The
Socialist Party is not afraid of isolation. There are times when
socialists, if they are to remain true to their principles, have no
other alternative. For years we endured slander and lies in the
struggle for our ideals. We survived. We are proud. We retract
nothing and repent nothing. We are not afraid of isolation when
circumstances impose it. Join the Socialist Party with its ideas and
traditions. We urge all revolutionary workers to add their energies
to the efforts in a common struggle to build a powerful party of
revolutionary world socialism. Everyone who is a socialist ought to
join the Socialist Party. If it is not exactly what you think it
ought to be, get in and help make it right; for, through the
referendum, the membership can make it what they will. It is the only
party in which each and every member directly control by means of the
party poll. To vote for the Socialist Party does not make you a party
member. It is necessary to join the party organisation and pay dues.
You may inquire why it is necessary for you to join the Socialist
Party and pay dues. The reason is this. The Socialist Party is
conducted in the interest of but one class. It is impossible to
expect any other class to be interested in the welfare of your class,
therefore, if you desire to better your condition in life you will
have to unite with other members of your class in bringing about the
desired results. When you formally join the party you have the same
rights as any other member. In the Socialist Party the membership
elect all officers by referendum vote, and all matters debated at
conference are submitted to the membership by referendum vote to
approve or disapprove.
Capitalist
production results in dividing society into two classes, the
capitalist class and the working class. These two forces of society,
whose interests are diametrically opposed to each other, are
naturally forced into a continuous class struggle, which can only end
with the abolition of the wage and profit system. Under this system
the wage workers own nothing but their labour-power, which they must
sell to the capitalist in the open market in order to live, while the
lion’s share of labour’s product flows into the pockets of the
capitalists who buy and sell labour power for the sake of profit. The
Socialist Party declares for the abolition of the wage and profit
system, and for the introduction of the cooperative system of
production and distribution. Capitalism has been tried and found
guilty of untold crimes. It has brought humanity to the brink of
extinction. Capitalism exploits working people; capitalism breeds
war, environmental destruction, poverty, slums, child-labour,
unemployment; it regularly and inevitably calls forth crises of
recession and factory shutdowns; it breeds racial hatred and
religious bigotry, and makes a mockery of the words peace
and security
You
workers who find it impossible to make both ends meet, what are you
going to do about it? Are you going to continue to support a system
that will continue these deplorable conditions or will you be real
men and women. Millions of men and women are determined that the
children of tomorrow, shall be safe from the ravages of poverty
disease and war. This is a beautiful, bountiful planet, abounding in
natural resources. But
they do not belong to the people.
They belong to the corporations and the banks in a network of
interlocking businesses, small and large – rail and air, mines and
mills, public utilities, oil and chemicals, department stores, fast
food, media, finance companies. There is also the highest degree of
technical development and of industrial efficiency as well as
productivity. But
they do not belong to the people. The
safety and health of the workers and their communities is not a
consideration for the capitalist owners of industry. Labour saving and
labour displacing technology such as automation and robotics that
could be blessings to humanity to eliminate drudgery and heavy work,
deprive workers of their jobs. Plenty can be produced for all, an
abundance of food, clothing, shelter and means of education,
amusement, travel, recreation, for all the people. "Heaven on
Earth" is not a Utopian dream. The material basis is the
utilisation of labour, machinery and materials to full capacity in
planned socialist production and in socialised distribution. Produce
for use and not for profit! Today, no matter how much is produced,
none
of it belongs to the people.
If the products of farm and factory cannot be sold for a substantial
profit they are stacked in warehouses and granaries and allowed to
rot. We have "shortages" while “plenty” is hoarded and
stored away. A small group of owners condemn millions of workers to
a mere existence wage and throw millions out to starve. We can work,
to live and support our families, only when they say so. When they
nod their heads factories and mines close or open up. This is free
enterprise; this is the profit system; this is private ownership;
this is capitalism. It has produced war and more war, hunger and
want, unemployment and misery, in the midst of untold wealth. It
solves no problems for the welfare of the people. That a worker who
is able, willing and anxious to work can be jobless, that the stench
of the slums can arise in all our great cities, that a child can go
hungry, should forfeit capitalism's right to continued existence.
It's one world with the same hopes and dreams, heartaches, headaches,
everywhere.
Is
this the best of all possible worlds? Have you not wondered what you
can do to help change these conditions? We are sure you have. Let us
tell you what you can do.
The
Socialist Party has no interests apart from the people, no narrow
selfish "axe to grind." To be in the Socialist Party is not
a career. We join through enlightened self-interest to work
unselfishly so that by freeing the workers from wage slavery all
humanity including ourselves is freed from greed and tyranny. "The
greatest good for the greatest number" is the concept members of
the Socialist Party practices. We strive unremittingly for all the
interests of the people, to fight for our goal of socialism which
will come more quickly through the solidarity, class consciousness
and understanding. Our perspective of socialism becomes clearer and
the need for it more imperative with each passing day, as history
exposes the criminal inadequacies of capitalism.
A
Socialist Party cannot properly or fully function without a wide,
deep and firm base of a working class membership. We don't think we
will build a mass revolutionary party by one-to-one recruitment of
those convinced by our regular educational work. We explain to
workers that it is yet not an adequate instrument to achieve a
socialist world, and that it is an initial step to build a global
revolutionary party. The Socialist Party holds the deepest conviction
and confidence in the workers, their militancy, honesty and courage
and their burning hatred of exploitation as well as their their
power to free themselves and all mankind from all forms of
oppression.
"Rise
like lions after slumber,
In unvanquished number,
Shake your chains to earth, like dew,
That in sleep have fallen on you,Ye are many--they are few."
In unvanquished number,
Shake your chains to earth, like dew,
That in sleep have fallen on you,Ye are many--they are few."
So
sang the poet Shelley long ago.
We
are proud of our Party. It is a tough world. But men and women like
yourselves can understand comradeship and great ideals. Are you ready
to join the Socialist Party.
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