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SHARE THE WORLD
SPARE THE PLANET
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June
12 at 7:00 pm
Maryhill
Community Central Halls,
304
Maryhill Road,
Glasgow
G20 7YE
The
reason for organisation is that a number of people united are better
able to accomplish a given end as a rule than the same people working
in an isolated fashion. In fact, some ends can only be accomplished
by means of organisations, and socialism is one of them. Mere
organisation, however, is not enough. It must be of such a nature
that it will meet the need to accomplish the end as soon as possible.
Moreover, it must really accomplish the end, and not some pale shadow
of it. Bad organisation will often defeat the end aimed at, weak
organisation will hinder its accomplishment, and only sound
organisation will adequately achieve it. The end that is aimed at
determines the nature of the organisation. Our organization, a party of equals, is a
political movement to revolutionise the present social arrangements.
It
is from the workers that the Socialist Party draws its strength,
because it is the workers whose interests demand the change. Many
clever and honest people believed that the parliamentary avenue to
State control could be ignored and held to the view that general
strikes and insurrection were the means the workers should adopt to
overthrow the present social system, but in the end they did not
succeed. The attitude taken by our Party years ago still holds
true—that only by having a socialist membership, and therefore a
socialist policy, can a real socialist party be secured.
Socialism
can only be established by a socialist working class. hence the chief
task of the Socialist Party can only be to make their fellow workers
socialist. We hold that this can best be done by campaigning for
socialism and socialism alone. To do otherwise is to get the support
of non-socialists and eventually to cease to be a socialist party
altogether. We accept the doctrine of the class struggle and base our
policy on it. Thus we refuse to compromise with other political
parties which, including the Labour Party, can only stand for
capitalism. It is sometimes argued by the Left that the way to make
socialists is to back the demands of politically ignorant workers and
show then that these demands can't be realised without getting rid of
capitalism. But this is an odd way of going about things. Why not
tell the workers straight off that they're going down a blind alley?
Why bother to lead them down it just to show them it is a blind
alley? The logic of this is that the working class should try out all
wrong policies just to see that they are wrong. We reject such
nonsensical doctrine. But once this doctrine is rejected then the
case for entryism falls to the ground. There is no longer any need to
make a principle of leading workers down blind alleys because you
think it will benefit them.
The
Socialist Party addresses its appeal for members to the working
class. It
is essential that those who join the Socialist Party clearly
understand its object and policy.
Why does the Socialist Party regularly achieve such a low percentage
poll when it contests elections? Is it our “dogmatism” and
"sectarianism", our refusal to unite with other groups,
such as those in the anti-war, ecologist, feminist movements?
Frankly, although we would not want to deny the sincerity of many
activists in these groups in seeking to improve living conditions and
solve social problems, we would not want to merge with them to try
and bring about reforms of the capitalist system. It is necessary to
keep our objective clear and not being sidetracked into activity
which has nothing to do with the work of building a movement to
advocate and achieve a society of common ownership. We are of course
always keen to discuss with other groups and parties, hold forums
with them, and indeed learn from them where they have knowledge that
we do not have.
We
need speakers and writers to spread our message so the more people
who have already arrived at a socialist consciousness become part of
the organisation propagating those ideas, the more members and the
more resources this will give us. Let us be in no doubt: there are
very many workers who are ready and willing to listen to the case for
world socialism and to take it up with enthusiasm. Optimistic we may
be but socialists have a message which is irresistible and the most
urgent and exciting task of the moment is to work for a speedy
termination to the system which enslaves the majority class. The
Socialist Party stands in hostility to the boss class whether they
pretend to dictate on the workers' behalf or they are undisguised
legalised robbers, we are out to end their power, and to expose the
ideologies which have allowed them to hold it this long. Socialism is
not dead: it has not yet been tried.
If
you are a convinced socialist you should vote for your principles
whether there is a socialist candidate in your constituency or not.
Where there is no socialist candidate, write SOCIALISM across your
ballot paper. But do not leave it at that. Persuade your friends,
relatives and workmates to consider the socialist case. Give your
support to socialist campaigns where there is a genuine socialist
candidate. No effort can be too great in relation to the urgent
political task which faces us.
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| The Socialist Party of Great Britain
52 Clapham High Street,
London SW4 7UN
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