It is quite easy to detect the fallacy which underlies what here masquerades as a “class” outlook. The “State” cannot be thus contrasted with “class” organisations, for the State is itself a class organisation. When mensheviks and others protest against a union with the workers’ State, they are in fact expressing their hostility towards the workers’ State. They are taking sides with the bourgeoisie. We note that they likewise advocate independence of the bourgeois State.
They speak slightingly of unions “supported by State funds.” But now [in Russia] the State treasury belongs to the workers. Apparently the mensheviks would prefer that the State revenues should still belong to the bourgeoisie! Independence of the workers’ State Power really means dependence upon the bourgeoisie.
The new tasks which were incumbent upon the trade unions made it essential that with all possible speed they should become huge industrial (productive) unions. It is obvious that if the members of the trade unions are to be responsible for the organisation of production, the workers must be organised upon the lines of productive industry, and not upon craft lines. In other words,