling class, the capitalists, cannot rule in the old way, and the working class is no longer content to be ruled in the old way. This does not necessarily guarantee the success of the revolution, as the working class is grossly contaminated with bourgeois ideology. As Lenin phrased it, ”to belittle socialist ideology in any way, to deviate from it in the slightest degree means strengthening bourgeois ideology.”(italics by Lenin)

The one and only way the revolution can succeed, to lead to a socialist republic, is to raise the level of awareness of the working class. The working class has to be made aware of itself as a class, a proletarian class, with its own class interests, as opposed to that of the capitalists, the bourgeois. They must be given the Marxist awareness, or as Lenin phrased it, ”A Marxist is one who extends the acceptance of the class struggle to the acceptance of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat”. (italics by Lenin)

It is now up to conscious people, Marxists, Communists, to raise the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. Such expressions as Scientific Socialism and Dictatorship Of the Proletariat must become common place, at least among the more advanced workers. In other words, preparations must be made for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

It is very likely that a great many middle class people will consider this to be a none too subtle hint to get active, to take part in forming an American Communist Party. To such people I can only respond -guilty as charged. It may help to think of yourselves as the ”chosen ones”. You are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. You are also well aware that your dream of joining the ranks of the bourgeoisie have just evaporated. Even your former, rather comfortable middle class life style, is a thing of the past, never to return. In your ”previous life”, you were admired, well respected, a true professional. You never thought this could happen to you, yet here you are. You have been cast down, into the ranks of the proletariat, through no fault of your own. As bad as it is, you suspect that things are about to get worse, much worse. And you are right.

With your training and experience as a former middle class professional, you know well the mindset of the bourgeois. People are mere tools, to be used, until no longer needed, and then cast away. There is no room for sentiment in the world of business, of capitalism. There are only ”users” and the ”used”. You are now one of the used. Your world has just come crashing down. Your standard of living has just been reduced to nought. You are consumed with bitterness and frustration. Now is the time to choose between suicide, as many of your friends have, or you can choose the way of action.

You have an opportunity to make a huge difference, to take part in creating a better world. That better world is one of socialism, a world in which people do not stab each other in the back. A world of democracy for the working class, the proletariat, a world in which the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. It is a world which you can help to create, and one in which you will once again be admired and respected. The choice is yours.

With your talent, skills and training, you can take part in the creation of a truly American Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. As a member of the Communist Party, you can help to guide the revolution to a successful socialist republic. In the process, you will regain your self respect. It will restore purpose to your life. Bear in mind that three separate republics have already taken shape, and others will soon follow. They just need to be guided onto the proper socialist path.

The revolution is bound to break out any day now. Trump and his followers will see to that. There is no limit to their greed or their arrogance. The only thing they understand is brute force. Revolution is not the time or the place for the faint of heart, the squeamish. We can count on violence and bloodshed. This is not the time for pacifists. Only the determined, the resolute, need take part in the formation of the Communist Party. Only those who are prepared to lay down their lives for socialism, for a better future, for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

The choice is yours.

Lenin once wrote, in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, that ”Crises of every kind -economic crises more frequently, but not only these- in their turn increase very considerably the tendency towards concentration and monopoly”. The current situation in America is certainly proof of that statement. The country is currently facing several crises, not just an economic crisis, and political power is becoming ever more concentrated. The middle class, the petty bourgeois, is being decimated, with ever more members being forced into the ranks of the working class, the proletariat.

As far as the capitalists are concerned, they are facing a ”perfect storm”, a convergence of crises. The Corona Virus, which has killed over 200,000 Americans, is flaring up again, now that restrictions have been lifted, and it is anticipated to return with a vengeance, as soon as the flu joins forces with the virus to form a ”twindemic”. As well, the economic stimulus package, in the form of checks to alleviate the effects of the virus and unemployment, have run out and Congress cannot come to an agreement to continue such payments. This is expected to dramatically increase the unemployment rate. As well, the number of homeless is expected to skyrocket, as the laws protecting tenants from eviction is due to expire.

As a result of this, the stock market is fluctuating wildly, in anticipation of a second Great Depression. It is just a matter of time before it crashes completely, as it did in 1929. The bourgeois economists, in the simplicity of their souls, have responded with characteristic enthusiasm, as they anticipate a full ”economic recovery”. In fact, they perform a fine Guy Smiley imitation in the face of economic catastrophe. But then it is in their interest to pretend to be so naive.

As well, the Senate is fighting over the nomination of the next Supreme Court Justice. The protests against violent police repression, especially as regards minorities, is becoming ever stronger. To top it all off, the politicians, journalists and political scientists are finally figuring out that Trump has no intention of stepping down in January, regardless of the results of the November election. What is more, he may have found a way to stay in power, quite legally!

A noted journalist, writing for one of the most conservative, highly respected magazines in the country, was able to determine precisely the course of action Trump is pursuing. The journalist found it completely appalling, or as he stated it, ”scared myself writing this story”. Effectively, he merely faced the fact which he already knew, but chose to deny. For that matter, countless other journalists and politicians have also been denying the same facts, which they know to be true. The fact is that the American voters do not elect the president! The president is elected by the members of the electoral college, and the American voters do not elect the electors! The electors are appointed by the state legislature! The only requirement to legally remain in office, is to have the majority of the electors vote for Trump! The presidential vote is merely a formality! It is not legally binding!

With that in mind, Trump is approaching various state legislatures, encouraging them to appoint electors who will vote for him. They are being encouraged to ignore the popular vote. The journalist who determined this, is of the opinion that it is ”quite disturbing, dangerous, not normal, not customary”, that the ”system is not designed to work that way”, but there is ”no umpire”. He neglected to add that such actions are also quite legal.

Even top ranking members of his own party are accusing Trump of ”taking aim at one of the election pillars of democracy.” One such party member, a distinguished lawyer, is suggesting that the upcoming election ”could break America.” Others are saying that Trump is threatening to ”push American democracy to the brink”.

