Tag: marxism

Recently, within the state of Minnesota, two working class protesters, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were murdered, by federal officials. The common people of Minnesota, both workers and family farmers, have responded with mass protests, against various federal government agencies, including ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI and Border Patrol, among others. This has succeeded in forcing those federal agencies to ‘’scale back’’ their efforts to ‘’apprehend’’ people, those who are classified as ‘’undocumented immigrants’’, to use their terminology.

It is clear that the working people of Minnesota are in the forefront of this, the Second American Revolution. As that Revolution is part of the world wide movement, or more accurately, the revolutionary motion of the world, for Scientific Socialism, commonly referred to as Communism, this calls for our whole hearted support.

There can be no doubt that this, the Second American Revolution, which is currently unfolding, will closely resemble the Great Russian Soviet Socialist October Revolution of 1917. 

No doubt, there are a great many people who will dispute that statement, with good reason. After all, at that time in Russia, there were a great many family farmers, referred to as peasants, possibly as many as three quarters of the population. No one seems to know the precise number, but it was considerable. Yet the working class, the proletariat, although in the minority, possessed considerable political power, out of all proportion to their percentage of the population. 

Lenin went into this, in considerable detail, in 1920, with the writing of Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. He immediately cut straight to the heart of the matter, with the title of the first section:

‘’IN WHAT SENSE WE CAN SPEAK OF THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

‘’In the first months after the proletariat in Russia had won political power (October 25, old style calendar, November 7, new style calendar, 1917), it might have seemed that the enormous differences between backward Russia and the advanced countries of Western Europe, would lead to the proletarian revolution in the latter countries bearing very little resemblance to ours. We now possess quite considerable international experience, which shows very definitely that certain fundamental features of our revolution have a significance that is not local, or peculiarly national, or Russian alone, but international. I am not speaking here of international experience in the broad sense of the term: not merely several but all the primary features of our revolution, and many of its secondary features, are of international significance in the meaning of its effect on all countries. I am speaking of it in the narrowest sense of the word, taking international significance to mean the international validity or the historical inevitability of a repetition, on an international scale, of what has taken place in our country. It must be admitted that certain fundamental features of our revolution do possess that significance.

‘’It would, of course, be grossly erroneous to exaggerate this truth, and to extend it beyond certain fundamental features of our revolution…

‘’At the present moment in history, however, it is the Russian model that reveals to all countries something- and something highly significant- of their near and inevitable future. Advanced workers in all lands have long realized this; more often than not, they have grasped it with their revolutionary class instinct, rather than realized it. Herein lies the international ‘significance’ (in the narrow sense of the word) of Soviet power, and in the fundamentals of Bolshevik theory and tactics.’’ (italics by Lenin)

Allow me to mention, for the sake of those who are just now becoming politically active, that the Russian word ‘’Soviet’’ means ‘’Council’’, in English. Also, the Russian word ‘’Bolshevik’’ means ‘’Majority’’, in English. At the time this article was written, it referred to a true Marxist Party, formerly known as the Social Democratic Party, which split into a minority and a majority. The majority, or Bolshevik, led by Lenin, remained a true Marxist Party, one which called for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. That same Party later changed its name to the Communist Party.

The reference Lenin makes to ‘’Soviet power’’, requires an explanation. These Soviets, or Councils, first appeared, quite spontaneously, during the First Russian Revolution of 1905. Common people, or at least workers, proletarians, came together spontaneously, and elected leaders who formed a Soviet. These Soviets then spread to peasants and the military. This gave rise to Soviets of Workers, Soviets of Peasants, and Soviets of Soldiers.

As the First Russian Revolution was crushed, the Soviets were also crushed. Or more accurately, they were forced to adapt, to go ‘’underground’’, to work in the service of the common people in secret, hidden from the view of the Russian government. Despite the pressure ‘’from above’’, they were never completely destroyed. And as the revolutionary movement ‘’picked up’’, becoming ever stronger, the strength of the Soviets also increased. As a result, at the time of the Russian Revolution of February, 1917, the Soviets were almost as strong as the Constituent Assembly. 

The creation of Soviets happened spontaneously, as all Scientific Socialists, which is to say Marxists, at that time referred to as Social Democrats, had earlier been arrested and either executed, imprisoned or sent into exile. Lenin was in exile. For that reason, they had nothing to do with the creation of Soviets. 

This is to say that revolutionary motion frequently, but by no means always, gives rise to Soviets. Without doubt, the Second American Revolution, currently raging, has given rise to Soviets, referred to as Councils. We know this for a fact, because recently, a portion of the city of Seattle, in a display of ‘’starry eyed optimism’’, declared itself to be ‘’Autonomous’’. Their leaders formed a ‘’Council’’, and declared the creation of the ‘’Capital Hill Autonomous Zone’’.

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism, that ‘’state power is the fundamental question of every revolution.’’ Which class holds state power? By declaring itself to be ‘’Autonomous’’, Capital Hill was challenging the state power of the capitalists. The capitalists responded by crushing that Autonomous Zone, with considerable brutality.

Incidentally, it remains to be seen if the word ‘’Council’’ will continue to be used, in America, or if the word ‘’Soviet’’ will take its place. For the purposes of this article, I will use the word ‘’Council’’, when referring to the American Revolution.

It was Marx who conducted a detailed, thorough analysis of capitalism, and based on that study, proved that capitalism would give birth to socialism. This is to stress the fact that Marx was a Scientific Socialist. In fact, he spelled it out quite clearly, in his letter to Weydemeyer, in 1852. As Marx stated:

‘’What I did that was new was to prove: 1) that the existence of classes is only bound up with particular historical phases in the development of production; 2) that the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat; 3) that this Dictatorship itself only constitutes the transition to the abolish of all classes and to a classless society.’’ (my italics)

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, allow me to state that it is one thing to be destined to establish a state of Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, and something else entirely to be aware of this. What is more, the working class, the proletariat, is not aware of this!

