We
are living in extremely frightening times. Life is becoming more
difficult for most and many of the causes workers have fought for are
being pushed back. There is war. It is class war. It is waged by the
representatives of one class, the oppressors, against the mass of
another class, the oppressed. In this war, the State is always and
invariably on the side of the oppressors. The State is the big stick
of the owners of wealth, the big stick of the big corporations. Those
who try to persuade you that the State is your friend and protector,
that the State is impartial and only “regulatory,” are misleading
you. Under capitalism you cannot protect both “industry” (meaning
the capitalists) and labour (meaning the workers). When you defend
“industry” you give it freedom to exploit “labour”. The State
serves the interests of big business. The essence of the capitalist
State is service in the employ of capitalism for the preservation of
capitalism. Reformists propose a little tinkering here and there.
It
becomes more and more obvious that mankind stands at a cross-road –
to socialism or to barbarism. While the workers are striving to lead
humanity up to socialism, the capitalists, fearing to lose their
power and privileges are trying to drag the social development down
the other road. Unfortunately, with the 'middle class' rapidly
sinking into insecurity, others declassed by uber type gig
employment and many young people who have no chance of entering the
process of production are willing to follow any populist demagogue
who promises them to bring about any change. The idea of forgoing
democracy consequently seems less repugnant to the present
generation. Tactics of lies and slander as well as their general
hero-worship – all this assists in creating an even more
dissatisfied audience.
Under
capitalism the workers are wage slaves, slaves of the bosses. The
bosses run the factories in order to maximise profits. This means
that they pay workers as little as possible, that they do not
hesitate to maintain unsafe working conditions to save a buck, and
that poor quality products are purposely produced in order to
increase profits. History has shown that these conditions are always
present under capitalism, and cannot be eliminated as long as there
is bosses rule. A capitalist has to exploit his workers in order to
survive as a capitalist.
Without
a vision of a better world and the organisation that goes with it,
protests of ordinary working people in response to injustice will
likely go nowhere or worse. The first step in creating this vision is
taking the blinkers off and telling the truth about our current
society. Fundamental social change leading us beyond the profit
system is essential. The Socialist Party stands for the abolition of
landlords and capitalists by the workers. We believe that society has
reached a stage where it is possible so to organise production as to
end poverty, unemployment, inequality and war. To lift the working
class everywhere from wage-slavery to freedom, dignity, and
self-control is the purpose of the world socialist movement.
Socialism is modern free society, based upon cooperative industry,
administered in the equal interest of all. There are no guarantees, of
course, that humanity will ever get there. Global catastrophe is a
real and growing possibility. But it is important to keep the dream
alive and continue to struggle.
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