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The country of America is deeply divided. There are a great many people, those whom I refer to as Leftist, who are determined to enact change. Such people include those who consider themselves socialists, democrats, democratic socialists, independent socialists, Marxists, Communists, and feminists, among others. Some of these people are members of political parties and organizations, while many others are not. A great many people are simply fed up, disgusted with the current situation, tired of all the lies and deception of their elected leaders. They do not trust the two mainstream political parties, and are equally suspicious of the alternative parties and Leftist groups. Who can blame them?

To such people I can only respond that if nothing else, there is strength in numbers. Yet there is more to it than that, much more in fact. As long as the people who are on the Left are conscious people, which is to say aware of the existence of classes and the antagonism between the classes, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, and are also prepared to take guidance from such great leaders of the proletariat as Marx and Lenin, then that is half the battle. Just bear in mind that the emancipation of the working class must be an act of the working class itself. No other class can do this for them.

With that in mind, I am calling upon all members of the Left, which is to say class conscious people, to join the two mainstream political parties, to become card carrying members of  both the Democratic and Republican parties. Such members are referred to as ”party bosses”, because that is precisely what they are. Those are the people who decide the individual to run for any and all political offices. They are the ”power behind the throne”, if you will excuse the expression. They work ”behind the scenes”, so to speak. They ”call the shots”, and any and all elected politicians, or even those who desire to become elected, ”dance to their tune”, if you will excuse the mixed metaphors.

I have deliberately chosen these very popular expressions for the benefit of the readers of this article who are working class, or at least of a working class background. The conditions of life of the working class does not lead to the awareness of itself as a class, and the ruling class, the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, is careful to deny the existence of classes, at least in North America. This awareness of itself as a class has to come from an outside source, which is to say the middle class, the petty bourgeois. We are now presented with a golden opportunity to raise the level of awareness of the working class and at the same time to motivate working people to take up the class struggle.

Those same class conscious Leftist people who become card carrying members of the parties can then approach various working class groups, such as seniors, students, trade unions and sports clubs. It is the approach that is critical. Instead of asking for their vote, ask for their help. All such people can be asked to become card carrying members of the two parties, ”party bosses”, and the Leftist people can offer to assist them in this. It is possible to apply for membership online, and many seniors are not terribly familiar with computers. Feel free to offer your assistance in this little task.

Explain to them that as ”party bosses”, they get to decide the person to run for office. You may also suggest that they choose someone, perhaps one of their own, who is prepared to go to Washington to fight for the rights of seniors. No doubt all seniors are agreed that they should be provided with free medical coverage, among other things. Such other things could include an increased pension, one that is tax free, at least for people who are forced to live on a fixed income.

A similar approach should be made to the students, except that it is reasonable to expect students to be quite familiar with computers. An offer of assistance in this department may be considered an insult. It is also reasonable to expect the students to be concerned with student loans, properly so. The person doing the approach may suggest to the students that they choose someone to be sent to Washington who will fight for the cancellation of all student loans, and free tuition for all.

When approaching the trade unions, bear in mind that all workers organizations are in favour of an increase in the minimum wage. They are supremely well aware that such an increase will increase the wages of all, including those who earn a higher wage.

Then there are the members of the sports clubs. Such people tend to defend their democratic right to bear arms, as is guaranteed in the Constitution. Under no circumstances should the meeting become confrontational, regardless of the personal beliefs of the individual approaching the sports people. Perhaps it would be best to suggest that we harvest our wild meat with rifles and shotguns, not with machine guns and automatic weapons. We also shoot paper targets with hand guns, not hand grenades. The implication is that we should leave the military style weapons to the military. After all, the only thing those weapons are good for is killing people. It is very likely that most sports enthusiasts will agree with this. As for those who wish to argue the point, feel free to walk away. An argument will serve no purpose.

These are merely some common sense suggestions concerning the proper approach towards members of the working class. We want as many people as possible to become card carrying members of the two parties. (I suspect there is a proper name for such members, but I have no idea what that name is. Perhaps special members?)

If these people are interested, as no doubt most of them will be, we can also explain that running for political office usually costs a small fortune, or a large fortune, depending upon the office. Either way, it is out of the reach of working class people, those who have no fortune, large or small. Or at least it used to be out of the reach of working class people. That which we are suggesting is quite reasonable and not at all expensive.

Membership in the two parties is free, and such members get to decide the individual to run for office. Assuming the card carrying members of the two parties choose the same person to run for office, perhaps Congress, on behalf of both parties, then there is no need for any expensive campaign. After all, that person is running against him or her self. It matters not if such an individual goes to Washington as an elected Democrat or as an elected Republican.

The main thing is that we become politically active, and motivate working people to also become active. At the same time, we can help to raise the level of awareness of the working class, motivate working people to take up their struggles, to focus the working class revolutionary movement on their class enemies, the bourgeoisie. This will provide some very valuable experience in the class struggle, and can be considered as training for the positions of authority which working people will have to take up, after the revolution. Perhaps it is best to think of this not so much as running for office, but as training for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

In the process, we will no doubt flood Washington with a great many Leftist politicians, especially in the House of Representatives, the Congress. The precise number is of no consequence, as the ruling class, the bourgeoisie, the monopoly capitalists, the multi millionaires and the multi billionaires, are not about to submit to the rule of the majority, which in America is the proletariat. At least, they will not submit without a fierce fight.

I keep referring to the Congress, as that is the political body which controls the money, and all members serve two year terms. The Congress sets the tax rate for one and all.

Of course there are a great many supporters of the capitalist monopoly system, which is technically referred to as imperialism, who object to free medical coverage, if only for seniors. They also object to free tuition and cancellation of all student loans, as well as to an increase in the minimum wage, on the grounds that the country cannot afford this. To such people I can only respond that the country can afford this. The country can also afford free medical coverage for all, an increase in the pensions of the seniors, tax free for those who are on a fixed income, and a tax break for a great many working class people. The way to raise the money needed is to tax the bourgeoisie, the super rich. The tax rate for the millionaires should start at ninety percent, and increase to ninety nine percent for the billionaires. The same rate should be applied to an inheritance tax, which currently does not exist. The richest families in the country perpetuate their wealth by passing on that wealth to their children and grand children, tax free. That is precisely the reason so many people, such as the current president, was born as a millionaire.