The conditions of life, of the working class, do not lead to the awareness of itself, as a class! Lenin covered this supremely well in his article, What Is To Be Done? As he stated: 

‘’We said that there could not yet be Social-Democratic consciousness among the workers. This consciousness could only be brought to them from without. The history of all countries shows that the working class, exclusively by its own efforts, is able to develop only trade union consciousness, i.e., it may itself realize the necessity for combining in unions, for fighting against the employers and for striving to compel the government to pass necessary labour legislation, etc. The theory of socialism, however, grew out of the philosophic, historical and economic theories that were elaborated by the educated representatives of the properties classes, the intellectuals. According to their social status, the founders of modern Scientific Socialism, Marx and Engels, themselves belonged to the bourgeois intelligentsia.’’ (italics by Lenin, ‘’i.e.’’ means ‘’that is’’, and ‘’Social Democratic’’ consciousness is consciousness of Scientific Socialism)

It is the duty of Scientific Socialists, Communists, to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to make them aware of themselves, as a class, with their own class interests. Further, these class interests are diametrically opposed to the interests of the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie. Hence the need to overthrow those imperialists, smash the existing state apparatus, and crush them, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

It is also a fact that the less advanced workers pay strict attention to the most advanced workers. Advanced workers lead, the less advanced workers follow. It stands to reason that we should focus mainly on the most advanced workers. Further, the most advanced workers are currently focused on the events taking place in the state of Minnesota.

With that in mind, it follows that we should support the common people of Minnesota, in their struggle against ICE, in every way possible. In the interest of raising their level of awareness, we can encourage them to read the Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, as well as the Essential Works of Lenin. Perhaps the most important of those works is State and Revolution, in which the importance of smashing the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution is stressed, and replacing it, with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Other required reading includes Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, What Is To Be Done?, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. 

All of those Scientific Socialist writings are available on Amazon, and can be easily downloaded from the internet. An understanding of those books will go a long way towards raising the level of awareness, of those advanced workers, to the level of true Communists, Scientific Socialists. 

Bear in mind that, as Lenin stated, those of us who live in a highly industrialized country, are confronted with ‘’a bourgeoisie that is fully organized and can rely on all the achievements of modern civilization and engineering.’’ For that reason, it is supremely difficult to start the Revolution, but once begun, is much easier to continue.

Our current situation closely resembles that which Lenin faced, immediately after the October Revolution of 1917. At that time, Lenin was of the opinion that it was the ‘’eve of a world wide socialist revolution’’. As indeed it was.

That was also the opinion of the bourgeoisie. For that reason, they decided to bribe as many working class leaders as possible, intimidate countless others, and murder those who were ‘’completely unreasonable’’, as they phrased it. Lenin was murdered. Shot in 1918, and died in 1924, as a result of complications from those wounds.

As I have documented in previous articles, his successor was Josef Stalin, a great revolutionary, but one who made some serious mistakes. This allowed the capitalists to return to power, after his death. In much the same way, Mao Tse Tung was also a great revolutionary, but also made some serious mistakes. After his death, the Chinese capitalists were also able to return to power.

This is no cause for despair, on our part. The class struggle is not to be confused with a ‘’tea party’’. A ‘’rose garden’’, it is not! Without doubt, it will soon break out into open class warfare. Civil war! Capitalists against workers! Bourgeois against proletarians! And if previous revolutions are any indication, there will be no quarter!

In preparation for that approaching Revolution, it is up to us to learn from the mistakes of previous great revolutionaries. Better to learn from those mistakes, rather than repeat them. Bear in mind that the better prepared we are, the better the chances of our success.

This brings me to that which Lenin referred to as ‘’Europe’s greatest misfortune and danger’’, that of a lack of a revolutionary party. I would add that it has now extended to other parts of the world, including North America. I can even go so far as to say that, at present, there is no true Scientific Socialist, Communist Party, one which calls for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, in the world.

On the other hand, Lenin added that,

 ‘’A mighty, popular revolutionary movement may rectify this deficiency, but it is nevertheless a serious misfortune and a grave danger.

‘’That is why we must do our utmost to expose renegades like Kautsky, thereby supporting the revolutionary groups of genuine internationalist workers, who are to be found in all countries. The proletariat will very soon turn away from the traitors and renegades and follow these groups, drawing and training leaders from their midst. No wonder the bourgeoisie of all countries are howling about ‘world Bolshevism’.

‘’World Bolshevism will conquer the world bourgeoisie’’. (italics by Lenin, Kautsky was once a fine Marxist, but ‘’turned his coat’’, became a ‘’renegade’’, and Scientific Socialism, also known as Communism, was at that time referred to as Bolshevism) 

We are now experiencing a ‘’mighty, popular revolutionary movement’’, and it may indeed ‘’rectify this deficiency’’, this ‘’grave danger’’. Without doubt, this ‘’revolutionary movement’’ is taking place in various parts of the world, including America, Iran, Russia, China, Western Europe and the African Sehel. 

Whether or not this ‘’grave deficiency’’ is ‘’rectified’’, is largely up to us. To phrase it in popular terms, the ‘’ball is in our court’’. Those of us who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, Scientific Socialists, may choose to come together and form a true Communist Party, one which calls for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, or not. As I have covered this in previous articles, there is no need to go into it here.

