Two out of three voters say that "the system needs major changes or to be torn down entirely." Within the straightjacket of the two-party system, the Democrats are likely to retake Congress. But a cohort of seven democratic socialists will also take office. Radicalized workers and youth will watch their actions closely. To effectively resist the pressure of the capitalists, socialists must break from the Democrats, the main party of the US ruling class, and embrace a class-independent attitude, or otherwise sink into the swamp of bourgeois politics.

In Europe, the class struggle has reached a fever pitch. In Spain, an 87-year-old renter was forced from her apartment by an investment fund, sparking mass protests over the housing crisis. In France, what started as high school students protesting the crumbling educational infrastructure has now reached a mass, near-insurrectionary intensity. Nationwide strikes are planned for November 5 in France and November 11 in Spain. 

Back in the US, in January, we saw a mass movement swell in Minnesota, where a de facto general strike brought the city to a standstill. In the wake of that movement, many started looking up the term "mutual aid." This issue of The Communist examines the question of Mutual Aid, and whether or not it is an effective strategy for the overthrow of capitalism. 

Last but not least: when smartphones were introduced in 2007, no one anticipated they would change society so drastically. But as we outline in our centerspread, "What Does Marxism Have to Say About Smartphones?", telecommunications under a workers' state can be rationally planned, bringing about wondrous new technologies for humanity's benefit rather than the ruling class's profits.

All of this and more is covered in The Communist Issue 28. 

If you’re committed to seeing the end of capitalism in your lifetime, if you’re part of a rapidly growing communist generation, this is your paper. If you're ready to take that step, join today to become a member of the RCA.