opposition. Every extension paradoxically makes the whole system actually or potentially weaker, more and more balanced a knife-edge. Hence the need to develop greater and greater powers of repression. These powers which Marcuse finds so frightening are in fact hopeful signs, because they mean that the natural (unarmed) balance of forces has to be redressed even more by artificial (armed) means. Mao's description of American imperialism as a 'paper tiger is very apt, not merely a piece of propoganda.
The opposition to American imperialism and its lackies is at the moment one of potential rather than one of actuality. No-one can accurately predict where and how the transformation into actuality will occur, and the small forces of the western left cannot materially alter how it might happen. But they çan and must prepare themselves for the event. They can do so by directing their minds to the first step towards socialism the seizure and dismantling of the bourgeois state. They must because opportunities occur very infrequently, and failure to lead the masses in this direction at the correct time would be followed by a fearful demoralisation, the seedbed of fascism.
It is often difficult to see beyond the cramped situation in which the western revolutionary Left finds itself in 'normal times. None of us have been in a revolutionary situation. The power of the status quo seems power absolute - yet how frightening must that paper tiger of former times, the Russian autocracy, have appeared to the Bolsheviks. One shrug of the shoulder of the Russian people was enough to dislodge it and send it into oblivion. Five years before the Bolsheviks seized power they elected a police spy, Malinousky, to their central committee. Revolutionary politicians in periods probably feel, ridiculous and out of touch with normality reality, but not half as much as a bourgeois politician in a revolutionary situation, when history is being made, and epochs of development in the old society are reaching their fruition, when a decade of normal history is concentrated into a week or a month ,But all this development can easily be negated by the counter-revolution unless quickly and decisively consolidated by a conscious effort on the part of revolutionaries.
This is Marcuse's mistake: he concentrates on the problems of revolutionaries in periods of normality. We should think of our role in a revolutionary situation, and, without losing flexibility, prepare for our role. That role will not be new men?, but will be a severely practical one of moral exhortation, producing resolving a crisis of power by seizing it. Then we can worry about creating a society where power is unnecessary.
B.K supported good work the students are doing. Brian Wood (on behalf of the Joint Trade Union Strike Committee) Ford Motor Company, Dagenham, Essex.
ONE HAROLD WILSON FOR THE FOLLOWING CRIMES:
LAGOS; TERRORISING AND AND STUDENTS; RACISTS SMITH, VORSTER, NATIONALITY: SCILLIAN.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: SMUG EXPRESSION AND A SANCTIMONIOUS WHINE Ford Shop Stewards Committee, on behalf of all their members, the rank and file at Fords, would like to express their feelings to the students who thank you "and by giving their support to all the throughout our Strike