samedi 4 février 2017


R.I.P., even the Left

How could we compare Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler?

Daniel Paquet                                                                                 dpaquet1871@gmail.com

 

“Economically, imperialism (or the ‘era’ of finance capital – it is not a matter of words) is the highest stage in the development of capitalism, one in which production has assumed such big, immense proportions  that free competition gives way to monopoly.  That is the economic essence of imperialism. Monopoly manifests itself in trusts, syndicates, etc., in the omnipotence of the giant banks, in the buying up of raw material sources, etc., in the concentration of banking capital, etc.  Everything hinges on economic monopoly.”[1]

“The American trusts are the supreme expression of the economics of imperialism or monopoly capitalism.  They do not confine themselves to economic means of eliminating rivals, but constantly resort to political, even criminal, methods. It would be the greatest mistake, however, to believe that the trusts cannot establish their monopoly by purely economic methods.  Reality provides ample proof that this is ‘achievable’:  the trusts undermine their rivals’credit through the banks (the owners of the trusts become the owners of the banks; buying up shares); their supply of materials  (the owners of the banks become the owners of the railways: buying up shares); for a certain time the trusts sell below cost, spending millions on this in order to  ruin a competitor and then buy up  his enterprises, his sources of raw materials (mines, land, etc.). (…)  Big finance capital of one country can always buy up competitors in another, politically independent country and constantly does so.  Economically, this is fully achievable. Economic ‘annexation’ this is fully ‘achievable’ without political annexation and is widely practiced.”[2]

Today’s imperialism is at the crossroads:  peaceful or bellicose means.  With the Democrats, we have the continuation of Reagan and Bush that is: Iraq and Afghanistan; while the Democrats kept on pursuing their domination in Libya and Syria for instance.  There is now –with the reinforcement of Russia and the development of the People’s Republic of China- the danger of a Third World War (that could be the end of them all).  Whatsoever we can say about Donald Trump, he belongs to the realistic trend:  keep peace as much as possible and continue along the path of business as usual.  He is not a fascist; he just reflects the feelings of the ordinary American worker:  jobs or income.    

On the trade-union question, Adolf Hitler wrote that “the rapid growth of the movement (e.g. the Nazi Party in Germany) compelled us in 1922 to take a position on a question which even today is not entirely solved.  In our attempts to study those methods which could most easily open to the movement the way to the hearts of the masses, we always encountered the objection that the worker could never be entirely with us because the defense of his interests in the purely occupational and economic field lay in the hands of our enemies and their organizations (for instance the Communist Party, - Ed.).  This objection, of course, had much to be said for it.  It was a matter of general belief that the worker who was active in a factory could not even exist unless he became a member of a union.  Not only that his occupational interest seemed protected by this alone, but his position in the factory for any length of time was conceivable only as a union member.”[3]

Basically, representatives of mass media, especially of the petite-bourgeoisie expected that with Trump things would be different and many relay the idea that he was a “populist” (e.g. fascist).  In the international press, the general attitude was somehow similar.

“All has been confusion in the days leading up to Donald Trump taking the oath of office and being sworn in as president of the United States this week.  No one has had the first clue how to handle what was coming.  And they still don’t.  Politicians, journalists and diplomats, in the US and around the world, are searching for guidance, desperately flicking through the rulebook, a manual full of precedents and norms that they have spent their careers mastering – but that Trump shredded and burned months ago.”[4]

It is rather amusing or cynical to address the Canadian Left which already jumped to conclusions:  Donald Trump is a would-be fascist.  We will see how and why, but before let’s have a glance at the statement of the Bank of Canada about the US and Canadian financial situation.

“… The current high level of uncertainty could be having a greater restraining effect on business investment than previously assessed.  While firms surveyed by the Bank continue to cite insufficient domestic demand as the main reason for holding back investment, some also cite uncertainty as an obstacle.  As well, a number of exporters have indicated that a challenging competitive environment has encouraged them to maintain or build a foreign presence to help meet foreign demand.  Future US policies could also incite firms to invest in the United States rather than in Canada.  Since the US fiscal stimulus currently being assumed would include a reduction in personal and corporate tax rates, the competitiveness of Canadian firms could be adversely affected.  Consequently, to reflect this possibility, the projected Canadian investment profile incorporates a downward adjustment.  This initial assumption will be revised once concrete policy measures are announced and enacted by the incoming US administration.”[5]

In matter of Canadian and US relations, The Globe and Mail titles:  Trump, Trudeau to meet ‘very soon’.  “The Prime Minister’s Office said a date for the get-together has not been firmed up. Normally, a new President follows the tradition of visiting Canada on his first foreign trip, but both countries prefer the meeting to take place in Washington.  A trip by the President to Ottawa would likely result in large protests against Mr. Trump’s immigration policies. (…)  Aside from NAFTA, Mr. Trudeau is likely to raise the problems that have arisen from Mr. Trump’s sweeping immigration ban on citizens from seven majority Muslim nations, as well as all refugees – including an indefinite halt to the settlement of Syrian refugees in the United States.”[6]

Obviously, there is a strong opposition to the Trump’s decrees.  Shots come from all sides of the political spectrum.   It would be fine and suitable if it was a united front against fascism, based on common democratic values; but it is not the case.  Democrats and followers in USA; their supporters around the world don’t claim that they are here to build socialism.  Do you expect that Hillary Clinton is a member of the Party of Communists USA shouting loudly for the US working class?   What did Donald Trump actually said? 

“During the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump advocated a ban on Muslims entering the United States.  He later backtracked and said that he would deny entry to citizens of countries with ties to terrorism.  He also repeatedly conflated the issue of refugees with the threat of Islamic extremism, calling Syrian refugees’ a Trojan horse’.” [7]

Donald Trump may be right or he may be wrong; future will decide. But progressive people still can reckon on the world communist movement, starting with the Party of Communists  USA to defend their case, strengthen and enlarge the movement for democracy, progress and unity against rising fascism, as we see it in Europe (for instance in regard with the Marine LePen’s Front National in France).  The working class cannot and shall not abide by the warmongers, imperialists and Democrats.

 

 

 

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[1] Marx, K.; Engels, F.; Lenin, V., On Historical Materialism, A caricature of Marxism and Imperialist Economism, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1972, page 489
[2] Ibidem, page 490
[3] Hitler, Adolf, Mein Kampf, A Mariner Book, Houghton Mifflin Company, translated by Ralph Manheim, Boston-New York, 1999, page 596
[4] Freedland, Jonathan, A president without precedent, The Guardian Weekly, London, vol. 196, no.7, 20-26 January 2017, front page
[5] Bank of Canada, Canadian Economy, Monetary Policy Report, Ottawa, January 2017, page 17
[6] Fife, Robert, Trump, Trudeau to meet ‘very soon’, The Globe and Mail, Saturday, February 4,  2017, page A5
[7] Slater, Joanna, Trump bars entry to Syrian refugees, The Globe and Mail, Saturday, January 28, 2017, page A3

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