As Trump now openly admits his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, if the vote goes against him, their fears are well grounded.

It is very likely that the fact which irritates the bourgeois most is the fact that this threat to ”break America”, this threat to ”American democracy”, is coming, not from the Left, not from Communists, but from Donald Trump, one of their own!

One high ranking Republican Senator became quite indignant over the idea of a less than peaceful transition of power. He mentioned that such a peaceful transition of power is guaranteed in the Constitution. As if political power can be guaranteed by a mere stroke of a pen! Clearly this fellow has led a very sheltered life. He has missed his calling. As a starry eyed optimist, he really should have joined the Peace Corp!

A second such Senator is of the opinion that ”the American people will not allow a dictator”. In this, he is absolutely correct. There is sure to be a transition of power, but it will be anything but peaceful. No doubt Trump will merely declare himself to be president, possibly for life, and the American people will rise up in protest. After Trump is stopped and possibly arrested, the good Senator will then expect the revolutionaries to put down their weapons and disperse, like good proletarians. Not likely!

Other journalists have described this as an ”authoritarian crisis”, that Trump is ”taking a wrecking ball to the presidency”, that he is ”dismantling the presidential election”. Trump is being compared to the former president, Richard Nixon, who declared that the president is above the law. As Nixon put it, ”when the president breaks the law, it is not a crime”. That is precisely the attitude of Trump, and it took the journalists this long to figure it out!

Other comparisons have been made, in regards to the presidential election of 1972. At that time, most voters were of the opinion that they were being forced to choose between a ”crook and a jerk”, in that the Democratic Party nominee was not highly respected. As a result, the overwhelming majority of Americans voted for the crook and Nixon won the election in a landslide. It is entirely possible that history could repeat itself. Despite all the lies, deception and election rigging, Trump could honestly win the election, as people may once again choose to vote for the crook, rather than ”Sleepy Joe”!

As long ago as May, Trump appointed a new Postmaster General, with a view to slowing down the delivery of mail, so as to ensure that the election ballots which are sent in, do not get counted on time. He is also challenging the validity of mail in ballots, and anticipates that it will end up in the Supreme Court. With that in mind, he is determined to appoint a new member to that Supreme Court, and before the November election. In short, he is covering all the bases. One way or another, he is determined to stay in power.

Lest we give too much credit to Trump, bear in mind that he has a small army of lawyers working for him. They are pointing out the loopholes in the system, clearly earning their pay.

From a Marxist perspective, the important thing is that voter interest is now reported to be ”off the charts”. This is no doubt true, as it is only during a time of reaction that citizens become apathetic. The current situation is anything but a time of reaction! It is revolutionary, as people are determined to enact change. For that reason, we can expect a record number of people to engage in voting. That is excellent, for as Engels stated, universal suffrage is ”an index of the maturity of the working class. It cannot and never will be anything more in the modern state.”

As this anticipated voter turn out is expected to set a record, it indicates a high level of maturity of the working class. We can further anticipate the votes to be universally ignored, which will no doubt infuriate most people. They will complain that this is not democratic, while in fact it is most democratic. It is bourgeois democracy. This must be explained to them.

This is where conscious people, Marxists, Communists, come into play. It must be explained to people that democracy is not majority rule, as is taught in all bourgeois schools. It is a system of government in which one class crushes another class. This is to say that it is a state apparatus, and under capitalism, it is one of the methods by which the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, crushes and exploits the working class, the proletariat. Bourgeois democracy is a dictatorship, a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.

Now it is up to class conscious people to explain this to working people, and in words they can understand, without being condescending. Also explain that a republic does not recognize a monarch, so that America is a republic, while Canada is not, as Canada recognizes the Queen of England. Further explain that the capitalists prefer to rule under the democratic republic, as according to Lenin, ”it is the best possible political shell for capitalism”.

Bear in mind that certain workers are more advanced than others. It is the more advanced workers who are the leaders. The less advanced workers pay strict attention to the more advanced. This is not to say that the less advanced should be ignored, just that they should be spoken to in a manner they can understand. At the same time, at no point should there be any reference to vulgarity.

We indeed live under democracy, but democracy for the capitalists, and only for the capitalists. For the working class, the proletariat, it is a dictatorship, a dictatorship of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, over the proletariat. The capitalists are in charge and fully intend to remain in charge. The fact that they are currently squabbling among themselves, arguing over the particular method of rule, does not change that.

It is up to the working class, the proletariat, to change things, and to change things dramatically. The capitalists, the tiny minority, those who are currently crushing and exploiting the vast majority, the working class, must be overthrown and crushed under the proletariat, the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Lenin also mentioned that ”A Marxist is one who extends the acceptance of the class struggle to the acceptance of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.” (italics by Lenin, capitals by author)

There is a reason the capitalists must be forcibly crushed after the revolution. The reason is that they are not about to resign themselves to their fate. In fact, such a thought would never cross their minds. They will resort to every subterfuge, every lie, deception, deceit, in order to return to power. Their resistance will be increased ten fold, as they desperately attempt to restore their ”paradise lost”. As Lenin states, socialist development, after the revolution, ”proceeds through the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.” It is only under socialism that the working class, the proletariat, will achieve full democracy, and that is possible only when the bourgeoisie is being fully crushed. The one and only form of scientific socialism is the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. All else is petty bourgeois, utopian socialism, and has been proven to be a failure.

Now the press is counting down the days to the election, much as children count down the days to Christmas. One makes about as much sense as the other. Perhaps the journalists think that Trump will imitate the Grinch who stole Christmas, and have a change of heart!

The working people have no such illusions. They are taking action.

In the city of Louisville, state of Kentucky, a young Black woman, an EMT, was shot dead in her own home, by police officers. No officer has been charge in connection with her death. Protests have erupted across the country, and a curfew has gone into effect in the city. As an indication of the strength of the revolutionary movement, two police officers in Louisville have been shot. As well, a state of emergency has been declared, and the Kentucky National Guard has been mobilized.

