"Any
city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the
poor, the other of the rich; these are at war with one another."
- Plato
The
class struggle is a struggle between collective Capital, i.e. the
class of capitalists or employers, and collective Labour, i.e. the
working class. A class is a category with common economic interests,
the interests defining the class. The interests of employers and
workers are diametrically opposed. The capitalists’ interest is to
continue private ownership of the means of production, and to
appropriate as much as he can of the social product (wealth) which is
currently produced by the working class. The working class resist
this process by taking defencive action, mainly through trade unions
and strike action. Their economic interests can only lie in the
removal of the conditions which give rise to this struggle. This
means the abolition of capitalism and the replacement of private
ownership by common ownership (Socialism). It is not possible to
reconcile these opposing interests. The class struggle is an organic
part of the capitalist system of production and consequently is
inseparable from its operation.
The
whole social and economic system rests on the capitalists’ control
of the political machinery. That control in turn is based on the
support of the majority of the population who either actively or by
default vote for political parties who propose to continue and
administer the capitalist method of production. The Socialist Party's
immediate task is to impart socialist knowledge. Capitalism can last
only as long as the majority of the workers are prepared to preserve
it, and as long as it lasts the so-called abnormal periods of
economic blizzards and wars will continue. These crises are normal to
capitalism, and it is the duty of workers to grasp this fact and work
to end this system. The social problems we are troubled with to-day
can be solved only when everyone has free access to the means of
life; when goods are produced solely for use and freely distributed
amongst the members of society. Socialism offers all that is
worth-while to the workers. It is an historical necessity, and it is
in their interests, and we earnestly ask them to give serious thought
to it as the solution to their problems. Only from the workers'
class-conscious political activities can Socialism be achieved, and
war, want and insecurity be banished from the earth for ever.
Mere
resistance to government policies is insufficient as it cannot even
achieve its purpose because it cannot rid the world of capitalism. It
is perfectly clear that the class struggle is ultimately a struggle
for political power, the issue being common ownership vs. private
ownership. There is no half-way house. This is the revolutionary
proposition, and this is the sole issue upon which the Socialist
Party seek political support.
It
is not the function of a Socialist Party to advocate, support, or
oppose, or otherwise participate in reformist issues. This includes
agitation or protest against the withdrawal of any reform previously
granted. Reformist schemes designed to improve
the lot of workers under capitalism can never express socialist
political activity in the class struggle, or have any prospect of
achieving a socialist revolution, and it is a waste of the workers’
time and energy to attempt to improve capitalism. But instead of
workers using their votes to abolish Capitalism, they use the same
vote to keep it going, even if on a temporary reform basis. This is
not in their interests, either in the short or long term, as history
has shown. Whilst the “welfare of the working class” under
capitalism is not worth the effort wasted on trying to enhance it,
the political welfare of the working class is our concern, and
ours alone. This
is why we are hostile to those political parties and groups, be they
right-wing or left-wing, who mislead the workers by pretending that
their real interests lie in making capitalism more comfortable.
Reforms
are not revolutionary, and it is highly debatable whether or not they
are effective in the long or short term. The main point which is
sometimes forgotten is that the introduction or the withdrawal of any
legislative measures endorsing reforms depend ultimately on the will
of the capitalists who control the political machinery. It is they
alone who have the final word, and their attitude will be determined
by their economic and political interests and not on the particular
merits of the reform, no matter what the social need. The
struggle to obtain or retain reforms, i.e. changes in capitalism made
by and through the machinery of government in such fields as housing,
pensions, health, education, , or political activity over prices, and
high rents, is not part of the class struggle, because such activity
accepts and favours the retention of private property. It is no
excuse to justify this on the grounds that the workers are unable or
unwilling to understand socialism, and that their lives should be
made a little easier in the meantime. This is the Gospel of Despair.
By the same political act (the vote) the workers can obtain
socialism. What is lacking is socialist understanding. If that is so,
then it is the plain duty of those who do understand to devote their
entire activity to the spread of socialist ideas. The Socialist
Party does not waste time and energy chasing reforms. It seeks
political power for the sole purpose of abolishing capitalism.
The
struggle for higher wages, etc. is not reformist. It is an aspect of
the class struggle. It is not the will of the capitalist that
determines what wages he shall pay. As the product of labour is
divided into Wages and Profits one cannot relatively expand without
the other relatively contracting. Almost invariably the employers are
opposed to higher wages, or shorter working hours, which is, in
effect, the same thing. More money for less labour. Economic forces
decide this issue. The Strike by workers, the Lockout by employers,
wage increases are gained against the will of the employers, and wage
reductions enforced against the will of the workers. This is open
class conflict. Workers who take part in strike action, either inside
or outside trade unions, are not committed to any particular
political point of view. Anarchists, Socialists, Communists,
Labourites, Tories, will unite for the common objective — not
through choice, but through necessity. They do not have to squander
their votes to get higher wages as is the case with reforms.
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