This extra tax money, at the expense of the bourgeoisie, will cover the costs of medical coverage for the working class and the seniors, the tuition fees for students, and a great deal more.

The only thing I am suggesting is that Americans take the advice of their government officials. These are the same government officials who earn their very handsome salaries crawling on their bellies, licking the boots of their masters, the bourgeoisie. They object to American citizens who exercise their democratic rights to object to the various wars being fought around the world, such as the eighteen year old war in Afghanistan. They also object to the people who took part in the Occupy Movement, as well as the Me Too people, Black Lives Matter, the LGBT people and countless others. In fact, they object to anyone who does not blindly follow their political masters, the bourgeoisie.

That being said, I also believe in giving credit where credit is due. These same people also suggest that we change the system from within, and I think that is a fine idea. The fact is that people on the Left have been challenging the two party system since the days of the Civil War, and yet it is still in place. Perhaps the best way to destroy the two party system is to embrace it. If millions of Americans join the two parties, as I fully expect will happen, then indeed they will ”change the system from within”.

But then there are those who object, ” They will never allow such a thing! They will never allow Washington to be flooded with Leftist people and they are not about to consent to pay such high taxes!”

To such people I can only respond with a question: just who are ”they”? If by ”they”, you mean the bourgeoisie, the very people whom I am suggesting should pay their fair share of taxes, I most emphatically agree. Then ”they” will show their true colours, ”they” will defy the Congress as well as the Constitution, the very Constitution which the members of Congress have sworn to protect, and ”they” will change their method of rule, ”they” will be more exposed, and the working class of America, and indeed the world, will receive a valuable education. This is another way of saying that the bourgeoisie will soon show their true colours.

It is not just the working class people who will receive an education. There are a great many people on the Left who are of the opinion that this is the way, the only way, in which capitalism can be transformed into socialism. As if socialism can be voted into existence! They think there is no need for revolution, that the imperialists, the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are prepared to peacefully submit to the rule of the majority. Such people are about to find out that is not the case, and the Marxists were correct the whole time.

It can only aid the revolution to have as many Leftist people in Washington as possible. It is up to the working people to join the two mainstream parties, as card carrying members, and put forward their own working class candidates for office. At the same time, it is up to Marxists to let them know that the bourgeoisie will have to be overthrown, and that can only be accomplished through violent revolution. The rule of the bourgeoisie can and must be replaced, by the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.

It is now clear that the vast majority of working people have spontaneously gravitated towards socialism. It is also clear that the American working people, which is to say the proletariat and petty bourgeois of the United States, are leading the revolutionary movement of the working people of North America. It is also quite likely that the working people of South America, the proletariat and peasants, will also join in the revolutionary movement. What is more, it is the American women who are leading the revolution.

(As an aside, I should explain that the citizens of the United States refer to themselves as Americans, so that is the terminology I am using.)

There is a reason for the fact that American women who are leading the revolution. As Lenin pointed out, ”One of the chief causes hampering the revolutionary working-class movement in the developed capitalist countries is the fact that because of their colonial possessions and the super profits gained by finance capital, etc., the capitalists of these countries have been able to create a relatively larger and more stable labour aristocracy, a section which comprises a small minority of the working class. This minority enjoys better terms of employment and is most imbued with a narrow minded craft spirit and with petty bourgeois and imperialist prejudices….No preparation of the proletariat for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie is possible, even in the preliminary sense, unless an immediate, systematic, extensive and open struggle is waged against this stratum…”

This means that on the one hand, we have the vast majority of American working people who are leading the revolutionary North American movement, and on the other hand we have a ”small minority” of workers who comprise a ”labor aristocracy”, those who enjoy ”better terms of employment”, and subsequently are hindering the revolution, defending the capitalists, the bourgeoisie. It is not by chance that the members of this ”labor aristocracy” are primarily men. Now it is necessary to wage ”an immediate, systematic, extensive and open struggle” against this stratum, this small minority of the working class, those whom Marx refers to as ” class traitors”.

This brings us back to the American working class women who are currently leading the revolutionary movement. There is a reason that very few of them are part of the ”labor aristocracy”.

It is characteristic of capitalism that women tend to be paid considerably less than men. It is also characteristic of the capitalists that they tend to regard women, or at least those whom they employ, as members of their personal harem. Such women tend not to be burdened with ”petty bourgeois and imperialist prejudices”. Their conditions of life, which frequently involves sexual harassment, especially in the field of entertainment, preclude such prejudices. Instead, these women tend to be revolutionary, and indeed that is most certainly the case.

Now the proletariat has to be trained for their approaching dictatorship by waging an ”immediate, systematic, extensive and open struggle” against the class traitors within their midst, which is to say the ”labor aristocracy”, those relatively few but well paid members of the working class who are cursed with the ”petty bourgeois and imperialist prejudices”. This stratum include a great many leaders of the trade unions and sports clubs, among others.

That little task may not be as difficult as it sounds, as the capitalists have very thoughtfully provided us with the tools we need, in the form of the two mainstream political parties, the Democrats and Republicans. As yet, they are blissfully unaware of this fact. The capitalists think they have all the bases covered. They do not. Since the days of the civil war, a century and half ago, the two party system has been their preferred method of rule, and it has served them well. Various attempts by leftist political parties to challenge this two party method of rule have largely failed. For that reason, I am suggesting a different approach. Instead of challenging the two party system, we should embrace it.

Perhaps a little explanation is in order. At the time Americans register to vote, they are asked if they prefer to be classified as Republican, Democratic or Independent. Those who choose one of the two mainstream political parties are classified as registered members of one of the parties, and such voters cannot be registered members of both parties. This stands in contrast to the card carrying members of the party, either Democratic or Republican. These card carrying members are referred to as the ”party bosses”, as indeed they are. They decide the individual to run for political office, on a local, state or federal level. On a local level, this may involve running for mayor of a town or city, as well as the members of the town or city council. On a state level, this may involve the office of governor and state legislature. On a federal level, this may involve members of the House of Representatives, generally referred to as the Congress, as well as members of the Senate. Then there are the delegates who go to the national convention to determine the individual to run for president. I believe I have all the technical terms correct.

This begs the question: How does an American become a card carrying member of either party? The answer is that they have to apply. Almost all adult Americans are eligible to join the party, and in fact they are free to join both parties. No American can be a registered member of both parties, but all Americans can be card carrying members of both parties. Strange but true.