The uprising has spread to other cities, with rocks, bottles and fireworks being thrown at police. One officer had his helmet cracked by a baseball bat. Protesters have gathered at the home of the Majority Leader of the Senate, as well as at the memorial of the late Justice of the Supreme Court. At the memorial, Trump tried to speak, while protesters were chanting ”Vote Him Out!”.

This harassment of the capitalists, at their homes and places of business, is most encouraging. They are learning to hit the capitalists where it hurts. Now the working people have got to learn to carry signs and posters containing class content. That is where the proper leaders come into the picture, class conscious people, Marxists, Communists. As ever more of the middle class, the petty bourgeois, are ruined, many of them will no doubt cast aside any illusions they may have of once again becoming successful, and carry the Marxist awareness to the proletariat.

As most class conscious people, Marxists, are current or former members of the petty bourgeois, it is up to them to get active. Create a proper American Communist Party. At the same time, join other organizations, those which are active in the revolutionary movement. Give proper direction to the movement. Suggest that the posters and signs reveal class content. Expect the social chauvinists to oppose this, as they are the devoted servants of the bourgeoisie, working within the working class.

It is important to distinguish between the centrists, those who may be utopian socialists, who may think that socialism is a good idea, and the social chauvinists, those who are determined to strive only for paltry reforms. The centrists are not the enemy, but allies. We want as many of those people on our side as we can persuade. On the other hand, the chauvinists are agents of the bourgeoisie, and they are the enemy.

Remember that we want as many people on our side as possible, as it is far more difficult to start a revolution in a highly industrialized country, a cultured country, than it is in a petty bourgeois country, an under developed country. On the other hand, it is far easier to carry the revolution through, in an industrialized country, than in an underdeveloped country. Hopefully, this will offer encouragement to those who are discouraged by the -temporary- turn of events in the Soviet Union and in China, in which capitalism has been restored.

Bear in mind that the less advanced workers are not the enemy. Such people tend to be followers, not leaders, and for the most part, have merely been mislead. With such people, patience is required. Given time, we can expect them to listen to the more advanced workers. Focus on the more advanced.

We can expect the social chauvinists to say that the working class is not prepared to seize political power. There is some truth to this, as under capitalism, the working class will never be fully prepared to seize political power. The capitalists will make sure of this. Then again, the Russian proletariat was even less prepared to seize political power in 1917. Yet it was forced upon them, and they rose to the occasion.

Very soon, the revolution will also be forced upon the American proletariat. Trump will see to that. There is no time to waste. Any training workers receive now will prove to be of great value after the revolution. At that time, such workers, and even workers with no training, will be placed in positions of authority. With that in mind, I will close with my usual advice:

Prepare For the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!

In 1858, an American politician made a speech, in which he stated that ”a house divided cannot stand”. That politician was Abraham Lincoln. He was absolutely correct. He was also president at the time of the Civil War of 1861-1865. Now the ”house” is once again ”divided”, and the second American Civil War is looming.

The current death toll, as a result of the Corona Virus, stands at 200,000 and is expected to double by the end of the year. The medical professionals are concerned that it could more than double, if as they expect, it combines with the flu virus, to create a perfect storm, a ”twindemic”, which could result in the death of a great many more people.

The unemployment rate is massive, but grossly underestimated, as most of the people who are out of work are not classified as unemployed. As well, a great many people are homeless, with an additional forty million people expected to be evicted from their homes soon. The ”economic stimulus package”, which provides some relief to people, has been reduced, and will soon be eliminated. The government is expected to shut down at the end of the month, as at that time it will run out of money, so that all government payments are expected to cease.

The people are rising up, demanding change. The movement against violent police repression, against minorities, ”black and brown”, has now merged with the working class movement, led by Black Lives Matter. The protests are becoming ever stronger, ever finer.

The Attorney General has responded by threatening to charge protesters with sedition. As sedition is defined as ”conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state”, that is a very serious charge. It is very close to treason, which is to betray ones country. It is clear that the Attorney General is confusing the right to peaceful protest, as is guaranteed in the Constitution, with rebellion. But then Americans have the right to ”abolish any government which does not represent them”. Their founding fathers gave them that right, in the Declaration of Independence. Such details are conveniently over looked by people such as the Attorney General. They are about to receive a rude awakening.

In the midst of this, Americans are faced with a federal election. All members of Congress are up for election, one third of the Senate and of course, the presidency is on the line. The press is focused on Trump, and would have us believe that removing him from office will solve the problems facing the nation.

Trump is not worried about the election, as he has no intention of stepping down, regardless of whether he wins or loses. He has that base covered. As a result of the virus, most people are being forced to vote by mail. With that in mind, he appointed a new Postmaster General, so as to ensure that the ballots are not delivered and counted on time. As well, he is encouraging people to vote twice, once by mail and once in person. Of course this is strictly against the law, so that if voters take his advice and vote twice, he can then declare the election fraudulent, assuming the vote goes against him.

Remarkably enough, Trump could still win the upcoming presidential election, even without election fraud. He is a fine demagogue, which is defined as ”an orator or political leader who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions and prejudices of the people”. It should be noted that Lenin referred to demagogues as ”the worst enemies of the proletariat”.

Trump knows how to appeal to those who are desperate, drowning in debt, unemployed, homeless, or about to become unemployed and homeless. He merely blames their plight on minorities and immigrants!

Now these desperate people, voters, are being asked to make a choice. They are being asked to choose between a man who is well known as a liar, thief and sex offender, but a leader, and a man, a former Vice President, who can best be charitably described as a follower.

The contrast between Trump and his competition is striking. Trump usually speaks his mind, rarely bothering with tele prompters. The former Vice President, the Democratic candidate for president, on the other hand, relies heavily on tele prompters. When he goes ”off script”. he becomes completely confused, stumbles, contradicts himself. He is the very definition of a follower.