Either way, as Lenin pointed out, it is our duty to expose the renegades, the traitors to Scientific Socialism, those who claim to be Marxists, Communists, or even mere Socialists, while distorting those same revolutionary theories. There is no shortage of such people. They take great delight in misleading the common people, encouraging them to fight for mere reforms, to ‘’patch up’’ the system, to ‘’change the system from within’’, to ‘’send Democratic Socialists to the nations capital’’, as a means of securing political power, and other such foolishness.

That being said, perhaps the best way to expose them is to support them, in their efforts to ‘’flood Washington with Democratic Socialists’’, for example. It will not change the fact that the class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge. Within all capitalist countries, which have embraced imperialism, there can be no peaceful transition to socialism. 

Allow me to stress the fact that our support for certain Democratic Socialists, for example, on certain issues, does not reflect our support for those individuals. It is merely a means of persuading as many working people as possible, of the correctness of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, Scientific Socialism. 

This brings me to the statement of Lenin, which is all too often overlooked. That is the fact that there are ‘’revolutionary groups of genuine internationalist workers, who are to be found in all countries.’’

It is my understanding that his reference to  ‘’internationalist workers’’, as opposed to ‘’advanced workers’’, is to say that these internationalist workers are nothing other than the most advanced workers. 

Further, as ‘’birds of a feather flock together’’, these revolutionary internationalist workers have come together in groups, in all countries. It is up to us to identify these groups, of revolutionary internationalist workers, and to support them, to raise their level of awareness, to that of Scientific Socialists. After all, as the ‘’traitors and renegades’’ to socialism are exposed, so many working class people will follow these groups. The members of those groups who are able to raise themselves theoretically, to the level of Scientific Socialists, will become the new leaders.

We will know that we are being successful, in this noble endeavour, when the bourgeoisie of all countries, start howling about ‘’World Communism’’. 

Concerning the subject of ‘’World Communism’’, as the bourgeois phrase it, Lenin had a few words to say, although not in those precise terms. Immediately after the October Revolution of 1917, the most advanced strata of the proletariat, at least in the most highly industrialized countries, embraced Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Such is no longer the case. 

As Lenin phrased it, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder:

‘’The chief thing- though, of course, far from everything- the chief thing has already been achieved: the vanguard of the working class has been won over, has ranged itself on the side of Soviet government and against parliamentarianism, on the side of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and against bourgeois democracy.’’

From this, it is clear that our immediate goal, or ‘’chief thing’’, as Lenin phrased it, is to ‘’win over’’ the ‘’vanguard of the working class’’, in favour of ‘’Soviet government’’ and the ‘’Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’, as opposed to ‘’parliamentarianism and bourgeois democracy’’. 

This is indeed a ‘’tall order’’, but nowhere near as difficult as it was a few years ago. The important difference is that now, the capitalists have seen fit to bless us with the internet. For their own purposes, mind you, but it remains a blessing. The least we can do, in return, is to express our appreciation by using that same internet against them. A weapon in the class struggle! Or perhaps more accurately, a weapon in the class war!

We can use it to get in touch with each other, as well as countless working people, literally around the world. There is no need to get together, in person, or even write letters. We can send emails and access private web sites. If the pedophiles can do this, then we can too!

Although I say this in jest, it is a serious matter. The bourgeois will not hesitate to murder anyone they see as a serious threat. Bear in mind that they murdered Martin Luther King, even though King was a pacifist! 

In conclusion, may I suggest that Scientific Socialists, Communists, all around the world, get in touch with each other. True Communist Parties, which call for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, must be established. May I further suggest that such Parties be International. There is no need to have a separate Communist Party in each and every country, although there is no harm in that either. Perhaps a Communist Party of Western Europe, for example. As well as North America. Huge countries, such as Russia and China, may prefer to have their own Communist Parties. 

These Communist Parties, once established, are better able to raise the level of awareness of the working class, in various parts of the world. Once the vanguard of the working class is ‘’won over’’ to Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, then we can proceed from there. First things first!

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac

Iran, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Iran, formerly known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It has a population of over ninety million people, and is the sixth largest country in Asia. It is divided into five regions with thirty one provinces. The city of Tehran is the nation’s capital, largest city, and financial centre. Iran is currently an Islamic theocracy. Although certain elections are held, the ultimate authority is vested in the Supreme Leader.

The country is rich in natural resources, including that which is considered to be one of the largest deposits of oil, in the world.

Iran is home to one of the oldest, continuous major civilizations. It has an ancient and distinguished history, of which the people of Iran can be supremely proud. 

In the early twentieth century, the Persian Constitutional Revolution gave birth to the Pahlavi Dynasty of Reza Shah, beginning in 1925. Then from 1941, his son, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was in power. The Iranian Revolution of 1979 overthrew the monarchy, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was established. The first Supreme Leader was Ruhollah Khomeini. 

It is significant that Iran has a sizeable industrial base, mainly involved in mining and manufacturing. The reason this is significant, is because that means it has a considerable working class, a proletariat. In fact, estimates place the number of workers at around forty percent of the population. 

Of course, there are still a considerable number of family farmers in Iran, referred to as peasants, although there are no firm estimates. As well, there is a sizeable middle class, technically referred to as the petty bourgeois, mainly shop keepers. They tend to be quite vocal, and receive a lot of attention, from the press. 

On December 28, 2025, the current Iranian Revolution began. At first, it was only the shop keepers in Tehran who took to the streets, protesting against raging inflation, so that the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, was negligible. Most common people could not afford even the most basic food items. 

The demonstrations soon spread to universities. Both faculty and students joined the protests. From there, the movement quickly expanded, to include demands to end the current regime. This is to say that the protest went from a strictly economic base, to a political base. 