As members of the American working class become card carrying members of one or both mainstream political parties, such people will feel empowered, for the very fine reason that they will be empowered. They will effectively become party bosses, able to determine the person to run for any particular political office. This feeling of empowerment will carry over into all aspects of their life, including their membership in trade unions and sports clubs, among others. This will most certainly bring them into conflict with the labor aristocracy, the small stratum of workers who are in the service of the capitalists. This is the very thing that is needed. This will help to raise the level of awareness of the working class and provide valuable training to workers, which will be put to good use after the revolution.

With that in mind, the task of enrolling as many members of the working class within the two mainstream political parties, Democratic and Republican, becomes ever more urgent. Apparently, it is quick and easy, can be done online, is open to adult American citizens, and within five to seven weeks, an applicant can expect to receive a card in the mail.

That is where conscious people come in. It is now up to Leftist people, which is to say those of us who are aware of the existence of classes, and the fact that the two mainstream political parties serve the same class. As such, we can encourage working people to join one or both political parties. We can expect that those who are registered members of one party will be more likely to join that party, rather than the other, but not both, and that is perfectly acceptable. It is also perfectly acceptable for working people to not want to become card carrying members of either party. Such people should not be pushed.

We can also expect that those voters who are registered as Independents and vote a ”split ticket”, as they refer to it, to be slightly more advanced than others. They may be more likely to join both political parties. Then there are the seniors, those who are accustomed to being ignored by politicians of both political parties. Many of them may be downright anxious to become card carrying members of both parties, and send one of their own to Washington.

Of course it is reasonable to expect more from Leftist people, and it is hoped that all such people become card carrying members of both parties.

Due to the recent upsurge in the revolutionary motion, there are now millions of Americans who are anxious to become involved in the political process. Now is their opportunity to take the advice of the capitalists and attempt to ”change the system from within”. The two mainstream political parties are wide open, just waiting for American citizens to become card carrying members. Then such citizens can make every effort to do just that, to change the system from within.

If nothing else, this will allow working people to gain valuable experience in the class struggle. It may help to think of this as training for the roles they will have to assume after the revolution.

One possible complication is the fact that among the most advanced stratum of the working class, there are people who deeply distrust their elected politicians. They tend to be bitter, even to the point of hatred of the people who are supposed to be representing them. This is completely understandable, as their distrust is well rooted. As Lenin phrased it, ”the entire history of bourgeois democracy, particularly in the advanced countries, has converted the parliamentary rostrum into one of the principle, if not the principle, venues of unparalleled fraudulency, financial and political deception of the people, careerism, hypocrisy and oppression of the working people. The intense hatred of parliaments felt by the best representatives of the revolutionary proletariat is therefore quite justified.”

Those are the people, among the most advanced members of the working class, who deserve special attention. They are the leaders of the working class, and the less advanced among the working people pay strict attention to them. These advanced workers are the people whom we want elected to political office, especially in Washington. If we can manage this, then their friends will run for office also, and win positions in state and local elections. As well, with a sense of renewed confidence, they will assume positions of leadership in strictly working class organizations, such as trade unions and sports clubs. This is another way of saying that ”an immediate, systematic, extensive and open struggle is waged against this stratum”, by which is meant of course the labor aristocracy. This is all part of the ”preparation of the proletariat for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie”, which is absolutely necessary, in the interests of a successful proletarian socialist revolution.

In this way we can imbue the proletariat with confidence in its leading role as the revolutionary vanguard. As for those who doubt this, who question the importance of working class leaders in working class organizations, allow me to quote Lenin yet again: ”The more complete, lengthy and firmly established the rule of bourgeois democracy has been in a given country, the more the bourgeoisie will have succeeded in securing the appointment to such leading posts of people whose minds have been moulded by it and imbued with its views and prejudices, and who have very often been directly or indirectly bought by it. These representatives of the labour aristocracy, bourgeoisified workers, should be ousted from all their posts a hundred times more sweepingly than hitherto, and replaced by workers-even by wholly inexperienced men, provided they are connected with the exploited masses and enjoy their confidence in the struggle against the exploiters. The dictatorship of the proletariat will require the appointment of such inexperienced workers to the most responsible posts in the state; otherwise the workers government will be impotent and will not have the support of the masses.”

It is my opinion that the immediate task is to intensify the preparation of the proletariat for the coming revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. That is key to the success of the forthcoming revolution. With that in mind, I am calling upon all Leftist people and especially all Marxist people to become card carrying members of both mainstream parties, Democratic and Republican, and to encourage all of your friends to also join the parties. As well, it is essential to carry the message to union halls, sports clubs, seniors centres, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples. Schools and universities should be notified. As well, computer centres need to be established where citizens can be assisted in becoming card carrying members of the parties. It is very likely that a great many young people will be happy to assist in this little task.

No doubt there are a great many Leftist people who are of the opinion that there can be no peaceful transition to socialism, and in this they are absolutely correct. Equally without doubt, there are others who are of the opinion that such a transition to socialism can be accomplished by flooding Washington with Leftist people. Many of these misguided souls are honest members of the working class, and they have got to learn, from their own practical experience, that such a transition is not possible.

On the other hand, at the time of the revolution, it will be of enormous benefit to the revolution to have as many Leftist people as possible in Washington, those who are aiding the revolution.

With that in mind, I can think of no reason we cannot persuade millions of Americans to join the two mainstream parties. The only reason they have not done so before this is because no one has suggested it. Perhaps enrolment centres can be set up, complete with posters which read:

Join the Democratic Party!

Join the Republican Party!

Send Working People to Washington!

As I write this, the number of candidates for the office of president of the United States, on behalf of the Democratic Party, has officially risen to twenty. That number is expected to grow. The one and only Independent Socialist candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders, is facing some stiff competition.

Not the least of this stiff competition comes from Senator Elizabeth Warren. That became clear from the first town hall meeting in New Hampshire, in which she stated positions which are perhaps further to the ”left” than those of Sanders. In particular, she wants to make all public universities free and cancel all student loans for those who are of somewhat lower income. She refers to this as the college debt forgiveness plan. That is an excellent idea, one which should appeal to all young voters, and many voters who are not so young, those who have been saddled with huge student loans for a great many years. At the same time, she wants to place an extra tax on the multimillionaires and billionaires, the bourgeoisie.

