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Tuesday, November 03, 2015

For the socialist revolution – join us.

What is socialism? If we are socialists, what are we actually striving towards? This question, long a subject of debate is receiving even more attention today because of the inability of capitalism to address its mounting crises. Nothing less than the fate of humanity hinges upon the speediest implementation of the socialist solution yet hardly anyone nowadays retain hope in the anti-capitalist strivings and sentiments of the working people or believe that they can in time participate in a mighty movement oriented toward socialist objectives. For adhering to these convictions and being guided by them, the Socialist Party is looked upon as a political dinosaur, ridiculed as a relic of a by-gone age, dogmatists to outworn views who cannot understand that the world has changed. Indeed, it may seem odd to argue against the preponderance of public opinion so why not go along with the prevailing mood? Unfashionable and unpopular as it may be, we in the Socialist Party have solid reasons for our principled stand and our convictions are not those of religious-like faith but derived from a scientific conception of the course and driving forces of world history, a reasoned analysis of the decisive trends of our time, and an understanding of the mainsprings and the necessities of capitalist development. Socialist ideas  have clarified many perplexing problems in philosophy, sociology, history, economics, and politics, explaining the key role of the working class in history. Nothing less is at stake than the destiny of civilisation and with it the future of mankind.

Too often, too many radicals place too much importance upon the undeniable shortcomings of the labour movement than by any of its positive accomplishments. They disparage the significance of the sheer existence of trade union organisations which act as a shield against lowering wages and working conditions and check the aggressions of capitalist reaction. They ignore the working conditions of a century ago, before unionisation, the fourteen- to sixteen-hour day, the exploitation of child labor, the early mortality rate for all workers; and they neglect to study what happens when unions are exceptionally weak and fragmented. The widespread under-estimation of the working class comes from a short-term perspective. We are living in a world of rapidly changing events and many unexpected developments. The working class will be roused from its slumber by events beyond anyone’s control. We do not believe that they can be summoned into battle on anyone’s command. The class struggle unfolds with a rhythm of its own, determined by historical conditions. The Socialist Party takes full advantage of opportunities in good times or bad. That is its reason for its existence. We are no idle dreamers. We want to make things happen.


But how was this new society to be achieved? The critical first step, in our view, is taking political power, replacing the government of the capitalist class with the rule of the working class. People should rule society in their own interests. Socialism is a society dedicated to the interests of the vast majority of the population. The basic means by which society produces its wealth – factories, mines and farms – are transferred from private to public ownership, and exploitation is for the most part eliminated. Socialism unleashes the creativity of the common people, who are capable of tremendous advances when not laboring under a system of exploitation. The key to the solution of the problem lies, for us, in a social revolution throughout the capitalist world. There is no other way. Socialism has to become a tool and a weapon again for going to the roots of existing social problems and pointing the way to their solution. If you want to fight the only battle worth fighting, for the socialist revolution – join us.

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