Within a few days, the movement, now a full scale Revolution, spread to all parts of Iran. The women are playing a leading role, dancing in the streets, removing their head scarves, cutting their hair and even burning those same head scarves. All of which is strictly against the law!

The mainstream press is now quite cheerfully reporting that certain protesters are calling for the return of the son of the exiled Shah, Prince Reza Pahlavi. They would have us believe that there is a counter revolution going on in Iran, in that the people of Iran want to return to a state of monarchy. This is not likely.

Without a doubt, there are Iranians who ‘’pine for the good old days’’, in which they were ruled by a Shah, which is a monarch. Equally without doubt, those people are in a minority. The vast majority of people want to go forward, to a democracy, not backwards, to the rule of a monarch. 

In an attempt to contain the Revolution, the government of Iran cut off all internet access. This attempt was unsuccessful, as people found a way to get in touch with each other, bypassing the internet.

President Trump has responded to this Iranian Revolution, with a threat of once again going to war, possibly with the assistance of Israel. This happened quite recently, in that which is being referred to as the Twelve Day War.

The Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, has issued his own statement. He is demanding that American troops leave the Middle East, and stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iran. He also accused Washington of deception. 

Whatever else the Ayatollah may be, he is not a fool! To paraphrase an old expression, ‘’You can always tell when Donald Trump is lying. His lips are moving’’!

As I write this, the Iranian Revolution is unfolding. It remains to be seen, if it will indeed result in the creation of a democratic republic, or if the exiled Shah will manage to return to power. Either way, that is the business of the people of Iran. 

For our part, we can best support the people of Iran, by placing pressure on our respective governments, to quit meddling in the internal affairs of the people of Iran.

As well, those of us who personally know people who live in Iran, are free to recommend the classic works of Marx and Lenin. These include The Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, as well as State and Revolution, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, What Is To Be Done?, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, all by Lenin. It is very likely that they have been translated into Farsi, the official language of Iran, and may be available on the internet.

It is entirely possible that true Communist leaders have already emerged, within the country of Iran. Or possibly not. Either way, the fact of the matter is that, during a time of revolution, countless people, including those who were formerly apathetic, become politically active. This is especially true of the working class, the proletariat. Among the workers who have now become politically active, it is reasonable to assume that some of them will assume positions of responsibility. Leaders. 

To such people, I can only suggest that a careful reading of the following, written by Lenin, contained within his work, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder:

‘’The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions, and especially by all three Russian revolutions in the twentieth century, is as follows: for a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. 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. This truth can be expressed in other words: revolution is impossible without a nation wide crisis (affecting both the exploiters and the exploited). It follows that, for a revolution to take place, it is essential first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking, and politically active workers), should fully realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it; second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of any genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundredfold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses- hitherto apathetic- who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ (italics by Lenin)

I consider the preceding paragraph to be of supreme importance. I would love to see it in poster form, and placed on the walls of all advanced workers. As well as on the walls of all union halls. I would be the first to buy a copy.

No doubt, a proper understanding of that paragraph, will inspire people to read other select works of Marx and Lenin, previously mentioned. 

In State and Revolution, Lenin states that, ‘’A democratic republic is the best possible political shell for capitalism, and, therefore, once capital has gained control of this very best shell …it establishes its power so securely, so firmly, that no change, either of persons, of institutions, or of parties in the bourgeois-democratic republic, can shake it.’’ (italics by Lenin)

In that same work, Lenin went on to explain that, ‘’All the revolutions which have occurred up to now, have helped to perfect the state machine, whereas it must be smashed, broken.’’ (my italics)

We can only hope that the advanced workers of Iran, will seriously consider this advice of Lenin. A democratic republic is certainly far superior to a monarchy. Yet it remains a bourgeois dictatorship, under the rule of the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie. 

Just as a democratic republic is far superior to a monarchy, so too, a Scientific Socialist Society, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, is far superior to a democratic republic. Marx described this quite clearly, in 1852, in a letter to Weydemeyer:

‘’And now as to myself, no credit is due to me for discovering the existence of classes in modern society, nor yet the struggle between them. Long before me, bourgeois historians had described the historical development of this class struggle, and bourgeois economists the economic anatomy of the classes. What I did that was new was to prove: 1) that the existence of classes is only bound up with particular historical phases in the development of production; 2) that the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat; 3) that this Dictatorship itself only constitutes the transition to the abolition of all classes and to a classless society.’’ (italics by Lenin)

That is another paragraph I would love to see in poster form! I consider it to be of the utmost importance! 

May I further stress the fact that Marx stated, ‘’the class struggle necessarily lead to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’. I have deliberately chosen to place the word ‘’necessarily’’ in italics, in order to stress its importance. The class struggle, of necessity, leads to Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

To those currently taking part in the Iranian Revolution, may I suggest focusing on the ultimate goal of all revolutions, which is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. It may help to think of the democratic republic as a mere stop gap measure. A step in the right direction, but merely a step. The monopoly capitalists remain in charge. They must be overthrown and crushed, by the working class, the proletariat.

I can only hope that the preceding was helpful, to the Iranian Revolutionaries. 

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac 

The title of this article may appear to be rather strange, as we do not even have a Communist Party. For that reason, this may seem to be ‘’putting the cart before the horse’’. Yet due to the breadth and depth of the revolutionary movement, it is very likely that a true Communist Party will soon take shape. As soon as that happens, the capitalists will make every effort to infiltrate the Party, as was the case of all previous Communist Parties. What is more, all too often, they succeeded in causing serious damage. For that reason, we had best be prepared.

Our current situation is similar to that which existed in Europe, in 1918. At that time, as Lenin phrased it, ‘’Over four years of a most exhausting and reactionary war have done their work. One can feel the impending proletarian revolution in Europe- in Austria, Italy, Germany, France and even in Britain’’.