She is careful not to use the word bourgeoisie, as that would imply a recognition of the existence of classes, a fact which she and the capitalists are determined to deny. Instead, she refers to this as an ”ultra millionaire tax”, one which would cover the costs of tuition of public universities and even produce a surplus. This extra tax on the bourgeoisie is an even better idea, and one which is sure to be opposed by that same bourgeoisie, the class of people whom she is careful not to mention by name.

At the same time, the political ”gong show”, which is unfolding in Washington, continues to develop. Most members of the public, the working class, are paying strict attention to this, if for no other reason that it is so entertaining, every bit as good as a ”soap opera”. These ”soaps” are very popular among the working class, especially housewives. Consider the following:

The Democratic members of Congress have recently held a conference concerning the heavily redacted Mueller report. They want the full report, and may subpoena Mueller to testify before Congress. They plan to continue the investigation. They are also considering the feasibility of impeaching Trump.

The Washington Post reports that the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are worried about the ”fate of American capitalism”, as a result of the ”huge wealth inequality”. Of course, they are reluctant the use the ”R word”, revolution.

The House Judiciary Chairman has issued a subpoena for the former White House councillor, Don McGahn.

The White House is ordering all members of the staff, as well as all former members of the staff, to defy all senate and congressional subpoenas. Those who respect the subpoenas will likely be fired, losing their jobs. Those who defy the subpoenas will likely face some serious jail time, losing their freedom.

It is clear that the executive branch of government is at war with the legislative branch of government.

The Attorney Generals of D.C. and Maryland are suing Trump over business ties, and may demand his tax returns for the last several years.

In retaliation, Trump and his sons are suing Congress over their demands for his financial records. These are the same financial records which Trump describes as his ”red line”, not to be crossed.

It has recently been revealed that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, recently met with the Mueller team for a ”presser”. (That is the word that is being used, and may be fabricated, a bit of slang.) Apparently, it means she was being investigated by the Mueller team and they met with her and her lawyers to offer a possible plea agreement, perhaps a reduced sentence, in return for any information she may have concerning other matters. The only reason she had for agreeing to meet with the members of the Mueller team is that she is almost certainly facing some very serious charges.

The journalists are speculating that the reason Trump is so determined to keep his finances a secret is because he is nowhere near as rich as he says he is, a multi- billionaire. He may be ”pulling a Madoff”, in that he is deeply in debt, owes a great deal of back taxes, and is facing bankruptcy.

The ”High Court” is reported to be taking up LGBT employment rights, and may overturn the Trump decisions discriminating against such people in the military.

It is reported that the enthusiasm among voters is at the level of the 2016 election, especially among the 19-31 year old age group, those who favour Sanders.

The press is reporting that the Mueller report did not ”follow the money”, which is rather strange, as that is the first rule of any investigation. Instead, there are various government agencies which are determined to do just that.

Various lawyers are maintaining that the only reason Trump is not being charged with obstruction of justice is because so many of his trusted employees refused to follow orders, did not break the law as they were instructed, thus saving Trump, and themselves, from criminal charges.

Other lawyers maintain that instructing people to obstruct justice is a crime in and of itself, an attempt to obstruct justice, and the fact that the people who were instructed to break the law failed to notify the appropriate authorities, such as the FBI, may also be a crime. They too could be charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, along with Trump. It is entertaining to imagine Trump sharing a jail cell with the very people who tried so hard to protect Trump from himself.

There are various ”sanctuary cities” across the country, cities which are defying the federal government. They refuse to allow the undocumented immigrants to be picked up and deported. This is a big step towards the secession of various states from the country and the subsequent break up of the American empire.

The politicians are referring to this as a constitutional crisis, even though it is not. It is a crisis in capitalism. The three branches of government, legislative, executive and judicial, are not working together.

That is a fact which the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, the imperialists, either cannot or will not admit.

It is my personal opinion that this is the way in which the crisis must be presented to the working people, the common people, the members of the public. Many of them object to being referred to as the ”masses”, as it sounds too impersonal. At the same time they have to learn the scientific terms, and that is the reason repetition is so important.

I have listed a few highlights of the crisis in capitalism, in order to drive home the point that the revolution is fast approaching. The best way to prepare for this revolution is to gather as many people as possible to our side, including politicians in Washington. We want these politicians to be socialists, or at least sympathetic to the idea of socialism. At the same time, we want to educate the working people, making them aware of the existence of classes, aware that they are members of the working class, the proletariat, with their own class interests, which are diametrically opposed to the interests of our class enemies, the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. These scientific terms too, the workers have to learn.

The best way to do this -if not the only way- is to unite the Left. It is absolutely necessary to come together with people whom we may consider to be completely disagreeable. In such cases, it is safe to assume they feel precisely the same way about us.

I should mention that on August 20, 1918, Lenin wrote a letter to the American workers. His message is just as valid now as it was when first written. He expressed his opinion of the American working class, quite clearly. Bear in mind that this was written a few months after the first great successful proletarian revolution in Russia, which happened in the fall of 1917. The great slaughter of the competing imperialist powers, for the division of the world was still taking place, that which is referred to as the First World War. As Lenin phrased it:

”The history of modern, civilized America opened with one of those great, really liberating, really revolutionary wars of which there have been so few compared to the vast number of wars of conquest which, like the great imperialist war, were caused by squabbles among kings, landowners or capitalists over the division of usurped land or ill-gotten gains. That was the war the American people waged against the British robbers who oppressed America and held her in colonial slavery, in the same way as these ‘civilized’ bloodsuckers are still oppressing and holding in colonial slavery hundreds of millions of people in India, Egypt, and all parts of the world….America has taken first place among the free and educated nations in level of development of the productive forces of collective human endeavour, in the utilization of machinery and of all the wonders of modern engineering. At the same time, America has become one of the foremost countries in regard to the depth of the abyss which lies between the handful of arrogant multimillionaires who wallow in filth and luxury, and the millions of working people who constantly live on the verge of pauperism. The American people, who set the world an example in waging a revolutionary war against feudal slavery, now find themselves in the latest, capitalist stage of wage-slavery to a handful of multimillionaires, and find themselves playing the role of hired thugs who, for the benefit of wealthy scoundrels, throttled the Philippines in 1898 on the pretext of ‘liberating’ them, and are throttling the Russian Socialist Republic in 1918 on the pretext of ‘protecting’ it from the Germans.”