The press is focused on the presidential election, and there is considerable speculation as to the election results. All are agreed that as soon as Trump is no longer president, he will be arrested, charged and spend the rest of his life in prison. No doubt Trump is also of that opinion, as he is not entirely stupid. For that reason, he has no intention of stepping down.

With that in mind, one journalist, a truly starry eyed optimist, suggested that Trump has no choice but to step down, if the vote goes against him, as the election result is guaranteed in the Constitution. Clearly this misguided soul failed to notice that at the time Trump took the oath of office, that of ”preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution”, his lips were moving, and that is a fine indication that he was lying!

Other theories have been offered, by other journalists. One has suggested that Trump may give himself a presidential pardon, which is quite possible. Another has suggested that he may ”pull a Nixon”, which is to say resign early, perhaps the day before his term expires, so that the current Vice President can automatically become president for a day, and grant Trump a pardon. This is highly unlikely, as there is nothing in it for the Vice President.

Even if he is granted a presidential pardon, such a pardon applies only to federal crimes, not to state crimes. Trump is anticipating numerous state charges, in addition to federal charges. Such a pardon will not keep him out of prison.

As a result of this, numerous people, those who are in positions of authority, are deeply concerned. A noted election law professor stated that ”the undermining of election integrity is a most dangerous thing”. He has reason to be concerned, as Trump stated on Twitter that ”the election results may never be known”. Further, the Attorney General, a loyal flunkie of Trump, stated that he would respect the election results, but only if ”the results are clear”.

Numerous government officials are very nervous. Few are prepared to ”go down with the ship”. All are aware that Trump is prepared to throw them ”under the bus”, if he thinks it will serve his purpose. Many have already ”jumped ship”. Others are currently defying him, at the risk of being fired. The FBI director stated publicly that most protesters are peaceful, not terrorists, in defiance of Trump. A former Virus Task Force official is now accusing Trump of caring only about reelection. She accuses him of stating that the virus means that he ”does not have to shake hands with disgusting people”. Even the former spy chief is now advising Congress to create an election oversight commission. This sentiment is being echoed by Senator Sanders, who is concerned that ”Trump may not accept the election results”. Count on it!

Even the top military officials are feeling the heat. The National Guard troops are occasionally patrolling the cities, but without any weapons, against the wishes of Trump. The Defence Secretary has ordered the regular army units to return to base, not to patrol American cities. Pentagon officials have stated that they will not get involved in any election disputes.

The situation is certainly revolutionary, in that the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, can no longer rule in the old way, while the working class, the proletariat, is no longer content to be ruled in the old way. We can expect a full scale civil war, a revolution, to break out any day now. In other words, the current situation is very similar to the situation of Russia, in 1917. The important difference is that the Russian working people had truly Marxist leaders, in the form of Lenin and the Communist Party. Without that leadership, it is doubtful that the revolution could have succeeded.

In the case of the Russian revolution, it was not at all immediately clear that the revolution would succeed. The country was in ruins, after four years of war, plus the harsh terms of peace imposed by the Treaty of Brest Litovsk. That was followed by three years of civil war, in which the forces of reaction, the counter revolutionaries, referred to as the Whites, sought to overthrow the new socialist republic. Their goal was not only to restore capitalism, but also the monarchy, and to give the land back to the landlords.

Yet in the midst of this civil war, in June of 1920, Lenin wrote the Theses On the Fundamental Tasks Of the Second Congress Of the Communist International. As the situation at that time has certain similarities to the current revolutionary situation, it deserves careful study.

It may be objected that at that time, in 1920, the situation was far different. As Lenin phrased it, ”the finest representatives of the revolutionary proletariat in all capitalist countries have fully grasped the fundamental principles of the Communist International, the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat and Soviet power”. (I use capital letters to stress the importance of that fundamental principle, placing it on the same level as Soviet power-GM) Such is no longer the case. The most advanced strata of the proletariat no longer embrace the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat or Soviet power.

Then again, it is now the case that the vast majority of people have spontaneously gravitated towards socialism, or to the ”Left”, as is the common expression. This places them in a better position to take part in the revolution, as compared to the Russian proletariat, in 1917. As well, no less than three American republics have already taken shape. No doubt they will soon separate and establish independent socialist republics. By comparison, it was several years after the Russian revolution before separate republics took shape, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics came into existence.

In his theses, Lenin stressed the importance of the proper leadership. As he stated it, in reference to the Communist Party, ”it is only under the leadership of such a party that the proletariat is capable of displaying the full might of its revolutionary onslaught, and of overcoming the inevitable apathy and occasional resistance of that small minority, the labour aristocracy, who have been corrupted by capitalism…it is the Communist parties’ principle task at the present moment to unite the scattered Communist forces, to form a single Communist Party in every country (or to reinforce or renovate the already existing Party) in order to increase ten fold the work of preparing the proletariat for the conquest of political power -political power, moreover, in the form of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.”

It is my opinion that at present, the most important thing, or the ”key link”, as Lenin phrased it, is to make preparations for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. The first step in those preparations is to form a proper Communist Party. Without the proper leadership provided by a truly Marxist Communist Party -and there is no other form of proper leadership- then it is doubtful that the revolution will succeed. Further, there can be no question of uniting the ”already existing Party”, as all parties which claim to be Marxist are in fact social chauvinists.

Now the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are facing several crises, in the form of the virus, unemployed and homeless, an anticipated second great depression, not to mention a ”loose cannon” in the form of Trump. As a result of this, they are deeply divided, not sure of how to proceed. A few members of their class, as well as a considerable number of their formerly loyal middle class, petty bourgeois supporters, have now ”jumped ship” and are joining the revolutionary forces. Almost all of these people are well educated intellectuals. They are aware of class distinctions, familiar with the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Now is the time to make use of their education, training and skills. It is up to them, it is their duty, to take part in forming a truly Marxist Communist Party.