In my opinion, we can now ‘’feel the impending proletarian revolution’’, not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world, most notably in America. It is also a fact that, just as was the case of Europe in 1918, we do not have a true Communist Party. Bear in mind that a true Communist Party, openly calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ‘’touchstone of a true Communist’’, according to Lenin.

As this subject is so important, it is necessary to go into it, in more detail. Also, for the benefit of those who are just now becoming politically active, I should mention that the Marxists at that time, led by Lenin, referred to themselves as Social Democrats, later changed their name to Bolsheviks, and still later to Communists.

The fact of the matter is that we have numerous revisionist Communist Parties, those which claim to be followers of Marx and Lenin, while maintaining that the revolutionary theories of those great revolutionaries, must be revised! Sometimes they state this openly, while more often, they tend to avoid the subject. This is their idea of being clever. 

This revisionist tendency is ‘’nothing new’’. As Lenin explained, quite clearly, in What Is To Be Done?, written in 1902, ‘’The content of this new tendency did not have to grow and develop, it was transferred bodily from bourgeois literature to socialist literature’’.

That is true to this day. The revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin are ‘’taught’’ only in Universities, and then only with a view to distorting them. Further, as it is primarily the children of the bourgeois who attend University, this bourgeois distortion of those revolutionary theories is still embraced by the children of the bourgeois, including those who are more ‘’Progressive’’, or ‘’Liberal’’, or ‘’Leftist’’, to use the bourgeois terminology. Some of them even consider themselves to be Socialists.

This begs the question: What is this ‘’new tendency’’, to which Lenin was referring? The answer: ‘’The demand for a definite change from revolutionary Social-Democracy (Communism) to bourgeois social-reformism, was accompanied by a no less definite turn towards bourgeois criticism of all the fundamental ideas of Marxism…The possibility of putting socialism on a scientific basis, and of proving that it is necessary and inevitable, from the point of view of the materialist conception of history, was denied, as also were the facts of growing impoverishment and proletarianization, and the intensification of capitalist contradictions. The very conception, ‘ultimate aim’, was declared to be unsound, and the idea of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat was absolutely rejected. It was denied that there is any difference in principle between liberalism and socialism. The theory of the class struggle was rejected, on the grounds that it could not be applied to a strictly democratic society, governed according to the will of the majority, etc.’’ (italics by Lenin)

There are those who may object, apparently quite reasonably, that this ‘’infatuation with theory’’, is merely a matter of petty squabbling, between competing factions of intellectuals. For that reason, it is of no concern to working people!

While such an objection may sound quite reasonable, it is deeply flawed. The fact of the matter is that the social chauvinists, those who are socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds, are determined to establish themselves as leaders of the working class, and at the time of the revolution, seize control of the existing state apparatus, and set themselves up, as the new rulers!

The problem is that the working class, the proletariat, is not aware of itself as a class! The conditions of life, of the working class, do not lead to that awareness. For that reason, it is only natural for working people to assume that the capitalists can be overthrown, at the time of the revolution, and then crushed, under the existing state apparatus. 

Yet experience has shown that nothing can be farther from the truth! The lessons learned from previous revolutionary experience, are referred to as ‘’theory’’. Better we learn from previous experience, rather than repeat those mistakes! That is the reason theory is so important!

As for those who may think that I am over stating the case, consider the opinion of Lenin: ‘’Without a revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement. …The importance of theory for (our Party) is still greater for three reasons…The first is that our Party is only in the process of formation, its features are but just becoming outlined, and it has not yet completely settled its accounts with other tendencies in the revolutionary thought, which threaten to divert the movement from the proper path’’.

The ‘’proper path’’, to which Lenin referred, is the overthrow of the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie, the smashing of the existing state apparatus, and the establishment of a new state apparatus, in order to crush the ‘’desperate and determined resistance of the bourgeoisie’’, as they make every effort to return to power. This new state apparatus is referred to as the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

It is safe to say that in our case, the ‘’Party’’ is not even in the process of formation, but soon will be. At that time, it will have to ‘’settle accounts’’ with other tendencies, especially those which are determined to ‘’divert the movement from the proper path’’. 

Perhaps one such ‘’tendency’’ is that of the Democratic Socialists of America, the DSA. They are certainly the most obvious, and refer to themselves as Socialists. Not that they are fighting for Socialism. They are fighting for Democracy and Reforms. The DSA wants to ‘’patch up’’ capitalism. That is their idea of Socialism!

It is only true Communists, Scientific Socialists, those who follow the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, who are the true Socialists. Both of them examined capitalism, from a scientific viewpoint. This stands in stark contrast to the Utopian Socialists, those who think that ‘’Socialism is merely a good idea’’.

Now the working people have to be made aware of this. 

Lenin went on to state: ‘’We have observed …. a revival of non-Social-Democratic (Communist) revolutionary tendencies. Under such circumstances, what at first sight appears to be an ‘unimportant’ mistake, may give rise to most deplorable consequences, and only the short sighted would consider factional disputes and strict distinction of shades to be inopportune and superfluous. The fate of Russian Social Democracy (Communism) for many, many years to come, may be determined by the strengthening of one or the other ‘shade’.’’

As our Communist Party takes shape, we are well advised to pay strict attention to any and all non-Communist tendencies, no matter how minor they may appear!