That was the opinion of the great Lenin, and there is no higher praise.

Now the American people are in the vanguard of the world socialist revolution in the war against capitalism, against the billionaires, the bourgeoisie. As the leaders, the role they play is crucial. It is much more difficult than the previous wars of liberation against the British oppressors in the eighteenth century and the war against the slave owners of the nineteenth century. Yet there is a great deal we can learn from the American revolutionary tradition.

In the eighteenth century, the Americans waged a war which they refer to as the Revolutionary War. At the same time, they had to deal with the French and Spanish oppressors, those who owned a large part of that which is now the United States of America. Each of these countries was far stronger than the newly formed fledgling republic, and the Americans knew this.

They were also well aware that all three empires hated each other, and the Americans decided to take advantage of this. They formed an alliance with the French, against the British, to the benefit of the colonials, soon to be referred to as Americans. The revolution succeeded, the Americans won their independence, but it is doubtful this revolution could have succeeded without the American alliance with the French.

An even more clear cut example happened in the nineteenth century, when the Americans went to war with the southern slave owners, in their war to end slavery.

At that time, the country was deeply divided, of course. Then, as now, classes were in conflict. The twenty states of the north had embraced capitalism, while the sixteen southern states still practiced slavery. The capitalists of the north were anxious to invest their capital in the south, while the slave owners of the south were dead set against industrial development. Tensions rose until finally, in early 1861, eleven of the southern states separated from the union and formed the Confederate States of America. That left twenty five states within the union, but five of them still practiced slavery, the so called ”border states” of Delaware, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri. The capitalists of the north decided to destroy the slave owners in the country, and chose the tactic of entering into an alliance with the slave owners!

Incredible but true. In 1861, the Americans made an alliance with the slave owners of the border states, in order to destroy the slave owners. They no doubt thought that the best way to defeat the southern Confederacy was by uniting with the slave owners who remained loyal to the union, rather than antagonizing the slave owners in those states, which would likely result in the border states joining the Confederacy.

Historians are deeply divided over the correctness of this policy, but the results are beyond dispute. In the spring of 1865, the southern Confederacy was defeated and in December of that year, slavery was abolished in the United States of America.

No doubt the Americans have learned from the experience of previous revolutions. The lesson is that it is sometimes necessary to enter into alliances with people whom we find to be completely disagreeable, if not completely obnoxious. There are occasions when we must place the interests of the revolution, the interests of the oppressed people, the working people, before our own tender feelings.

Lenin goes on to say: ”The American people have a revolutionary tradition which has been adopted by the best representatives of the American proletariat, who have repeatedly expressed their complete solidarity with us Bolsheviks….The American workers will not follow the bourgeoisie. They will be with us, for civil war against the bourgeoisie. The whole history of the world and of the American labour movement strengthens my conviction that this is so.”

Lenin went on to give credit to one of the great American revolutionary leaders, Eugene Debs. It was Debs who helped to organize the Industrial Workers of the World, a truly fine trade union, and spent time in prison for his service. He also helped to set up the Social Democratic Party of America, and several times ran for president. He was absolutely opposed to American involvement in the great slaughter, beginning in 1914, the war to divide and redivide the world, now referred to as World War 1. In that case the so called  ”Great Powers”, that of Britain, France and Germany, was each determined to secure for themselves ever more colonies, at the expense of the others, of course.

For this service to the working people of the world, Debs was once again thrown in prison. This shows that the revolutionary tradition of the American people extended into the twentieth century, and now we can expect the revolutionary movement to carry on into the twenty first century. We can further expect that revolutionary motion to be even finer than before, with the American working class among the vanguard of the world revolution.

No doubt, most Americans have never heard of Debs. There is a reason for this. Americans have been robbed of their history, especially their revolutionary history. The capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are determined to gloss over and obscure that history, one of which all Americans have every right to be proud. Very soon, we can expect Americans to build upon their revolutionary history.

Now we have to prepare for the forthcoming revolution. As a result of this ”constitutional crisis”, as they refer to it, we can expect the bourgeoisie to do that which they are loath to do, which is to take action. They are the ruling class and are now unable to rule in the old way, so they have to change their method of rule. One of the simplest and easiest ways to do this is to modify the election process, in order to ensure that only the most loyal belly crawling boot lickers are elected to office, at least in Washington.

This may not be as difficult as it sounds. Every two years there is an election for each and every member of the House of Representatives, referred to as the Congress. The vote is held in early November and those who are elected are sworn into office in late January. This means that immediately after being sworn in, they have less than two years to plan for the next election. Yet the first order of business is the ”Party primary”, which is usually held the following spring, perhaps March, but sometimes as early as February. This gives each member of Congress just over a year to prepare for that all important primary, because if they are not nominated to run for re-election, on behalf of the Party, either Democratic or Republican, then the chance of another term in Congress is practically non- existent.

It is the Party bosses who decide the individual to run for office on behalf of the Party, and the primary vote is something of a formality. At least it used to be, until the registered members of each Party started to stand up and refuse. Only the registered members of each Party are allowed to vote in the primary.

The American capitalists love the two party system. It has served them well since the days of the Civil War, a century and a half ago. It is doubtful that they will abandon such a system. Rather, it is more likely they will modify it, in an attempt to preserve their method of rule. Possibly the simplest way to do this is to allow only ”card carrying” members of the Party to vote in the primary, rather than ”registered” members of the Party. In that way, only the individuals who are approved by the Party bosses will be allowed to run for office. The American voters will then have the option of voting for the Democratic candidate or for the Republican candidate for the Congress. Either candidate can be counted upon to be a loyal belly crawling boot licker of the capitalists.

As I can think of no reason that we should do the capitalists any favours, my suggestion is that we should come together, as members of the Left, and even go to the extreme of shaking hands and pretending to like each other. Then we can join both mainstream political parties, Democratic and Republican, as card carrying members, and encourage the members of the public to follow suit. As this is quite easily done online, those who are proficient with computers can offer to assist those with less developed computer skills.

With that in mind, I can suggest that Leftist people approach people in the senior centres, as well as those in sports clubs, union halls, sewing circles, schools and universities. In addition, there are churches, mosques, synagogues and temples which can be reached. After each service, booths can be set up where the faithful can be assisted in joining the two Parties, if they so desire. I would even go so far as to say that booths can be set up in shopping malls, in the interests of helping citizens take part in the democratic process.