True, there are certain advanced workers who are familiar with the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. Especially now that we have the internet, it is possible to become self educated. To expect these numerically small number of workers, no matter how advanced, to form a Communist Party, is expecting too much. Which is not to say that they cannot take part in creating such a Party, and in fact it is recommended.

No doubt the American Communist Party will be formed, and in the near future. The success of the revolution largely depends upon this. Bear in mind that, as Lenin stated, ”the Communist Parties’ current task consists not in accelerating the revolution, but in intensifying the preparation of the proletariat…to see that ‘recognition’ of the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat shall not remain a mere matter of words”.

As I write this, the press is reporting that another member of the Supreme Court has just died. This may well give rise to another crisis, as Trump is determined to nominate another Supreme Court justice, a woman, and have her confirmed by the Senate, before the November elections. There is strong opposition to this, by a great many people, who prefer to wait until after the federal elections. But then Trump is determined to do whatever he wants, regardless of the will of the American people. As the revolutionary situation is so volatile, it could trigger an explosion.

No doubt, the situation of the proletariat is desperate. Most are deeply in debt, unemployed or under employed, homeless or facing eviction, with little or no medical coverage, unable to make ends meet. The petty bourgeois are also feeling the pinch. They expect the stock market to soon collapse, wiping out any savings they have set aside. As well, those who own small businesses anticipate losing them, as the depression tightens its grip, and they are forced into the ranks of the proletariat.

It is the petty bourgeois intellectuals to whom I am appealing. It is not fair that you should have to be burdened with the additional task of forming an American Communist Party. It is what it is. Fair has nothing to do with it. Call it fate, or historical development, or an act of Almighty God, if you believe in God, as I do. However you choose to refer to it, the fact remains that the working people need leaders, proper leaders, and you are the chosen ones.

I am sure you will rise to the occasion. I have complete confidence in you.

As we enter the final few weeks of the latest political gong show, known as the 2020 presidential elections, a series of ”tell all” books have just been published. No doubt the authors deliberately waited until the election was in ”full swing”, so as to get as much press coverage for their books as possible. Assuming that to be the case, they are sure not to be disappointed.

The journalists are quite cheerfully reporting, even gleefully, that no less than five books are exposing the inner workings of the White House. Each book is even more damning that the previous one, to the delight of the reporters. As Trump has consistently slandered the reporters, professionals one and all, as ”purveyors of fake news”, who can blame them?

They are especially excited by the book authored by the famous journalist, investigative reporter and writer, one whom interviewed Trump possibly eighteen times. Each interview was recorded, at the permission of Trump, so that any denial lacks credibility. Not that any such little detail ever stopped Trump from lying before, so we can expect him to stay in form and continue to lie.

In anticipation of those lies, the press is playing the recordings, in which Trump stated, in early February, that he knew the virus was ”even more deadly than strenuous flu”, that it was ”dangerous, highly contagious, air borne and deadly”. He went on to say that he ”did not want to start a panic”, so he deliberately ”downplayed the risks”. Now that over six million Americans are infected, with nearly two hundred thousand dead, everyone knows that he was right. It is indeed ”deadly”. Perhaps the relatives of the deceased can take some comfort in knowing that no panic was created!

This is not to imply that Trump accepts any responsibility for the virus which is devastating the country, because he does not. As he stated in an interview in July, ”The virus has nothing to do with me. It’s not my fault. China let the damn virus out”.

As one journalist pointed out, ”Trump does not seem to grasp that a President has a responsibility to protect the public.” In fact, such a ”grasp” is beyond the intellectual capacity of the man. That same journalist blamed it on ”hubris”, which is defined as excessive pride or self confidence. Trump certainly has no shortage of that!

In addition, his niece has written a book, which is also less than flattering. Even though related by blood, she is clearly not a big fan of his. Or perhaps, given a chance to make some money with a tell all book, she just could not pass up the opportunity. Such attitudes may well run in the family. No member of the family has ever been known to stand on principle.

The journalists are also reporting that the Attorney General, the ”top cop” in the country, has sunk to a greater depth. Each time they think he has hit bottom, he finds a way to go lower.

In this particular case, a certain lady, a writer, claims that Trump raped her in the nineteen nineties. Of course, the statute of limitations has long since expired, so he cannot be charged. But then, in response to her accusations, Trump called her a liar. She in turn responded by suing him for ”defamation of character”.

That is quite straight forward, a simple civil law suit, not a criminal matter, certainly no concern of the Department of Justice. Yet the Attorney General has seen fit to volunteer the services of that government agency, to act as personal attorneys for Trump, at tax payer expense of course.

In other news, the governor of New York state is accusing Trump of trying to ”kill New York City”. As Trump tweeted ”Drop Dead NYC”, it is clear that the governor has a point. It would appear that Trump is doing his best to provoke the North East to separate, and form a separate independent socialist republic.

As well, the Director of the National Intelligence has just told Congress that there will be no more personal briefings, at least concerning election security. When the Congress responded that this was a violation of section 6507 of the National Defence Authorization Act, the Director made no response. Apparently he takes his orders from Trump, not the Congress.

It is clear that the ruling class, in this case the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, can no longer rule in the old way. The two party system, which has served them so well for so many years, has ”let them down”. Trump, one of their own, no less, is now a ”loose cannon” and has to be stopped. That is the reason they have allowed the publication of the books which are so critical of Trump. Then too, the journalists have been ”turned loose”, and in fact are in a ”feeding frenzy”. They have been given the ”green light” to expose Trump as the liar, crook and sex offender that he is. This they are doing with great enthusiasm.

According to Lenin, one of the requirements for a successful revolution is the inability of the ruling class to rule in the old way. That requirement is clearly being met. He further stated that the other requirement, or the other side of the coin, or the other aspect of the contradiction, comes at a time when the oppressed class is no longer prepared to live in the old way. That time is now.

