Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 26 - From Marx to Mao

160V. I. LENINetc., to crises, he weakened the connection between the twosections by leaving out the words, “this state of affairs”.2. He added theoretical-sounding phrases about the conflictbetween the conditions of production and the conditionsof consumption, and between the conditions for realisationand the conditions for accumulation—phrases which arequite correct but which do not express any new idea, for thepreceding section gives the substance of all this more clearly.3. He adds “the pursuit of profit”—an expression hardlysuited to the programme, and which is used here, we suspect,precisely “to win popularity”, for the same idea is expressedseveral times in the phrases about “conditions for realisation”,commodity production, etc.4. He substitutes “depression” for “stagnation”; an unfortunatechange.5. He adds the word “anarchically” to the old text (“commodities,anarchically produced in ever-increasing quantities”).This addition is theoretically wrong, for “anarchy”or “absence of planning” using an expression from the ErfurtProgramme and contested by Engels, does not exactly characterisetrusts.*Here is how Comrade Sokolnikov puts it:“Commodities are anarchically produced in ever-increasing quantities.Efforts of capitalist associations (trusts and the like) to preventcrises by limiting production end in failure,” etc.But it is by trusts that commodities are not producedanarchically, but according to a plan. Trusts do not merely“limit” production. They do not make any efforts to preventcrises, nor can they make any such “efforts”. Comrade Sokolnikovis guilty of a number of inaccuracies. What heshould have said was: although trusts produce commoditiesnot anarchically but according to a plan, crises neverthelesscannot be averted because of the above-mentioned characteristicsof capitalism which are also inherent in the trusts.And if trusts, in periods of the greatest prosperity and speculation,limit production in the sense of being careful “not to* Engels criticised the expressions “private production” and“absence of planning” in the draft of the Erfurt Programme. He wrote:“If we go over from stock companies to trusts, which dominate andmonopolise whole branches of industry, not only private production,but also the absence of planning comes to an end.” 71