As for those who consider this nothing but an idle dream, I can only respond that you are right. It is a dream, but it remains to be seen just how idle it is. That depends on the members of the American Left. There are many millions of Americans who took part in the Occupy Movement of several years ago, millions of others who took part in the more recent Womens’ March of 2017, as well as the veterans of the Anti-War Movement of the sixties. There are countless others who are dissatisfied but not sure just how to proceed. It is up to us, the members of the Left, to offer them an alternative. Do not be surprised if they are enthusiastic to join the two Parties.

There are also a great many people who maintain that the capitalists will never allow socialists to flood Washington. They think that an Independent Socialist as president will never happen, the capitalists will never allow this. The only response I can give to such cynical souls is that I think you are right. In that case, if the democratically elected members of Congress who are socialists or at least Leftist are not allowed to assume office, if the democratically elected president, also a socialist, is not allowed to be sworn in, then a great many honest citizens will be convinced of the correctness of our Marxist position. We maintain that there can be no peaceful transition to socialism, that socialism can only be achieved through violent revolution. At that point, the common people, the members of the public, from their own bitter experience, will believe us.

In conclusion, I consider it best to quote the final words in the letter Lenin wrote to the American workers a century ago:

”The workers are breaking away from their social traitors…Slowly but surely the workers are adopting communist, Bolshevik tactics and are marching towards the proletarian revolution, which alone is capable of saving dying culture and dying mankind…. we are invincible, because the world proletarian revolution is invincible.”

The fact that Sanders is running for president, as an Independent Socialist, is already bearing fruit. The capitalists, or at least the journalists who do their bidding, are now using the word capitalism, admitting that we live under a capitalist system. That is a first, a step in the right direction.

Those same journalists are also biasing the news, which is not too surprising, as they work for the capitalists. They do as they are told or end up looking for a job elsewhere. That being said, I suspect many of them are at least sympathetic to the cause of socialism, so it is best not to be too hard on them.

As Sanders is running for president, he did the principled thing and released his tax returns, and for this he deserves full credit. These tax returns reveal that he is a millionaire, as the book he wrote sold very well. That too is commendable, as the money he earned was as a result of his own work, and not earned from the labor of others.

Now the personal attacks have started from the capitalists. They are accusing Sanders of being a fellow capitalist who claims to be a socialist, in other words, a hypocrite. This is of course complete nonsense, as there is a big difference between having a little money in the bank, a life savings, and investing money in business, making money from the labor of others. Such investments are referred to as capitalism.

In addition, the capitalists are suggesting that Sanders should insist on paying a higher percentage of taxes, as he is in favour of raising the tax rate on the wealthy. That is still more nonsense, just another personal attack.

It is not too surprising that the capitalists have stooped to such tactics, as they are right at home in the gutter. It would never occur to them to discuss the issues, such as universal health coverage, a decent minimum wage, an equitable tax rate, food for the hungry, free tuition for students, and decent housing for the homeless. It is so much easier and satisfying to slander a good man.

The only reason they are attacking Sanders so savagely is because they see him as a threat, as indeed he is. Clearly, the man is doing something right, or the capitalists would merely leave him alone, just as they are ignoring the other Democratic presidential candidates. For that reason, if no other, Sanders deserves our support.

It is clear that these personal attacks are taking their toll, making Sanders feel quite uncomfortable. The man is only human, so that is completely understandable. Now the worst thing that can happen is for Sanders to buckle, to move to the centre, to water down his Leftist position, to make his platform more acceptable to the capitalists, to appeal to the middle class.

I say that is the worst thing that can happen because in America today, there are two classes of people that have been almost completely wiped out. The first class is the peasantry, referred to as farmers, and the second class is the middle class, the petty bourgeois, referred to as small business owners. That is not a coincidence, as every peasant is a small time capitalist. Their business is in growing crops, and selling those crops at the highest possible price. The small business owner is also focused on selling his wares at the highest possible price. Both are focused on making a profit, and both are being driven into bankruptcy by the monopoly capitalists.

On the one hand, the farmer is forced to sell his crops to the monopoly agricultural corporations, and those corporations set the buying price. The more the farmer raises, the more the corporations reduce the buying price. In addition, the huge farms owned by the corporations raise ever more crops, further reducing the price of the crops. The small farmer, mainly the owner of a family farm, cannot compete. It is just a matter of time before he goes broke, or more often becomes too old to work or dies. In any event, very few of the children are interested in following in their fathers footsteps. Who can blame them? They generally leave the farm and look for work elsewhere, becoming workers, or proletarians. The children of farmers tend to become members of the working class.

In the case of the small business owner, the petty bourgeois, the middle class, the situation is even more clear cut. The monopolies see this small business as a threat to their profit, and regardless of how small the threat, any one who is buying anything in that small store is not spending their money at the store of the monopolies. They immediately respond by driving that small business into bankruptcy.

The owner of the small business is forced to look for a job, immediately joining the ranks of the working class, the proletariat.

As a result of this, the class struggle is quite simple, at least in America. There is no middle ground, no middle class, no centre. On the one hand we have the monopoly capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, or the Right. On the other hand, we have the working class, the proletariat, the Left. There is no point in urging a politician to move to the centre, to appeal to the middle class, as there is almost no middle class, no petty bourgeois, and consequently, no centre. It is now either Right wing, the bourgeoisie, or Left wing, the proletariat.

It is these simple facts of life under capitalism which are completely beyond the limited intellectual capacity of the political ”strategists”, as they refer to themselves, the people who coach the candidates for political office. They tend to be supremely well paid and equally incompetent. They either cannot or will not face the fact that the political situation has changed, and changed quite dramatically. The middle class has been effectively wiped out and the working class has spontaneously moved to the Left, is now embracing socialism. As long as Sanders continues to call for radical change under capitalism, he will almost certainly win the White House. If on the other hand, he submits to pressure from the strategists and moves to the centre, then Trump will almost certainly win another four years in office.

Now more than ever, Sanders needs our support. With that in mind, I am reminded of the millions of women who recently marched, all across the country, in protest against Trump. Now is the time to get in motion again, this time in support of Sanders. I am suggesting that the American women, those who are leading the world revolutionary movement, try a different approach. Join the two mainstream parties, Democratic and Republican, as card carrying members, and let Sanders know that he is not alone. Flood the two Parties with Leftist people, your people. You women are the leaders of the American revolution, and no doubt the men will follow suit. (Sorry guys, but you know it is true.)

