Working-class unity is the perennial goal of socialists. Unity
and solidarity have to be made explicit goals. The Socialist Party affirms its commitment
to the principle of internationalism and working-class solidarity the world
over, and proclaims its unalterable opposition to war. Modern wars as a rule
have been caused by the commercial and financial rivalry and intrigues of the
capitalist interests in the different countries. Whether they have been frankly
waged as wars of aggression or have been hypocritically represented as wars of
“defence” or “humanitarian” interventions they have always been made by the
ruling classes and fought by the masses. Wars bring wealth and power to the
capitalists, and suffering and death to the workers. They sever the vital bonds
of solidarity between their brothers and sisters in other countries. The
Socialist Party is unalterably opposed to the system of exploitation and class
rule. Our fellow-workers are in ever increasing numbers becoming interested in
radical solutions for their problem. The Socialist Party will agitate against
against every illusory idea and all half-baked panaceas; against every form and
manifestation of prejudice and against nationalism. Our class interest is one
with that of the workers of all lands.
In a socialist society, the labour-power of individuals is
placed under the management of society, in some manner or another, so the labour
that is the expenditure of this labour-power is directly social labour, having a
social character from the outset. From a socialist perspective, capitalism is
the co-operation of the many for the profit of the few. We observe that the
capital invested in modern industry is owned by private individuals, called capitalists,
and is used by them to exploit labour primarily for their own private profit. Capitalism
is wage slavery, because it binds the workers through capitalist ownership to
the control of the capitalist class. At the same time without the cooperation
of millions of labourers modern industry, with its accompanying exploitation,
would be impossible. The control is actually in the hands of only a few giant
corporations and financiers who control lands, mineral ore deposits, oil
fields, forests, pipe lines, transport companies, banks, etc. The capitalist
class which controls industry is anxious to keep that control and the
privileges that go with it. Hence, it strives to control all social
institutions. It participates in the writing and administering of the laws. It
seeks to control the content of schools, the media and all other means of
molding public opinion. In addition, when it has found that it has been unable
to prevent the organisation of labour in opposition to its interests, it has
sought to control the organisations which have been formed. When unsuccessful
in this, it has tried to create disharmony among them and to destroy them by
playing one against the other. The Socialist Party emphasises that under the
capitalistic system profits are first in importance, the common good,
secondary. Therefore, capitalists do not hesitate to disregard the common
welfare if it interferes with the accumulation of profits. They are not even
above leading the workers to war, if by doing so there is a chance to enrich
themselves or to solidify their control.
The Socialist Party believes that most social problems are
caused by capitalist mismanagement and greed. We state that to this greed can
be traced the need for foreign markets, world wars, race wars, and discouragement of projects directed
toward improving the welfare of the masses. However, the Socialist Party is
more critical of the capitalistic system than of individuals who are
capitalists. It doesn't propose to reform human beings. Instead, it intends to
reform the economic system so that the common good rather than profits for
those in control will be the goal. The Socialist Party contends that the
solution of modern social problems and the establishment of better social
relations requires the abolition of capitalism. Only those few who would lose
their special privileges would be worse off, if capitalism were to be done away
with. The rest of mankind would be much better off. The original job of the
capitalist was to furnish funds and management. Now management is the job of a
specially trained section of the class of hired hands, and funds are amply
provided out of corporate profits. In other words, the system of corporate
administration that capitalists have built up has made them superfluous.
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