As the journalists are focused on Trump and the upcoming presidential election, the protests which are happening around the country are being largely ignored. At best, they are mentioned largely in passing, almost as a footnote. Still, it is clear that the protests in Portland, which have now been going on for over one hundred days, are showing no sign of slowing down. On the contrary, they are escalating, with a Molotov cocktail being thrown. That is the popular term for a glass bottle, filled with gasoline and fitted with a cloth fuse. Then the cloth is lit and the bottle thrown. As the glass breaks, the gasoline catches fire and the results can be most unpleasant. That is certainly a dramatic escalation of the protests.

Trump and his administration are so concerned with the protests that they are sending in federal troops, dressed in plain clothes, driving in unmarked vehicles, with the goal of quelling the ”uprisings”. The fact that this is against the law, or unconstitutional, to put it in legal terms, does not concern Trump. Breaking the law is his idea of restoring law and order.

By law, the federal government can send in federal troops, usually in the form of the National Guard, only at the request of the governor of the state. As numerous governors are reluctant to call in such troops, Trump has decided to go around the governors. With that in mind, he has created something called PACT, or Protecting American Communities Task Force. Officially, they have been created to ”protect American monuments, memorials and statues and combatting recent criminal violence”. As a result of this, any protesters who are arrested can be charged with a more serious crime, as the violation of the ”order to disperse” is now a federal offence.

This too is an escalation in the class struggle, in response to the ”protests”, which is nothing more than revolutionary action. This escalation has the effect of alienating certain members of the bourgeois class, so that we can expect some of them to join the revolutionary movement. This is an indication of the strength of the revolution, just as predicted by Marx.

A further indication of the unwillingness of the working class to live in the old way is being played out on the far side of the country. In the city of Rochester, New York state, a mentally ill black man was killed by police. That resulted in many nights of protest, seven police officers being suspended, and the police chief was forced to resign.

In Essex, New Jersey, hundreds of families lined up for a food bank. Within a couple hours, they ran out of food. A great many people are now going hungry. Most of those people never thought they would see the day that they would have to rely on hand outs. They are out of work, soon to be homeless, and now they have been degraded. Make no mistake, they are no longer content to live in the old way.

That is the other side of the coin, the other aspect to the contradiction, to state it in scientific terms. So now we have a ruling class which can no longer rule in the old way, and a working class which is no longer prepared to live in the old way. In short, the situation is truly revolutionary. The stage is set for a successful socialist revolution.

Now that Trump is under pressure, he is lashing out. The mayor of Rochester is absolutely correct when she says, referring to Trump, ”his only desire is to bait people, to act with hate and to incite violence that he believes will benefit him politically”. That lady is a fine judge of character!

This is not to say that Trump is the problem. The class of people whom he represents is the problem, and that is the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie. They have to be overthrown, a socialist republic has to be established, and the former ruling class, the capitalists, those who are concerned only with their profit, the bourgeoisie, have to be crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

That is a fact, a fundamental tenet of Marxism, just as it is a fact that it is not reasonable to expect the working people to be aware of this. Scientific socialism and the working class motion evolve separately, and it is now necessary to merge the two. The working class movement and the movement for scientific socialism must become one movement. The only way that can happen is by having proper leaders, which is to say that we are in desperate need of a truly Communist Party, one which calls for revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

With that in mind, may I suggest that in 1895, in Czarist Russia, Lenin got together with a group of intellectuals, met in secrecy and led them in creating a Russian Communist Party. At that time, it was called the League of Struggle For the Emancipation of the Working Class.

Even though they met in the utmost secrecy, they were still ”ratted out”. Most of them, including Lenin, were immediately arrested and thrown in prison. Even under those conditions, the League of Struggle took shape, as Lenin was able to write and smuggle the illegal material out of prison.

One of these illegal works was titled Draft and Explanation of a Program For the Social Democratic Party. That is of particular interest to us, as it gives us an idea of the program of the current American Communist Party, which must soon to be created.

As Lenin put it, ”The Party’s activity must consist in promoting the workers’ class struggle….to join up with the workers movement, to bring some light into it…to uphold the interests of the workers and to represent those of the entire working class movement”.

From this it is clear that it is the duty of Marxists, Communists, to ”join up” with the working class movement, and not to attempt to divert it onto some harmless path of social reform. As for the idea of ”bring some light into it”, this is to say that the working class is not aware of itself as a class, certainly not aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx, and the working class must be exposed to these Marxist theories.

Lenin refers to this as ”developing the workers class consciousness…means the workers understanding that the only way to improve their conditions and to achieve their emancipation is to conduct a struggle against the capitalist and factory owner class created by the factories…that the interests of all workers of any particular country are identical, that they all constitute one class, separate from all other classes in society… that to achieve their aims they have to work to influence the affairs of state, just as the landlords and capitalists did, and are continuing to do so now”.

Those who are about to create a new American Communist Party would do well to bear that in mind. Most, if not all, Leftist parties and organizations, seek to divert the revolutionary movement onto some harmless path of social reform. Whether they know it or not, and many of them are not aware of this, they are working in the service of the bourgeoisie.

Without doubt, the situation is truly revolutionary, as the ruling class can no longer rule in the old way and the working class is no longer prepared to live in the old way. As that is the case, certain bourgeois intellectuals are breaking away from their class. It is up to these intellectuals, those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, to form a proper American Communist Party. Only such a Party is able to lead the working class, to raise their level of awareness, to make them aware of themselves as a class, of the necessity of revolution and further of the necessity of crushing their class enemies under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

Only with the proper leadership, that of a true Communist Party, will the revolution succeed. The alternative is to continue to live under the rule of the capitalists, the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. That is a fate worse than death.