Lenin: ‘’The second reason is that the Social Democratic (Communist) movement is essentially an international movement. This does not merely mean that we must combat national chauvinism. It also means that a movement that is starting in a young country, can be successful only on the condition that it assimilates the experience of other countries. In order to assimilate this experience, it is not sufficient merely to be acquainted with it, or merely to transcribe the latest resolutions. A critical attitude is required towards this experience, and ability to subject it to independent tests. Only those who realize how much the modern labour movement has grown in strength, will understand what a reserve of theoretical forces and political (as well as revolutionary) experience is required to fulfill this task’’. 

Our current American Revolution closely resembles the Great Russian October Soviet Socialist Revolution. For that reason, we can learn a great deal from that Revolution. 

Lenin: ‘’The third reason is that the national tasks of Russian Social Democracy (Communism) are such as have never confronted any other Socialist  Party in the world. …We merely wish to state that the role of vanguard can be fulfilled only by a Party that is guided by an advanced theory’’. (italics by Lenin)

The Communist Party has a duty to provide the working class people with the proper leadership. That duty can be properly fulfilled, only when that Party is ‘’guided by an advanced theory’’. 

Lenin then proceeded to quote Engels, concerning the significance of theory in the Communist movement: ‘’Engels recognizes not two forms of the great struggle Social Democracy (Communism) is conducting, (political and economic), as is the fashion among us, but three, adding to the first two the theoretical struggle.’’ (italics by Lenin)

This was followed by a rather lengthy passage from the Introduction by Engels, to The Peasant War in Germany. Bear in mind that, at that time, the German Communist Party was among the finest, in the world. But only because the Party leaders advocated the revolutionary theories of Marx and Engels. 

Yet several years later, under extreme pressure, due to the outbreak of the First World War, most of those previously fine Communists ‘’turned their coats’’. They called for the ‘’Defence of the Fatherland!’’ The defence of the bourgeoisie!

It is note worthy that Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, were the notable exceptions. They adhered to principle, and paid for it, with their lives. Both were murdered. Martyrs to Communism.

The German common people, both workers and farmers, were thus deprived of their leaders, and of course, reaction set in. 

In other parts of the world, a similar situation played out. In countries with true Communist Parties, those leaders also called for ‘’Defence of the Fatherland’’. Class traitors!

Then there were countries with no Communist Party, and no Communist leaders. That pretty well describes our current situation. 

Lenin had a few words to say, concerning our current predicament: ‘’Europe’s greatest misfortune and danger is that it has no revolutionary party. It has parties of traitors…But it has no revolutionary party. Of course, a mighty, popular revolutionary movement may rectify this deficiency, but it is nevertheless a serious misfortune and a grave danger. That is why we must do our best to expose renegades like Kautksy, thereby supporting the revolutionary groups of genuine international workers, who are to be found in all countries. The proletariat will very soon turn away from the traitors and renegades and follow these groups, drawing and training leaders from their midst. No wonder the bourgeoisie of all countries are howling about ‘world Bolshevism’ (Communism). World Bolshevism (Communism) will conquer world bourgeoisie’’. (italics by Lenin)

Without doubt, we are currently experiencing a ‘’mighty, popular revolutionary movement’’, which ‘’may rectify this deficiency’’. Now it is up to us, Scientific Socialists, Communists, to make sure that happens. The best way to do that, is by ‘’exposing’’ the renegades to Marxism, those who claim to be Communists, but are in fact revisionists. In this way, we can ‘’support the revolutionary groups of genuine internationalist workers’’. 

As the revolution unfolds, we can fully expect the vast majority of workers to gravitate towards those who merely claim to be Socialists, or even Communists. It is the duty of true Communists, to expose those who are revisionists, or even mere reformers. In this way, those same newly awakened workers will ‘’turn away from the traitors and renegades’’, and follow the ‘’revolutionary groups of internationalist workers’’. In turn, leaders will be ‘’drawn and trained from their midst’’. 

After that rather lengthy introduction, we can now return to the subject of the title of this article. Assuming that a true Communist Party is about to be created, as I am sure is the case, the importance of periodic purges must be stressed. There is no other way of ensuring the purity of the Party!

To phrase this in popular terms, many years ago, a small time thief became famous, when he answered a simple question: Why do you rob banks? Answer: ‘’Because that is where the money is’’. 

At the time of the Revolution, the existing state apparatus will be smashed, and the current ruling class of multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, will be crushed, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. All political power will be in the hands of the Communist Party. So where will the capitalists go? Into the Party, of course, as that is where the power is! Hence the need for purges!

By the same token, purges which do not take place, can lead to deplorable consequences. One such example occurred in early October of 1917. At that time, Kerensky, the leader of the Russian Provisional Government, was determined to surrender the capital of Petrograd, to the Germans, in order to quell the Revolution.

For that reason, Lenin was determined to immediately mount the Insurrection, to overthrow the Provisional Government, and establish the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The majority of the Central Committee agreed to this, and plans were prepared, in secret. 

Yet two Members, of that Central Committee, Zinoviev and Kamenev, were opposed to this. So they made public those plans! They did their best to sabotage the Insurrection! 

In response to this act of treachery, Lenin wanted them removed, purged, from the Party. The Central Committee refused. They remained, not only within the Party, but also as Members of the Central Committee. A huge mistake! They continued with their anti Party activities, until Stalin had them shot, years later.

A second example is one involving the Chinese Communist Party, during the time they were truly Communist. This calls for a little explanation.

In a previous article, I conducted a criticism of Mao. A great revolutionary, but one who made some serious mistakes. One of those mistakes was that the Cultural Revolution was largely restricted to Culture. It merely touched upon science. As a result of this, the Chinese capitalists merely hid in various fields of science, biding their time. After the death of Mao, they were able to return to power.  

At the time I wrote that article, I deliberately refrained from a second point, as I did not have all of the details, which are very important. However, it is even more important to stress the importance of periodically purging the Party.

