Capitalism
has become an obsolete oppressive system that ought to be got rid
off. A very small minority at present recognise this and are
consciously anti-capitalist, but the majority of people continue
trying to find solutions within the system rather than by
overthrowing it. So presently there is no real possibility of
overthrowing that system and attempt to do so would degenerate
into futile reformism and/or terrorism, whatever the “revolutionary”
rhetoric. The Left devote themselves to advancing slogans like “Make
the Rich Pay” that imply no intention to abolish capitalism. The
Left is hardly capable of challenging the ruling class for power, let
alone winning that challenge. The confusion of the Left is so great
the likelihood of those existing “left” movements and ideologies
will disintegrate completely means there will be room for something
new and genuinely revolutionary to emerge to open the way for
revolutionary socialists to fight for progress rather than reacting
against capitalism.
It
has been said often enough that there can be no blueprints for the
future because the people themselves will decide how to build the new
society as they are building it. Fundamentally the Socialist Party
agree with that, and refrains from attempting to present any
blueprints. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to put forward a few
broad ideas to discuss what a revolutionary movement might do to
start building socialism. Consistent refusal to do so suggests that
we do not possess an alternative. “No blueprints” is often a
cop-out excuse for “no ideas”. “Revolution”
does not mean that we would “demand” that the multinationals do
this or that. It means that we, the working class take over the
running of industry and make the decisions ourselves. To eliminate
many of the social problems we must to proceed with abolishing the
market economy.
What
is the meaning of workers’ control of production? First, it means
the taking over not of a single industry, but of every plant of every
branch of every industry, by democratically elected committees. It
means the wresting of the means of production, which are the
livelihood of the vast majority of the population, from the absentee
owners. Workers’ control of production is replacing economic
dictatorship with economic democracy, transferring social wealth to
the producers of that wealth, the workers. Those who work on the
production lines , who, together with their families and dependents,
constitute the majority of the country, those who produce the wealth
of the country but who are denied a say in the disposition of that
wealth, those who are deprived of the fruits of their labour – they
should run things. This would eventually eliminate all classes.
The
Socialist Party is not a reform party, but a revolutionary party. It
does not propose to modify the competitive system, but to abolish it.
An examination of its principles shows that it stands unequivocally
for the common ownership and control of all the means of wealth
production and distribution — in a word, socialism. The Socialist
Party is necessarily an world party linked together in the
indissoluble bonds of international socialism. The battle cry of Marx
is heard around the world: “Workingmen of all countries, unite; you
have a world to gain! You have nothing to lose but your chains!” It
is as wide as the domain of capitalism. It is everywhere and always
the same. It takes no backward step. It refuses to be flattered,
bribed, or otherwise deflected from the course mapped out by Marx
and Engels.
The Socialist Party has no interest in any of the
so-called issues over which capitalist politicians fight sham
battles. They care nothing about protectionism and free trade, Brexit
or whatever. It stands first, last, and always for the common
ownership of all the means of production and distribution, and will
press forward unceasingly until they secure them, thereby liberating
the human race. We call upon all who share the sentiments, to join
the Socialist Party in the fight for a new, socialist society.
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