Capturing Political Power

“Beside the bourgeois democratic candidates there shall be put up everywhere working-class candidates, who, as far as possible, shall be members of the League, and for whose success all must work with every possible means. Even in constituencies where there is no prospect of our candidate being elected, the workers must nevertheless put up candidates in order to maintain their independence, to steel their forces, and to bring their revolutionary attitude and party views before the public. They must not allow themselves to be diverted from this work by the stock argument that to split the vote of the democrats means assisting the reactionary parties. All such talk is but calculated to cheat the proletariat. The advance which the Proletarian Party will make through its independent political attitude is infinitely more important than the disadvantage of having a few more reactionaries in the national representation!!” Karl Marx

The Socialist Party concurs with the attitude of Marx, and it is a great shame that we cannot contest every constituency in the country. Until that time when there is no Socialist Party candidate standing - Spoil your ballot paper with a write-in for "world socialism".

 As the General Election on the 12^th of December draws near, all parties are using their resources to the utmost in the effort to persuade the workers that one or other of the programmes put forward will solve the difficulties that face the workers to-day. These  parties seek to remedy the most glaring evils yet still leave unaltered the present basis of society.

To the workers who read this blog we would ask, ‘Are you satisfied to let things go on in the same old way?’ 

You are slaves to-day because you allow your masters to own the things you produce and thereby control your lives. Your masters take no part in production, yet they take what you have produced. In return for the labour you spend in the field, the factory and the workshop you receive, at the best of times, only a beggarly pittance that does little more than keep you alive and enable you to bring up children to replace you in slavery. Even when in work you are always watchful lest, through no fault of your own, you lose your job. Out of work, your lot is miserable indeed—often a more or less rapid journey to the grave through insufficient nourishment. In numbers you are the overwhelming majority of the nation, and yet you hand over to a relatively small group of masters the product of your work. There is no common interest between you and your masters within the present social conditions. It is their interest to extract from you as much wealth as you can produce for the lowest outlay in wages, as by this means they wax wealthy. It is your interest to obtain possession of the means of production with which you produce wealth in order to produce wealth for your own benefit. Do not heed the smooth-tongued orator who would tell you to work in harmony with your masters for your mutual benefit. The capitalist lives by the exploitation of the worker. Between exploiter and exploited there can be no harmony of interest. When exploitation as a system is done away with, then there will be neither exploiter nor exploited.

Between you and the possession of the means of production stand the laws of capitalism, and behind these laws stands the State—the organised oppressive power of the ruling class. Before you can obtain control of the means of production you must, as a first step, capture the State power. This State power is centred in Parliament and the group in a majority in Parliament has the power to control society.

If you wish to get out of slavery, to send delegates to Parliament to capture the control of affairs. In choosing your MPs, you must remember it is servants you want, not masters nor leaders.

The Socialist Party is a political party of working men and women organised together for the purpose of getting control of political power in order to introduce socialism. Its parliamentary candidates arc selected as fitting tools for the job. Its members control the party throughout and determine, by majority decisions, the policy of the organisation. This policy is set forth in all the literature the party publishes. The party is, controlled entirely by its members and is not at the beck and call of either a place-hunting individual or a group of self-seekers.

If you are tired of the chains of slavery, join the party and thereby give us your aid in the work of speeding out of existence the system that oppresses us all. The Earth and its fullness is for no person’s private possession. Let the workers of the world determine that it shall be for the equal benefit of all.

Presenting the argument for socialism

It is of importance that the Socialist Party’s case should be made as widely known as possible, in particular our opposition to all other parties. The control of the political machine by a socialist working class means the enacting of common ownership—that is socialism. The socialist society will be carried on by the workers, whose common interests will be expressed territorially and industrially and in every field. The production of wealth will result from the organisation of industry arranged democratically by a socialist population. The capitalist system has now outlived its usefulness, and the capitalist class has become an unnecessary class. The class can be dispensed with and the system replaced with advantage to the working class, who are the great majority and can impose their will when they choose to do so. That is the basis of socialism. No other basis is needed. We are out for the abolition of capitalism, because an investing class is a privileged and totally superfluous class.

Capitalism divides the human family into two parts: one, a small minority class, claims title to all the resources of the earth — this group is known as the capitalists; the other class in our society, the overwhelming majority of the population, are known, appropriately enough, as the working class.

Since the capitalists claim ownership of all the resources of the earth, either as individuals, private or public companies or through the agency of the State, the workers are obliged in order to live to sell to the owning class the only thing they (the workers) possess, their mental or physical skills. These they sell in return for wages or salaries, which enables them to buy back from the capitalists a portion of the things they have produced.

