The Naked Communist

by Willard Cleon Skousen

  Student: “Do you believe in freedom at all?”

  Lenin: “While the state exists there is no freedom. When freedom exists, there will be no state.”{212}

  Student: “But the USSR still preserves the State. Does this mean the government of Russia is not intended to promote the freedom of the Russian people?”

  Engels: “So long as the proletariat still uses the state it does not use it in the interest of freedom but in order to hold down its adversaries.”{213}

  Student: “Then do I conclude from this that in Russia you do not even pretend to has the civil liberties which we enjoy over here?”

  Vyshinsky: “In our state, naturally there is and can be no place for freedom of speech, press, and so on for the foes of socialism. Every sort of attempt on their part to utilize to the detriment of the state, that is to say, to the detriment of all the toilers—these freedoms granted to the toilers, must be classified as a counter-revolutionary crime.”{214}

  Student: “Supposing I were living in Russia and wanted to publish a newspaper which criticized the government. Would I be granted the same freedom of press which I enjoy in America?”

  Stalin: “What freedoms of the press have you in mind? Freedom of the press for which class— the bourgeoisie or the proletariat? If it is a question of freedom of the press for the bourgeoisie, then it does not and will not exist here as long as the proletarian dictatorship exists.”{215}

  Student: “Then you mean freedom of the press is only for the privileged proletariat? It would not include a person like myself?”

  Stalin: “We have no freedom of the press for the bourgeoisie. We have no freedom of the press for the Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries, who represent the interests of the beaten and overthrown bourgeoisie. But what is there surprising in that? We have never pledged ourselves to grant freedom of the press to all classes, and to make all classes happy.”{216}

  Student: “But how can a government fairly administer its laws unless they apply equally to all the people?”

  Lenin: “Dictatorship is power based upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is power won and maintained by the violence of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie—power that is unrestricted by any laws.”{217}

  Student: “But if laws are against classes rather than violators, how can there be any justice?”

  Vyshinsky: “The task of justice in the USSR is to assure the precise and unswerving fulfillment of Soviet laws by all the institutions, organizations, officials and citizens of the USSR. This the court accomplishes by destroying without pity all the foes of the people in whatever form they manifest their criminal encroachments upon socialism.”{218}

  Moscow University—where education is often used as a political tool and professors are among the best paid people in the U.S.S.R.

  Education

  Student: “Let me ask a few questions about Soviet schools and the Communist theory of education. How would you describe the objectives of education in Russia?”

  Official Statement: “It is in the schools, at the desk, in the first class, that the foundations for a Communist outlook are laid in future Soviet citizens. The country entrusts the school with its most treasured possessions—its children—and no one should be allowed to indulge in the slightest deviation from the principles of the Communist materialistic upbringing of the new generation.”{219}

  Student: “Would it not be better to give students a broad view of all governments and different economies so they could draw their own conclusions?”

  Official Statement: “The Soviet school cannot be satisfied to rear merely educated persons. Basing itself on the facts and deductions of progressive science, it should instill the ideology of Communism in the minds of the young generation, shape a Marxist-Leninist world outlook and inculcate the spirit of Soviet patriotism and Bolshevik ideas in them.”{220}

  Student: “Is it fair to force the minds of the rising generation to accept only the values which a current political regime wishes to impose upon them?”

  Official Statement: “It is important that pupils should clearly realize the doom of the capitalistic world, its inevitable downfall, that they should see on the other hand the great prospects of our socialist system, and actively get prepared when they leave school to be ready to take their place in life, in the struggle for a new world, for Communism.”{221}

  Labor

  Student: “Since Communism claims to represent the interests of the laboring class, what is the official Communist attitude toward the labor movement?”

  Lenin: “It will be necessary… to agree to any and every sacrifice, and even—if need be—to resort to all sorts of devices, maneuvers and illegal methods, to evasion and subterfuge, in order to penetrate into the trade unions, to remain in them, and to carry on Communist work in them at all costs.”{222}

  Student: “I think the average American working man would be interested in knowing what the Communists do when they control a labor union. How do the Communists treat labor unions in Russia where they have complete control?”

  Victor Kravchenko (Former Government Official now defected): “The local (Communist) party organization elects one of its suitable members to become president of the trade union. Generally speaking, the Soviet trade unions have to see that the workers execute the program.”{223}

  Student: “But does that not make the union a subservient arm of government rather than an organization of workers? What if a nation wanted to strike?

