From: margotvl-AT-pop.pipeline.com
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 16:19:10 +0000
Subject: Re: M-I: "Democracy"


I am not sure who said it, Lenin or Marx,:
"Elections under burgeois democracy will be  nothing more then the 
indication of class consciosness of the workers"

If Chile's example proves anything, it is only that 'voting in 
socialism' is impossible. Allende was a marxist trying to implement 
very mild reforms. Very soon after his elections he had to make 
numerous concessions to the right, including disarming the workers. 
Capitalists all over the world, especially in the USA went berserk 
and gave up the slightest illusion of ligitimacy. CIA openly funded 
the truck drivers strike, While ITT and Anaconda Mining were 
conspiring to overthrough the Allende's government. While Chile was 
under economic blocade, direct US aid to chilean military never 
stopped. Allende's only hope was to rely on armed masses, not to try 
to compromise with the right. The way things were going, the military 
would strike anyway, sooner or later. However, if masses of workers 
who elected and supported Allende were armed, at least there would be 
resistance to the coup. Peaceful and negotiations Allende finally 
had to admit the necessity of armed struggle, when he went out on the 
balcony of his residence on the night of the coup, carrying AK-47 
given to him by Fidel Castro. I have seen the photograph made 
literally minutes before his death.

As for left forces getting influence within the army and police, 
'they are workers too', there's the officer core to deal with, and 
those are not workers, therefore the minute we get some of the army 
to our side there will be ARMED confrontation. Not to mention that 
officers WILL shoot soldiers that disobey the orders. 

Police are not workers, they are the oppressive force whose sole 
purpose is to keep the masses in check. true some people become 
police because of the dire need for a job, however if one stays in 
the force, one becomes part of it. 

These are all minor details... The main question is The State as a 
separate entity welded for the sole purpose to keep the ruling class 
in power. The Burgeois state keeps burgeoisie in power. ALL laws, ALL 
electoral processes, Judiciary, etc.. EVERYTHING is made for this 
sole purpose. Proletariat cannot possibly just get hold of the 
burgeois state machinery through the elections and step by step 
modify it into socialism. the State machinery must be shattered.

Numerous proletarian revolutions and consequent violent reaction 
prove but one thing, burgeoisie will stop at nothing to stop the 
revolution, even 'peaceful' one. Even if there's as little as a 
'Spectre of Communism' they will strike preemtively. and they are not 
concerned with such etiquette matters as legality, democracy, and 
freedom. "Drown the Revolution in blood" is their motto. We just need 
to recall the US history of struggle, even if it did not lead to the 
revolution. Miners' strikes in the beginning of 20th century,which 
were put down by Pinkerton Detective Agency using Gutling guns.
Palmer raids, where thousands were arrested under just a suspicion 
that they were communists. Memorial day massacre and suppression of 
the news reel about this event by the government in 1936. Veterans 
march on Washington, DC in 1934(+- 2 years), McCarthyism, Vietnam War 
which was anti-communist. Untold number of assassinations of 
political leaders who were not even extreme left. 

As for the notion that they may have changed since those times... I 
just need to mention Mumia Abu Jamal, who is on the death raw  for 
his political writings. Also bombing of MOVE in Philadelphia.

Gee! it does not seem very peaceful!

In short, my point is that even if we can use the current electoral 
process to gain some advantages for workers, and most important, to 
raise workers  class conciousness; the real struggle will be in 
streets.

Igor Vertiletsky
Workers World Party.


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