The current political situation in America can perhaps best be described as insane. If it was in the form of a work of fiction, critics would dismiss it as too ridiculous. It appears to be a mixture of comedy and horror, two forms of entertainment which do not go well together. Yet the actions of Trump and his administration would be laughable, if they were not so tragic.

It is estimated that an additional forty million people will soon be homeless, yet this is a matter of supreme indifference to Trump and his supporters. Their only concern is that he remain in power. The country is also facing another possible government shut down at the end of the month, but that too does not concern Trump.

As well, the current death toll, as a result of the Corona Virus, is approaching 200,000. By the end of the year, that number is expected to more than double, to over 400,000. That is certainly not a joking matter, but Trump sees it as an opportunity, as a means of staying in power. The virus has given rise to the necessity of ”social distancing”, as a means of containing the spread of the virus, so that most Americans plan to vote by mail. With that in mind, Trump has taken steps to ensure that the mail does not get delivered on time, so that he can declare the election a fraud. As well, he is encouraging citizens to vote twice, once by mail and once in person, an action which is completely against the law. That too could lead to the election being declared invalid, which is precisely what he wants.

Such actions are completely devoid of principle, an abuse of power at best, supremely contemptible, but not entirely irrational. By contrast, his suggestion of ”Men in Black”, an ”entire plane load of looters, anarchists and rioters”, of ”thugs wearing black uniforms”, leads people to question his sanity. Trump is also suggesting that his opponent for the presidency, the former Vice President, is ”controlled by people you never heard of, people that are in the dark shadows.”

As if that is not bad enough, he is also a believer in ”QAnon”, Apparently, ”Q” is a high level, anonymous, government insider, an individual who is ”running an international Satanic pedophile child trafficking ring and controlling the world”.

To think that the man who is spitting out this nonsense is the American president!

More or less as a result of this insanity, numerous former members of his administration are either facing charges or are already in prison. Many other current members of the same administration will soon be joining them. One of the convicted felons has just written a book, which is already a best seller, even though it is not yet in print. Yet members of the press have received advance copies, so we know what it says.

The author, a self described ”fixer” for Trump, was his former lawyer and advisor. He was apparently a close confidant of Trump, long before Trump became president. Critics say that he was the closest thing Trump had to a friend. This is reasonable, as Trump is not the sort of person who is capable of forming friendships. He is too self absorbed for that.

The fact remains that in this book, soon to be published, he refers to Trump as a ”racist, a bully, a predator, a con man, a swindler, completely corrupt”. He further states that ”Trump can’t be trusted” and ”You shouldn’t believe a word he utters”. He also claims that Trump is determined to ”leverage power to the maximum level possible”. With that in mind, he accuses Trump of flattering the Russian president, Putin, with a view to building a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Of course the White House is not taking this lying down. They have pointed out that the author of that book is nothing less than a disbarred lawyer, a federal inmate, convicted of no less than nine charges, including lying to Congress. This comes as no great surprise to anyone, as only liars and crooks are qualified to work for Trump.

The author of the book does not deny being a liar, but maintains that he lied only at the direction of, and for the benefit of, Donald Trump. But then he was caught in those lies, tried and convicted. Of course, at that point Trump ”threw him under the bus”, as Trump cares only about himself and his immediate family.

The journalists are also reporting that at the time Trump was in France and scheduled to visit a cemetery containing the remains of American servicemen killed in the line of duty, he refused to go as he was afraid the rain would expose his bald spot. When asked about this, he mentioned that he could not go because he had to call his wife, in America. The journalists found this hard to believe as his wife was, at that time, with him in France.

In addition, a highly respectable magazine is reporting that Trump has also referred to military veterans as ”suckers and losers”, as they ”don’t know how to exploit the system and get out of serving”. Clearly he has only contempt for those who serve their country, including those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. He managed to avoid the nuisance of spending time in the military by being granted deferral due to ”bone spurs” on his feet. Money may not buy happiness, but it certainly buys almost everything else.

Trump has responded to these serious accusations against him, by attacking the lady who owns ”controlling interest” in the magazine which made these allegations, a ”billionaire philanthropist”, as someone who ”does not know her place”. Trump is determined to make her rue the day she spoke ill of him!

As if that is not bad enough, a second book is soon to be published, written by a former FBI agent, who is suggesting that Trump was being investigated on suspicion of being a ”Manchurian Candidate”. That is a rather oblique way of referring to someone who is suspected of being a Russian agent. It is entirely possible that the agent was fired for pursuing that line of investigation.

Yet there are two sides to every coin, so to speak. Or as the social scientists refer to it, there are two sides to every contradiction. The press is accurately reporting the news, but from the bourgeois point of view, of course. That is one side of the coin. The flip side of the coin, the proletarian side, is the fact that people are rising up, demanding change. The Black Lives Matter movement is growing and gaining strength. People of all colours and ethnic backgrounds are now marching, against violent police repression. Professional sport games are being cancelled. The protesters in Portland are standing their ground, even under extreme pressure. The Kentucky Derby is being harassed by protesters. The protests are spreading to other cities and even around the country. They are even spreading to other countries.

Perhaps of more significance, no less than three separate republics have already taken shape. As yet, they have not declared independence and formed socialist republics, but soon that will happen. On the east coast, which is one of the population centres of the country, seven states have come together. On the west coast, three states have come together, also population centres. Then in the midwest, the industrial heartland of the country, seven more states have formed a coalition. Without doubt, very soon other states will come together and form other coalitions, the nucleus of independent socialist republics.

Now the federal election is less that two months away, and the journalists are counting down the days. I have deliberately chosen to quote precisely the words they are using, in order to make a point. The journalists are clearly concerned, as they are patriotic Americans who love their country. They are also convinced that Trump is the problem, and that voting him out of office is the solution. Except that Trump is not the problem, the problem is capitalism, and as long as the capitalists, the bourgeoisie are in charge, nothing of substance will change.