The sole reason for producing goods under capitalism is to ensure directly or indirectly, for the capitalists, profit. Human needs are of secondary importance. This is true of all the capitalist countries of the world today. It is true of the “western” nations under “private” capitalism and it is equally true of the former ‘communist’ countries under state-capitalism.

Socialist Party candidates for election run on no programme except that which our readers see in our literature, and they would receive, therefore, the votes only of those who want Socialism and reject the programmes of the opposing candidates. The number of persons who want Socialism and would vote for it would, although small, be larger than our enrolled membership.

From its formation the Socialist Party has regarded the contesting of elections as a means of propaganda to be used along with other means of propaganda

We accept Marx’s dictum that the working class must achieve their own emancipation. But Marx, of course, did not mean by this that nothing should be done until the working class as a whole decide upon doing it. If that attitude were correct, then the Socialist Party could not have been formed. The action of forming a Socialist organisation of any kind at a time when "the working class have no desire for Socialism” would, according to such reasoning, "be anti-Socialist action.” Marx, it is interesting to observe, had considered this situation and wholeheartedly agreed with the attitude which the Socialist Party takes up. In his ‘Address to the Communist League’ he wrote:

“Even in constituencies where there is no prospect of our candidate being elected, the workers must nevertheless put up candidates in order to maintain their independence, to steel their forces, and to bring their revolutionary attitude and party views before the public”

The Socialist Party takes the only attitude the working class, conscious of its own position, can assume - contemptuous indifference for the intrigues of its masters for political power. The socialist objective is the only thing that matters to us who are socialists. Its achievement is possible whenever the bulk of our fellow-workers are of like opinion, howsoever the political or other barriers are arranged by our opponents, the capitalist class; and its achievement is not possible while we have a minority, under any conceivable political or social circumstances. To produce that majority is the immediate object of the socialist, by which time the movements of our rulers may have created a position entirely different from the present one in its political aspect. But in those movements we can have no part: they concern them, not us. We know that the economic position of our class is incapable of any essential improvement within the limits of capitalism, and are therefore out for its abolition, and we refuse to stay our hand from that work for anything any section of the masters like to propose for our temporary benefit economically, or for the alleged purpose of facilitating our movement politically. It is thus we make ourselves socialists in the present, and it is thus we shall win socialism in the future.

The present political situation makes more than ever necessary the Party which alone in this country is emphasising the need for conscious working-class action along political lines for the realisation of socialism—the Socialist Party.

Socialism is a form of social organisation wherein the convention governing the production and distribution of all wealth will be the satisfaction of human needs. All the resources of the earth will be the property of mankind as a whole and people will apply their skills and energies to these resources in order to produce the things society needs. Under such circumstances an abundance of all the things we need could be produced and it will not be necessary to find markets in which goods can be sold — for as all (save the young, the aged and infirm) will have engaged in the job of production, so all will take from the abundant wealth available. Money, a measurement of wealth and means of exchange under capitalism, will, in Socialism, be rendered superfluous, hence the humiliation of the wages system, with all the other ugly features of class slavery, will disappear, leaving the simple principle of socialist organisation: from each in accordance with  ability; to each in accordance with needs.

Is such a society possible?

Of course it is! When you consider the organised waste that the ending of the money-system alone will bring you begin to appreciate the great possibilities that lie before us. Think of all the useless functionaries connected with capitalism and essential to that system: we have the capitalists themselves, and their lackeys and flunkeys . . . armies of salesmen, touts, tickmen and agents of all descriptions . . . brokers, bankers, clerks. . . policemen, jailers and prisoners — to give point to the commandments of the system . . . soldiers, sailors and airmen, to fight capitalism’s wars — and, of course, the vast array of civilian brains and brawn necessary to the appetite of the war-machines, not to speak of the loss of human life and energy associated with “civilisation’s” wars. Very little mental exercise will show that we could fill many pages with lists of functionaries necessary only to the maintenence of capitalism.

With socialism all these useless functions will come to an end and the people concerned can begin to make a real contribution to the happiness of themselves and all mankind.

There can be no doubt that freed from the restrictions and organised waste of capitalism the peoples of the world have it within their power to produce their needs, thus opening the door to a full and happy life for all humanity. The question remains, how can the change to Socialism be accomplished?

Capitalism could not continue to exist without the willingness and assistance of the majority of the people whose role in that society is that of wage-slaves. Even more so will socialism require the participation of its people but, by the very nature of socialism such support and participation must be conscious. Only the unqualified and conscious support and participation of the majority of the world’s workers can bring about socialism. The socialist objective will mean freedom as humanity has never before known it; it represents the beginning of the highest form of social organisation that mankind can achieve, hence it demands of those who institute it a knowledge of what it is and how it will function.

Accordingly, the task of the Socialist Party and its Companion Parties overseas, is to use all the means at our disposal to bring about mass Socialist understanding; to build up an organised majority of conscious socialists to the end of gaining control of the state power and converting this from the agent of capitalist exploitation into an instrument of socialist emancipation.