A second mistake of Mao, was that of ‘’patiently struggling’’ with certain high ranking members of the Party. These were people who were determined to restore capitalism. Such people do not respond to struggle! They should have been purged! They were not!

At the time of the death of Mao, the Central Committee consisted of seven Members. Three of them were dedicated capitalists. A minority. Yet they got together and mounted a coup. The four Member majority was arrested, probably by the military, and the capitalists returned to power. 

This is to stress the fact that a periodic purge of the Communist Party is absolutely essential! It was the absence of such purges which contributed to the collapse of both the Soviet Union and Communist China. These mistakes we must not repeat!

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings,

Gerald McIsaac

Most readers will likely scoff at the title of this article, as they consider such a collapse to be a ‘’flight of fantasy’’. In response to such starry eyed optimism, may I suggest that the title was not chosen at random, or even with a view to shock. On the contrary, the title was chosen after a great deal of consideration. 

Consider the fact that, over the period of a great many years, numerous civilizations have come into existence, risen to a peak, and then fallen into decline, finally collapsing completely. Such a collapse could happen to our civilization.  

In the ‘’Western World’’, perhaps the Roman Empire is the most famous. After a period of several hundred years, the expression ‘’Rome is Eternal’’, became wide spread. Countless people believed this. Who could blame them?

Then there is the ‘’Eastern World’’, in which the Chinese civilization was perhaps the most advanced. Some of their inventions were indeed revolutionary. These included such items as the compass, which made possible navigation of the oceans. Then there was the crossbow, as well as steel and gunpowder. In fact, at one point, the Chinese civilization was far superior to any European civilization.

Yet, just as the Roman civilization fell into decline, so too, the Chinese civilization also came to a peak, and began to rot. In time, they joined the numerous previous civilizations which preceded them. 

Historians have offered countless explanations, for the decline and collapse of those civilizations. Different historians offer different explanations, for the same civilization. Some of these explanations are quite ‘’creative’’, even ‘’entertaining’’, if nothing else. In fact, they border on a ‘’work of fiction’’. Yet they are presented as ‘’scientific facts’’. 

All bourgeois historians are careful to avoid any reference, to the existence of classes, within all civilizations. Yet it is the existence of classes, which is the key to the decline of all civilizations.

By contrast, all primitive societies, which give rise to civilization, are devoid of classes! Primitive society is class free! All members of such societies work together! Everyone ‘’pulls their own weight’’! They have to! As members of a hunting-gathering society, there is never a surplus. ‘’Slackards” are simply not tolerated! Bear in mind that expulsion from the group, amounts to a death sentence. No one, alone, can survive in such an environment. 

Yet in different parts of the world, stone age people learned to invent various articles, such as spears, knives, bows and arrows, needles and thread, as well as pottery. 

In due time, in various part of the world, someone got the brilliant idea of sowing seeds, rather than just harvesting the wild crop. As well, animals were also domesticated and bred. Lo and behold, for the first time, a surplus was created. At the same time, this surplus gave rise to classes. Of course, the first classes were slaves and slave owners. Civilization!

Frequently, under civilization, these newly created ruling classes had certain progressive characteristics. They were able to create works of art and monuments, many of which still stand, to this day. Yet these creative impulses were ‘’not hereditary’’. All too many of their descendants, were not interested in ‘’following in the footsteps’’, of their ancestors. In fact, they became downright reactionary, lazy, ‘’slothful’’, preferring to allow nature ‘’to take its own course’’. And so it did. 

After a number of generations, the civilizations fell into decline, and eventually collapsed. Even the knowledge of how to create certain items, was lost. We can only stress the fact that each previous civilization fell into decline, and eventually collapsed, because the ruling classes became reactionary. Further, there was no progressive class to counteract this decline.

A very clear cut example of this, is provided by the ruins of a ‘’temple complex’’, referred to as Gobekli Tepi, within the country of Turkey. It is estimated that, possibly twelve thousand years ago, people came together, carved, transported and erected a number of ‘’T-shaped pillars’’, many of them 5.5 meters in length, and weighing as much as 20 tons! There is also extensive art work carved into these pillars.

This complex was clearly built over a period of a great many years. Further, the oldest construction was of a far better quality than the more recent additions. This suggests that the society which built them, was in a process of decay. Rather than progressing, it was reverting, to a more primitive state. This is characteristic of a civilization in decline.

This presents a little problem for modern day archaeologists, as they believe that agriculture, the cultivation of crops, did not begin until hundreds of years later. So how could stone age people, members of a hunting-gathering society, manage to carve, transport and erect those stones, using tools which are not available to such people?

Such a ‘’paradox’’ was squarely faced by the scientists, and some of them managed to ‘’rise to the occasion’’. They maintain that members of a hunting-gathering society, stone age people, came together and ‘’organized the construction of the complex’’. 

Just how members of a primitive society, without having any surplus, living constantly on the verge of starvation, could find the time and resources to build such an elaborate complex, with their ‘’bare hands’’, is carefully overlooked. Not possible! Yet such nonsense is presented as a ‘’scientific theory’’!

Such an elaborate complex could only have been built, as the result of a rather advanced civilization. One which was proficient in agriculture, very likely cultivated crops, as well as animals, and subsequently, had a surplus. They also had tools, with which they were able to construct that complex. No other explanation makes the slightest bit of sense.

Naturally, over a period of many generations, that same civilization fell into decline, eventually collapsed, and has been lost to history. 

That is by no means the only ‘’lost civilization’’. As I have documented, in a previous article, there was also an ancient civilization, in Egypt, at around the same time, perhaps ten thousand to twelve thousand years ago. Perhaps longer!