  Kravchenko: “The union’s job is to see that strict discipline is maintained, that there will be no strikes that the workers work for wages established by the central government that the workers carry out all the decisions, resolutions. et cetera, of the party.”{224}

  Student: “But what would happen if I were a worker in Russia and wanted to quit my job?”

  Kravchenko: “Every citizen in the Soviet Union has a passport. On the passport is his photograph. There is also a special page on which a stamp is put which indicates the place, date and type of employment. If you leave your job in one factory and go to another without the permission of your director you will be prosecuted under the law for violation of the law prohibiting unauthorized change of employment. This refers not only to laborers but to any kind of employee.”{225}

  Student: “In view of these statements I would like to conclude with one more question: Is this the hope for humanity which the Soviet offers the world?”

  Official Statement: “The Soviet is an inspiring example for the proletarian revolution in the rest of the world…. (It) shows the powerful achievements of the victorious proletariat and the vast superiority of Socialist to Capitalist economy. The Soviet Union is an inspiring example for the national self-determination of the oppressed peoples.”{226}

  APPENDIX B

  How Does a People Build a Free Nation?

  During the latter part of the eighteenth century a phenomenal political development occurred which created the framework for a new civilization. This was the establishment of the first free people in modern times. In the panoramic history of the human race it was an epic achievement.

  At the time this important political leap took place the whole pattern of human existence was bogged down by three man-made systems which had enslaved mankind. The first was the political system throughout the world which consisted of monarchial dictatorships where life, liberty and property were subject to the more or less fickle whims of individual potentates. The second oppressive system was the economic pattern of the world which was rooted in a variety of feudal contracts where the majority of the people wore out their lives as serfs on vast estates carved from the spoils of military conquest. The third system which dominated the lives of mankind was the overexpansion of institutionalized religion. The professional guardians of man’s spiritual welfare had practically choked off all channels of free spiritual expression so that matters of opinion and conscience were often scrutinized and controlled by opp
ressive surveillance.

  Rise of the Liberals

  For several hundred years prior to the eighteenth century a few liberal rebels had struck out fiercely against the Frankenstein systems which enmeshed mankind, and many of these liberals had left their mark. They were called “liberals” because they desired to liberate the race from these man-made systems. They wanted man controlling the systems instead of the systems enslaving man. Today “liberals” are often those who would like to restore those systems and once more make man their minions, but here we shall speak of liberals in the original sense—“liberators from man-made systems.”

  The first group of liberals to gravitate together in sufficient quantities to take decisive action was a contingent of visionary men scattered among the American colonies. Historians say it is surprising how few voices in that day were prepared to speak up for complete liberation, but these few were sufficiently strong to chart a blueprint for the first free nation in modern times.

  Of course, in many ways it was a most reckless venture. These American political pioneers risked life, property and the rights of citizenship by participating in this liberation movement. Nevertheless, they were successful to a degree never exceeded by political leaders in any other time or generation. Perhaps the following outline will illustrate why.

  Political Philosophy of American Founding Fathers

  The American founding fathers were very uncommon men. They were neither anarchists nor revolutionists but were among the most successful political and business leaders from each of the colonies. In this sense, they were both physically and mentally equipped to be empire builders, and before the king had made his imperialism completely intolerable they had, in many cases, been among the most active subjects of the king carrying out the crown’s business among the colonies. Therefore, by their own contemporary standards, they could scarcely be called “proletariat.” As a group they were students of economics and political science, and when they set their hands to the task of creating a new nation they drained off the best thinking of men like John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu and Adam Smith besides adding many ingenious contributions from the inspiration of their own minds.

  All of this evolved into a unique political philosophy worthy of the most careful study. The documents these men produced reflect the ingredients of this philosophy. They reveal that those who subscribed to it had the following fundamental convictions:

  • They believed that certain inalienable rights of man are derived from God and not from any human agency; therefore, no human agency can rightfully disturb them.

  • They believed class distinctions must be eliminated, that there is no place among free men for classes or castes. The public officer, the merchant, the banker, the farmer, the mechanic, the teacher—all are honorable and necessary, worthy of being treated as equals. They believed the progress of the human race will not be the result of pitting one class against another but will come by uniting all groups or classes in one concentrated offensive against man’s common enemies: poverty, ignorance, disease and war.

  • They believed that in pursuing happiness, men must be free to work at any livelihood which their experience, training and native qualifications will permit them to secure and hold.

  • They believed men must be free to enjoy the fruits of their labor—which means the protection of property rights.

  • They believed men must be secure in their homes and the Privacy of their lives. They believed there must be good will, generosity and tolerance between those of difference professions, those of different religions and those of different races.

