Following a long period of enthusiastic cheering, the district delegate calls the meeting to order. She announces that "the first item on the meeting's agenda is the democratic election of a Strike Committee"—but before she is able to propose competent candidates the shouting begins again.
"What on earth for?" shouts an occupant.
"Whose agenda?" shouts another.
The following exchange, consisting of screeching shouts from the floor nearly drowned out by deafening shouts through the loudspeaker, may follow:
MICROPHONE: The function of the Strike Committee is to hold the fort when numbers dwindle, to protect the victories won by the working population.
FLOOR: But we're determined to stay! Unanimously!
MICROPHONE: Furthermore, the Committee has the task of coordinating the strike.
FLOOR: What's that if it's not what we're all doing already? Why should a small group of people do that?
MICROPHONE: It is impossible for all the workers of a plant to negotiate highly technical questions with the plant managers, the owners and the State.
FLOOR: I've got news for you! They've got nothing left to negotiate! Who do you want to negotiate with? The managers don't manage any more, the owners don't own, and as for State officials, they're nowhere to be found! (The shouter is interrupted by laughter and cheering.) Are you going to negotiate with those who are presently occupying the government buildings and the city hall? Haven't you heard that the people occupying those buildings are dancing, playing music and putting on plays?
MICROPHONE: Who will draw up your list of demands?
FLOOR: Who can grant them?
MICROPHONE: What the working people want is—
FLOOR: Who gave you the right to interpret what the people want?
FLOOR: Those days are gone!
FLOOR: When did union officials get a monopoly over the public address system?
FLOOR: …
It is not obvious that such a situation creates a "power vacuum" which can be filled by the official revolutionary organization. It is not evident that such a situation would contribute to the seizure of State power by the official interpreters of the population's demands. All that seems evident is that a revolutionary
134