This ancient Egyptian civilization was truly advanced. They even used electricity, and not just for illumination. It was also used for operating machines, including diamond tipped saws, which cut granite blocks. Bear in mind that granite is as hard as steel. Examples of this can be seen in the Museum of Ancient Egyptian Artifacts, in Cairo. 

As I have documented this in a previous article, there is no need to repeat it here. 

Some of these artifacts on display, includes dishes, carved from solid blocks of granite! And not just plates and bowls. Also vases, complete with openings for fingers, at the top of the vases. 

This is most significant, as it is the opinion of an electrical engineer, a computer programmer, that it would be a challenge, to design a program which could carve a vase, from a block of concrete, to the accuracy attained by those ancient Egyptians! 

To think that an ancient Egyptian civilization had the technology which rivals our own! They were somehow able to write a program, perhaps to instruct a tape reader, to order a numerically controlled machine, complete with diamond tipped drill bits, to carve a vase, from a solid block of granite. As we are in possession of those vases, there can be no doubt, on that subject.

As well, there can also be no doubt that the same civilization, which was so advanced, fell into decline and collapsed. Could that same collapse happen to our civilization? What is to prevent the collapse of our civilization?

The answer to that question, in a ‘’nutshell’’, is the class of the Proletariat! Our civilization is the only one to experience an industrial revolution! Historians consider this to be the greatest thing to happen to humanity, since the cultivation of plants and animals. True! It gave birth to mass production! Yet it also gave birth to two new, revolutionary classes!

At the time of the industrial revolution, the class of people known as the ‘’burghers’’, saw the potential to become supremely wealthy, and invested their money in factories, mines, mills and other ‘’sources of production’’. Also railroads, shipping lines and other ‘’means of transportation’’. As well, banks and other ‘’financial institutions’’. 

I use this ‘’technical jargon’’, for the benefit of the working people, those who are just now becoming politically active. Tiresome or not, we have got to become familiar with such terms, as otherwise the capitalists will use our lack of awareness against us. 

To proceed. The burghers became transformed into capitalists, also known as the ‘’bourgeois’’. Now the absolute richest, the multi billionaires, are known as the ‘’bourgeoisie’’. Not that they refer to themselves in such a manner. They prefer to refer to themselves as ‘’business people’’, or ‘’entrepreneurs’’. 

This newly created class of capitalists, required people to run their machines. Such people, who sell themselves by the hour, are referred to as ‘’proletarians’’. Mind you, we tend to refer to ourselves as ‘’workers’’. A second revolutionary class!

Marx and Engels covered this supremely well, in the Communist Manifesto. As I have gone into this, on numerous occasions, in previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here. Suffice it to say that at first, the capitalists were truly revolutionary. That which they created, leaves no room for debate, on that subject. 

That all changed, and quite dramatically, at around the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time, capitalism reached its highest stage, that of monopoly, otherwise known as ‘’imperialism’’. Lenin covered this supremely well, in his book, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. 

This too, I have covered in previous articles. Suffice it to say that, as Lenin stated, ‘’Imperialism is reaction, right down the line’’.

Monopoly capitalists, imperialists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are no longer the slightest bit revolutionary! Progressive they are not! They are completely reactionary!

Just as all previous civilizations- even the most advanced!- have collapsed, due to the fact that the ruling classes became completely reactionary, so too, our ruling class of multi billionaires is also determined to drive our civilization, ‘’into the ground’’. They must be stopped.

Allow me to stress the fact that the difference between our civilization, and all previous civilizations, is the fact that our civilization is the only civilization to have experienced an industrial revolution. This gave birth to the revolutionary working class, the proletariat! It is the revolutionary proletariat which is destined to overthrow the reactionary class of bourgeoisie, and prevent the collapse of our civilization!

It was Marx who first conducted a scientific examination of capitalism, and proved that it would lead to a state of socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. This too, I have covered in previous articles.

Yet Marx also made it clear that the conditions of life, of the working class, the proletariat, does not lead to the awareness of itself, as a class, with its own class interests! That awareness must come from an outside source, middle class intellectuals. Bear in mind that both Marx and Lenin were middle class intellectuals.

In previous articles, I have compared the class struggle to a boxing match, but one in which one of the boxers is blindfolded. Of course, the boxer who is blindfolded represents the working class, swinging wildly in all directions. His opponent, who can see well, is able to land countless blows. But then he represents the capitalist class, and the bourgeois is supremely class conscious.

A childish comparison, I know, but one which serves to drive home the point. The ‘’blindfold’’ must be removed, which is to say that the working class must become aware of itself as a class, with its own class interests. Those interests include fighting the capitalist class, as our interests are diametrically opposed. 

There can be no doubt that our civilization is in decline. Our science books are filled with superstition, distortions and outright lies. As I have documented this in numerous previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here.

As well, the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin are taught only in Universities, and then only with a view to distorting them. As it is mainly the children of the bourgeois who are able to attend University, these revolutionary theories are carefully concealed from the working class. 

In conclusion, our civilization is in decline, facing collapse, and it is only the revolutionary working class, the proletariat, which can reverse this decline. 

Now it is up to middle class intellectuals to raise the level of awareness of the proletariat, to bring the most advanced workers to the level of Scientific Socialists, Communists, aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. As the proletariat is now quite cultured, so that most members own digital devices, and have access to the internet, this goal is now much easier than it was at the time of Lenin. 

We will know we are being successful in getting our message across, when the internet, as well as posters and banners, proclaim:

Workers of the World, Unite!

Scientific Socialism!

Dictatorship of the Proletariat!

Peace! Democracy! Socialism!