  A Philosophy Becomes a Reality

  The translating of these principles from theory to practice has been a long and painfully slow process. Nevertheless, the historic steps which were followed constitute the straight and narrow way through which any and every people must pass if they are to gain and retain their freedom. These historic steps were as follows:

  First: The redemption of the people’s freedom by an official Declaration of Independence in 1776.

  Second: The enforcement of that Declaration by resort to arms from 1776 to 1783.

  Third: For the first time in the history of the world a government was established with its powers strictly defined in a written document—the United States Constitution.

  Fourth: The Constitution provided for a republican form of government. This is government by elected representatives rather than government by emotional mass participation as a pure democracy.

  Fifth: For the first time in history a government was set up under a sovereign trinity—three equal branches of governmental authority—the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The separation of powers among three equal branches of government came from the brilliant mind of Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755). James Madison was a particularly warm admirer of Montesquieu and was responsible for the introduction of this principle into the framework of the Constitution.

  Sixth: Each branch of government was to be subject to a system of checks and balances from the other two branches so as to maintain a healthy balance of power. Government has been defined as society’s power of “organized coercion.” The genius of Montesquieu’s principle of separation of powers is the fact that when one branch of government exceeds its authority, one or both of the other branches combine against it to use their powers of coercion to put down the oppression of the offending branch. This makes it unnecessary to have the people rise up in revolutionary force to put down oppression.

  Seventh: All powers not specifically delegated to the Federal Government were retained by the states and the people. The doctrine of the contractual basis of government with the reservation of political sovereignty in the people was described by John Locke in his “Second Treatise of Civil Government,” published in 1690.

  Eighth: The following freedoms were guaranteed to the sovereign citizen:

  1. Freedom of religion (First Amendment)

  2. Freedom of speech (First Amendment)

  3. Freedom of press (First Amendment)

  4. Freedom of assembly (First Amendment)

  5. Freedom to petition the government for grievances (First Amendment)

  6. Freedom to bear arms (Second Amendment)

  7. Freedom from illegal search of persons, houses, papers or effects (Fourth Amendment)

  8. Freedom from prosecution without due process of law (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments)

  9. Freedom from multiple prosecutions for the same offense (Fifth Amendment)

  10. Freedom from the necessity of testifying against one’s self (Fifth Amendment)

  11. Freedom from imprisonment without a speedy and public trial (Sixth Amendment)

  12. Freedom from excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments (Eighth Amendment)

  13. Freedom from slavery or involuntary servitude (Thirteenth Amendment added in 1865)

  14. Freedom to vote regardless of race or sex (Fifteenth Amendment added in 1870 and the Nineteenth Amendment added in 1920)

  Ninth: Social and political reform along liberal lines was encouraged within the various states. While serving as governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson led the way by encouraging public education, dividing church and state, breaking down the medieval laws of inheritance to prevent monopoly of land and wealth, advocating the emancipation of slaves, prohibiting the importation of slaves, revising the criminal laws, suggesting representation according to population; declaring the right to vote should be extended to all men who might be subject to military duty and not merely to landowners; encouraging self-government in the counties and towns of the state.

  Tenth: The Civil War established the sovereignty of the Federal Government as the dominant authority of the Union (from which individual states could not secede and against which individual states could not pass conflicting laws.) This gave solidarity to the United States and a uniformity among the states which had been previously disputed. The Civil War also opened the way for the emancipation of a
ll men living within its boundaries.

  Eleventh: Down through the yeasts “promotional” legislation was passed to promote the general welfare of all citizens by encouraging interstate transportation, transcontinental communications, colonization, of public lands, cheap postal service, development of waterways and resources.

  Twelfth: “Restrictive” legislation was passed for the purpose of protecting the individual citizen against various systems which began to encroach upon his welfare. Anti-trust legislation was passed to restrict the activities of monopolies in business and preserve free enterprise. Labor legislation was passed to fix responsibility for union leadership. Anti-crime legislation was passed to protect the citizens against organized underworld forces.

  Thus, a whole new pattern of human government has been born among men. It is a political framework designed to keep the ultimate control of the government in the hands of the people who live under that government. It is an expression of political philosophy which makes it possible for men to protect themselves against the expanding power of man-made systems. It is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is the gradual unfolding of six centuries of true liberalism.

  Results of 175 Years of American Liberalism

  The encouragement of private initiative and self-determination and the protection of the individual citizen from the encroachment of man-made systems have now had 175 years to prove themselves. Did the liberation of the citizen from the systems of the past prove beneficial?