As well, I am sure there are organizations or groups of women across the country. I am suggesting that you come together, as you did at the time of the inauguration, district by district and state by state. Within each district, feel free to appoint a leader and demand, as a card carrying member of both parties, that this leader be the candidate for office of the House of Representatives, the Congress, as a member of the Party. It matters not if the woman runs as a member of the Democratic Party or the Republican Party, but it would be best if she is the candidate for both Parties. Her chances of being elected increase dramatically in such a case. This is not only possible but probable, with the two Parties swamped with Leftist people. It should be a piece of cake.

Then the various districts within the state can come together and when appropriate, decide the Leftist person to run for other offices, such as Governor or Senator. Last but certainly not least, every district in the state can endorse Sanders for president.

In the mean time, Sanders should be notified that he is going to Washington, but he is not going alone. A great many people are going with him, many of them socialists, but all of them Leftist, those who are at least sympathetic to socialism.

This is our best chance of placing Sanders in the White House, and at the same time removing Trump from power. In fact it is very likely our only chance. The alternative is to campaign for Sanders, as happened in the previous presidential election, and very likely end up with the same result.

At that time, there were several candidates for the Democratic Party and a dozen candidates for the Republican Party. Each candidate raised possibly tens of millions of dollars for the campaign. Then the field was narrowed down to Trump and Clinton. It is reported that the Clinton campaign spent a billion dollars and yet she still lost to Trump.

It is simply not reasonable to ask people on the Left to donate a billion dollars or so to the Sanders election campaign, on the off chance that he may be elected. It has not worked in the past and very likely will not work in the future.

It is my belief that there is no point in repeating that which has proven to be ineffective in the past. Under such circumstances it makes far more sense to try something which may have a chance of success. My latest brain storm has the added virtue of being practical, cheap and with a reasonable chance of success. It is also completely legal. There is no law against ”occupying” the two Parties. There is no chance that the police will be called in to evict card carrying members of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party from their offices.

The Democratic Socialists of America -DSA- have a membership of fifty thousand people, and their statement mentions that they are fighting for socialism, even though many of their members think this cannot be accomplished under capitalism, that there can be no peaceful transition to socialism. Of course they are right, as the capitalists, the billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are not about to part with their hard stolen wealth and power without a fight. That is a fact, just as it is a fact that those same capitalists have been encouraging us to change the system from within. Now is our chance to attempt to do just that.

That is of course my opinion, and no doubt there are many people on the Left who disagree with that opinion, as is their right. The internet, which has various instruments of social media, allows us to work together towards a common cause while at the same time being able to express our differences on that social media.

The rebellion within the two mainstream political parties, Democratic and Republican, has already begun. The registered members of both Parties, as well as a few of the card carrying members, are currently defying the Party bosses. The least we can do is to fan the flames of revolt.

The recent results of the latest midterm elections leave no room for any doubt in that department. A number of Leftist people were elected to Congress, and have distinguished themselves, especially those who are rather young and female. Of course I am referring to the women referred to as The Squad.

They are not terribly shy, do not bow down to the Party bosses, or the Speaker of the House or the president. At the moment, they are the exception, possibly feeling like a minority, which they are. It is up to us to change that, to place them in the majority.

This is not to say that the Leftist people we are about to send to Washington have to be young and female. This is to say that they cannot be shy. They must have the backbone to stand up to the capitalists and their belly crawling boot lickers, their henchmen, including the party bosses, the Speaker of the House and the president. They must also be made aware that we have their backs, we are behind them, we support them.

Very soon, the few lonely Leftist politicians in Washington will cease to be a minority and will become a majority. The bourgeoisie will be forced to change their method of rule. We have no way of knowing just what form this change will take, but as they are completely reactionary, we can expect that the change will be accordingly reactionary.

The members of the public, the rank and file, will then become convinced that there can be no peaceful transition to socialism, and this will very likely trigger a revolution. The support for the revolution will be deep and widespread. It will even extend to Washington, where we will have many people placed in positions of authority. This will give the revolution a far better chance of success.

For now, our banners should also read:

Occupy the Democratic Party!

Occupy the Republican Party!

Occupy Washington!

Sanders for President!

It has come to my attention that I am not an American and therefore am not an expert on American politics. That is certainly true, just as it is true that I have a great many relatives who are Americans. We are very close, and they keep me abreast of the political winds within the country. So I write in the spirit of the slogan coined by Marx, no less, Workers of the World, Unite!

With that in mind, I have chosen to expand on my previous article concerning the possibility of placing Sanders in the White House and flooding Washington with socialists, or Leftist people, or at least people who are sympathetic to socialism. I am convinced this can be done, if the people on the Left come together, unite in a common goal and use the system the capitalists have created, that which is used to protect them. We can use that same system against them.

Since the days of the Civil War, the American government has embraced the two party system, which is of course the Democrats and the Republicans. Over the years, various leftist parties have challenged this system, attempting to run as a third party alternative, with limited success. The capitalists have found various ways to defend the system which has served them so well. My idea is that instead of challenging this system, we should embrace it.

So I considered some ballpark figures, which is to say very rough figures. As for those who find such figures boring, bear with me, as this is important.

In the country, there are four hundred thirty five districts, and each is represented by a member of the House of Representatives, referred to as the Congress. As there are just over three hundred million people in the country, it means that each district has an average of less that one million people, those who are eligible to vote. Perhaps we can use the figure of three quarters of a million people per district. Of those, one third may consider themselves as independent, which leaves half a million people. Of those half million voters, half may consider themselves as Democrats and the other half may consider themselves as Republicans. It follows that each party may contain a quarter of a million people, within each district, at least on paper. These voters are commonly referred to as registered members of the two parties.

Of course, those figures are not entirely accurate, but that does give us a ball park figure, something with which we can work.

This means that within each district there may be a quarter of a million voters who consider themselves to be Democrats and another quarter of a million voters who consider themselves to be Republicans. In other works, two hundred fifty thousand people for each party. That is an impressive number but it does not tell the whole story.

Within those quarter of a million people of each party, there are very few certified members of that party, which is to say card carrying members, those whom I refer to as party bosses, because that is precisely what they are. These card carrying members of the party determine party policy and the candidates to run for any and all political offices.

