Name the Blame

The debate between socialism and capitalism is a battle of ideas that is intensifying. Capitalism’s huge problems have provoked millions to question and challenge it. Socialists offer an alternatives that inspires. Socialism views human nature as co-operative, positive and altruistic. They believe that humans are born equal and that differences in their success are created by society and nurture, not nature. As such they believe that equality within human society is both normal and should be encouraged as humans are collaborative and that co-operation will create the most progress for everybody than individualistic competition. People who have power and wealth oppress the majority and forcing their ideology onto the majority.  This is achieved because the ruling class own the means of production and the workers who actually produce the finished product don't.  Capitalism is a global economic system which has certain intrinsic features which cannot allow full and true liberation to take place as long as it remains. Full and true liberation can only be achieved after destroying capitalism itself first and during the course of building socialism. Its features exist to guarantee its own survival and growth as a system. These are as follows: selfishness; individualism; greed; competition; market forces; wasteful consumerism; planning not based on sustainability but on short-term and maximum private profits and interests of the ruling class minority; militarism; corruption; racism; oppression and exploitation of one class by another; cyclical financial crises; massive and continuous destruction of the environment.

There are advocates of responsible regulated capitalism (some think of themselves as philanthro-capitalists) who are currently in vogue right now for a very good reason - capitalism has clearly got us into a fix, those to blame are rightly unpopular, and there is the strong sense that something must be done. They try to make the case that the bankers and lack-of-regulation have put us in this mess in what could otherwise be a healthy capitalism and suggest that by regulating and mitigating the effects of the profit-motive, a more equal and just capitalism can be obtained. Responsible or ethical capitalism is a vacuous phrase, a slogan smoke-screen, meant to divert attention from the socialist vision for a better future. Those apologists present to-day’s capitalism that can ironed out a few wrinkles by a bit of government legislation and businessmen incorporating a new ethos. They still maintain that capitalism is the best economic system possible, that the market encourages efficiency through competition, and creates an unequaled range of consumer goods, permits people to get ahead if they work hard, respects the individual, and promotes democracy.  It's not perfect, but it works is their case.

Socialists are not just aware of the existence of inequality and the misery it visits on the millions of people across the planet. We propose an alternative way of running society and a strategy to change the world. As unrepentant socialists, we seek to replace capitalism and we claim its nature produces oppression and exploitation whereas a socialist democracy is cooperative and ecological. Socialism offers the best hope for humanity. Socialists can't get there on their own.  A society that strives for equality and participation will only come about through the coordinated action of many people.  Socialism won't solve your personal problems or bring you eternal bliss. The reason to join a socialist organisation is work toward socialism.  The abolition of class rule and establishment of workers' democracy will not come about unless there are socialists organised for it and to win over others. The urgency grows to end hunger, poverty and disease.  Our planet's decaying eco-systems must be rescued before it reaches a point of no return. Never before in history have science and technology provided such opportunities for the all-round development of every human being. Even under wasteful and destructive capitalism, the productive forces exist that could, if planned and utilised to meet human need instead of maximising capitalist profit, ensure sufficient food, nutrition, health care and education for all.