There is only one solution to the problems created by capitalism, and that is to convert it into socialism. That is only possible through a revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. The bourgeoisie has to be overthrown and crushed, as otherwise they will return to power, as they have in Russia and China. There are certain conditions that are necessary for a revolution to take place.

As Lenin 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.” He refers to this as the ”fundamental law of revolution”. (italics by Lenin)

As that is the case, it is clear that the American ”upper class”, in this case the bourgeoisie, can no longer rule in the ”old way”, which is to say the two party system. Trump has no intention of stepping down, regardless of the results of the federal election. After all, the man is not entirely stupid. He knows that as soon as he is no longer president, he will be charged and convicted of numerous crimes, both state and federal, and spend the rest of his life in jail. Unless of course, he is convicted of treason, in which case he could face the firing squad.

As for the ”lower classes”, in this case the working class, the proletariat, they have ”had enough”, they are ”fed up”. They are no longer content to ”live in the old way”. They are tired of being unemployed and homeless, living in poverty, watching their fellow Americans sicken and die from the virus, while the ”one percent” live in the ”lap of luxury”. They are demanding change. This is the very definition of a revolutionary situation!

So now, on the one hand, we have the ruling class, the bourgeoisie, squabbling among themselves, not sure of how to proceed. They just know that they cannot rule in the old way, under the two party system.

On the other hand, we have the working class, the proletariat, those who are facing massive unemployment and homelessness, resulting in extreme poverty. This in addition to the virus which is decimating the country. They just know they cannot live in the old way.

It is for these reasons that I am convinced the revolution is about to take place, and that it has every chance of success, that it can ”triumph”. Which is not to say that it will magically be ”triumphant” by itself. It is going to require a little effort on our part.

With that in mind, I can only suggest that time is ”not on our side”, if you will excuse the expression. Trump has made it clear that he fully intends to remain in office, regardless of the results of the November election. In fact, he has stated that he plans to remain in office until he decides to step down. That is one of the few honest statements he has ever made! On this one point, and on this one point alone, we can believe him.

Trump no doubt plans to set himself up as a monarch, perhaps King Donald the First, of the House of Trump. Instead, he is about to receive a rude awakening.

The American people will not stand for this. We can count upon them to stand up and defend their democratic rights. It is very likely that a full blown revolution will be set in motion. Remarkably enough, we can expect the American people, the working class, to rise up in protest, along side the American capitalists, the bourgeoisie.

Such an alliance -although rare- is not unprecedented. In early 1917, in Russia, a similar alliance took place, in that the common people of Russia, workers and peasants, came together with the Russian bourgeoisie, in opposition to Czar Nicholas. It resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy, in February – March of that year. Immediately after the abdication of the Czar, the alliance was ended. Several months later, on November 7 -new style calendar- the bourgeoisie were overthrown by the workers and peasants, led by Lenin and the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. It should be noted that at that time, such was the name of the Communist Party.

Now here in America, we can expect the working class to first assist the bourgeoisie in defeating Trump. That will give them fresh confidence in their ability to enact change. As soon as Trump is deposed, the bourgeoisie will attempt to disarm the working class, as they are well aware of the danger of armed workers. Then we can expect the working class to defend their democratic right to bear arms, as is guaranteed in the Constitution. The freshly energized proletariat will resist this new assault on their rights, and we can expect the workers to carry the revolution forward, as happened in November of 1917 in Russia, and overthrow the bourgeoisie.

That being said, it is not reasonable to expect the workers to overthrow the capitalists and establish the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, without a little help from their leaders. That is where conscious people come in, Marxists, true Communists. That is the very thing that is lacking. Without the leadership provided by a true Communist Party, the success of the revolution is in doubt.

This brings us to the role of leaders, or at least proper leaders, which is to say scientific socialists. In other words, Marxists, as they are the only true leaders of the working class, the proletariat. Those who claim to be socialists but not Marxists, are really utopian socialists, and whether they know it or not, are in the service of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie.

As for those who are skeptical, may I suggest you give consideration to the opinion of Engels, who recognized three forms of the great struggles of the working class, that of the economic, the political and the theoretical! In fact, it was Lenin who pointed out that the ”role of vanguard can be fulfilled only by a party that is guided by an advanced theory.” (italics by Lenin)

This is to stress the necessity of the creation of a Communist Party. It must be created. It is the duty of conscious people, which is to say Marxists, to create a true Communist Party, as otherwise the revolution will likely not succeed.

The reason for this is quite simple. The working class is not aware of itself as a class. This class awareness must be brought to it from an outside source, from middle class intellectuals. Anyone who scoffs at the importance of the class awareness, at the revolutionary theories which can only be brought to the working class, by a true Communist party, ”means, whether one likes it or not, the growth of influence of bourgeois ideology among the workers”. (italics by Lenin)

Lenin goes on to say that ”The working class spontaneously gravitates towards socialism, but the more widespread (and continuously revived in the most diverse forms) bourgeois ideology spontaneously imposes itself upon the working class still more”. For that reason, it is up to Communists to combat bourgeois ideology with proletarian ideology.

In addition, we can expect the American empire to break up, to split into independent socialist republics, as happened in Russia. Three American republics have already taken shape, and no doubt more will soon follow. This may happen only after the socialist revolution which overthrows the bourgeoisie, or perhaps before that. As yet, we have no way of knowing. We do know that the capitalists are completely reactionary, dead set opposed to revolution and socialism, and supremely reluctant to part with their wealth and power. That is the reason they have to be crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

As for those who object that there already are several Communist parties in the country, I can only respond that you are mistaken. There are several parties which claim to be Communist or socialist, but none of them are Marxist. This serves to confuse the working people, as is no doubt intended. So in the interest of distinguishing ourselves from the social chauvinists, I am suggesting that the name of the party be Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. As all social chauvinists avoid any mention of the term Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, as if it were an infectious disease, that should help to clarify the situation.

In addition to the usual Marxist slogans, may I suggest an additional one:

American Communist Party, Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!