There may be as few as one in a hundred, or one percent, which is to say that there may be perhaps twenty five hundred certified, card carrying members of each party, in each district, on average. I also consider that to be a high estimate.

That is important, because it is not a great deal. Simple math tells us that there may be as few as a million card carrying members of each party in the whole country, and probably a great deal less. Those are the people who choose the candidates for political office throughout the whole country.

No doubt there is a way to determine the precise number of card carrying members of each party, on the internet, but I cannot seem to find the exact figures. Perhaps that is the way the capitalists want this. They may not want people to determine just how few people are card carrying members of each party.

In order to elect Sanders to the White House and flood Washington with Leftist people, by which I mean people who are at least sympathetic to socialism, we do not have to fight the whole capitalist system, including the two party system. Instead, we can embrace the system by persuading Leftist people to join both of the parties, and encouraging their family and friends to also join the parties. If even a thousand people on the Left, within each district, join the parties, and each and every one of them persuades even ten others to also join the parties, then the two parties in each district will be blessed with ten thousand new members.

As for those who consider this a ridiculous idea, to have four or five million Leftist people join the two parties, may I remind the readers that a great many people, far more than several million, took part in the Occupy Movement. The discontent within the country is deep and widespread. Countless people, hard working, law abiding, tax paying citizens, workers and middle class, house wives and professionals, employed and unemployed, underemployed and homeless, students and retired, are anxious for change. Now is the time to force that change, and this is the way to do it.

I am calling for people on the Left to come together against a common enemy. It only makes sense to hit the enemy at the point where he is weakest. For the moment, the two parties are wide open. Almost all adult American citizens are welcome to join. That is important, because as I understand it, the card carrying members of each party determine the candidate for all political offices. Then there is the formality of a primary, in which the registered members of the party, the rank and file, get a chance to approve the candidate who has been chosen by the party bosses.

At least, it used to be a formality. Not any longer. Now, as part of the revolutionary motion of the country, the registered members of both parties are standing up to the party bosses, and demanding that the candidate of their choice run for office.

The days of the party bosses deciding just who gets to run for political office are long gone. Not that the party bosses ever had that authority, but since the working class has ”woken up”, the rank and file of both parties are taking back their power, the power which is rightfully theirs.

No doubt there are those who object that it is not principled to be a member of more than one political party. To such people I can only point out that the closest the capitalists ever came to principle was in learning to spell the word. For that matter, it may help to think of this as simply taking the capitalists at their word. For years, they have been telling us that if we do not like the system, then we can change it from within. A splendid idea, and now is our chance to do just that.

To be sure, there are a great many people who choose to place restrictions upon themselves. To such people I can only say that the capitalists have placed a great many restrictions upon all of us, so there is no need to add to the burden. It is class war, us against them, workers against capitalists, proletarians against bourgeoisie, and the less we tie our own hands, the better our chances of success.

With that in mind, I am urging my American comrades to join both parties, Democratic and Republican, as card carrying members, which is to say party bosses. Most people have computers, or at least have access to computers, and if need be, know people who can assist them in using those computers. Almost all adult American citizens can enrol online, as it is called. I have been assured that it is simplicity itself.

For the benefit of older working people, I can only point out that computers and the internet are merely tools, no different from hammers and wrenches. At least, that is the very thing I tell myself. I also find that my children are a great source of assistance.

The point is that it is possible to join both parties by using the computers, simply by going on the internet. There is no charge. Then, as a card carrying member of each party, such a person is assured to assist in setting party policy, and in determining the candidate to run for office. Then the registered members of the party, the rank and file, have to approve that choice.

No where does it say that Americans cannot be members of both parties.

For that matter, such citizens can be members of other political parties, as well as members of trade unions, sports clubs, cycling clubs, sewing circles, religious bodies and scientific organizations. The other political parties can include the Green Party, the American Party of Labor, the CPUSA, the CPML, as well as other groups and organizations such as Green Peace, Democratic Socialists of America, the National Rifle Association, the Spartacus League, various anarchist associations, cryptozoologists and creationists, people who are pro life and people who are pro choice, the members of the Flat Earth Society, et al. The list is endless.

If I am not mistaken, the first primaries are less than a year away, so there is no time to lose. Most members of the older generation feel neglected, with good reason. The only time the politicians approach them is during an election, and only for purposes of securing their vote. These seniors should be approached, by younger Leftist people, and encouraged to join the two parties. If necessary, they can be given computer assistance at the same time. As well, students should also be encouraged to be politically active, also joining the parties. Even those who are quite young, soon to be eighteen, are eligible for membership. It is doubtful that such young whippersnappers need any assistance in the use of computers. On the other hand, as such people tend to be bubbling with enthusiasm, they may well be quite anxious to assist their parents and grandparents in joining the parties.

Those of us who are in our declining years tend to pay strict attention to our children and grand children. They are among the few people we can trust. After all, they are our own flesh and blood.

Within each state, there are various districts, and these districts collectively get to decide just who gets to run for Senate, in the appropriate election year, for that state. As well, all the states get to decide, in a federal election year, just who gets to run for president. There is no need to remind my readers that an election year is fast approaching, but I am reminding you anyway, as I cannot resist the temptation.

The implication is very likely one which has not occurred to any capitalist, and very likely to very few Leftist people. If enough Leftist people join the two parties, Democratic and Republican, we can determine the candidate for president for both parties. As such, there is no reason in the world we cannot nominate Sanders for president, not only on behalf of the Democratic Party, but also on behalf of the Republican Party. At the same time we can make sure that each and every member of the next Congress, as well as all of the new Senators, are Leftist people.

I can think of no more sure fire way of ensuring that Sanders gets to occupy the White House and Trump gets to vacate the building. After all, it is up to the rank and file members of the Republican Party, the registered members as well as the card carrying members, to decide the candidate for office of the presidency, on behalf of the Republican Party. If Trump does not like this, then he is free to run as an Independent Capitalist. Somehow, I do not think that is about to happen.

For the moment, we should be focused on uniting, putting aside our differences, encouraging students and seniors, veterans of the Occupy Movement and working people of all walks of life, to join the two parties, Democratic and Republican. Then, as card carrying members of the parties, we can truly make a difference. Our banners and posters should read:

Sanders for President!

Unite the Left!

Join the Party!