Simply stated, socialism will come about when the majority of the workers of the world realise that they are the people who equip and run capitalism in the interests of their masters and undertake the task of changing the economic foundations of society in such a way as will facilitate the functioning of society in the interests of all, irrespective of race or sex.

Socialism is only as far off as the willingness of the workers to accept capitalism and attempt its reform leaves it. We cannot over-emphasise the fact that there is no bar to socialism now but the lack of socialist knowledge prevailing among the working class.

It is not usual for a political party to ask you to think and to ply you with something really worth thinking about. It is the practice to assure you that the party has your problem in hand and that “ So-and-So”, a “born leader” will collect your vote and put matters right. We hasten to assure you that we have no “leaders” in our ranks; we are an organisation of working men and women tormented by the problems and humiliations of capitalism and eager to enlist your support to banish that system from the earth.

We want to change the system, not our rulers

Capitalism - Good for Some. Bad - for Many Others.

Stats-Canada informs us that September's unemployment rate was the lowest in nearly 40 years at 5.5 per cent. The analysts had predicted that the economy would gain 10,000 jobs, instead it gained 54,000. Most of these were full time jobs and wages increased Stats said, but didn't release any further figures. Sounds great doesn't it ?, but- but- but- there's just one thing: we live under capitalism. 

UNIFOR, which is Canada's largest private sector union, ran the following ad in the Toronto Star: ''Doug Ford's conservatives plan to cut more than $1billion from our children's education. He intends to increase class sizes by nearly 30%, leaving struggling students further behind. As a direct result of Ford's cuts, the province will lose as many as 10,000 teaching positions. He halted construction on three college campuses, eliminating 8,000 spaces for new students. He cut $670 million from the Ontario Student Assistance Program, disproportionately impacting students from low income families. 

Doug Ford says he's for the people, but he's certainly not for our children and grandchildren.'' 

So even if life under capitalism doesn’t sound too bad for some you can always count on it that it’s bad for others.

Canadian comrade.

The Extremes Between Wealth And Poverty.

 Trolling the internet, I came across this little goodie: The Duchess of Cambridge, (one of capitalism's better P.R. creations), was seen with a Chanel, purse which cost $6,225 - a price they justified, because it had a gold and burgundy handle. 

When one considers the poverty in the world, this ridiculous kit bag clearly emphasizes the extremes between wealth and poverty. This is not to suggest they should take it away from Lady rich-bitch, nor to say that everyone would have one in a Socialist society, because within Socialism their would be no great desire for the meaningless symbols of wealth for privilege.

Canadian comrade.

Opting for Socialism

The cause of our misery and poverty is the ownership of the means and instruments of wealth production by the capitalist class. The remedy, therefore, is to dispossess that class of its ownership. It maintains its ownership by virtue of its political control. Its economic domination would cease the moment that the working class captured the political machinery. 

Curiously enough, the working class never seem to discover that it is they who gratuitously give the capitalist class the power to enslave and keep them in bondage every time they go to the ballot-box! It is obvious, then, that the method of recapturing political control is going back to the ballot-box and voting for socialism. While the workers accept the poisonous nonsense that “employers should have a fair profit,” while they swallow the lies and humbug of the labour leaders that the interests of the master class are the interests of the “community,” or ”society,” they will be easily led to vote their masters into possession of the power to rule society. When the working class realises that the way to emancipation lies through organisation for control of the political power. Not until that is assured can the workers own the means of life and operate them for their own benefit. When that lesson is learnt the day of socialism will be dawning.

Capitalism exists today simply and solely because you and your fellow members of the working class, who produce its wealth and endure its miseries, permit it to exist. It is parliament that makes the law and it is the law that says it is legal for capitalists to own Nature’s resources and the tools and instruments of production which the working class have produced. The law further enshrines the right of the owners of wealth production to use their property in their own interests— to produce wealth for sale and profit and not for the satisfaction of human needs.

When there is no profit in employing workers, in building homes, in clothing or feeding the needy the law does not require the owners of society’s means of production to provide these things nor does the law ensure capitalism when its profit needs create the conditions for crime, bad social relationships, violence and war.

In fact the law is made to suit the needs of capitalism and is relevant to the needs of the working class only insofar as such needs are compatible with the requirements of capitalism to disguise its function, keep down social discontent and prevent open rebellion. 

It is for the purpose of getting into parliament and tinkering with laws and their social and economic by-products that you are now been showered with speeches, promises and leaflets by the various candidates and parties. You are being asked to give your assent and consent to the continuation of the very system that denies you even the hope of a full and happy life!

What, then, should you do with your vote in the present election since all the candidates and parties, irrespective of their political labels and speeches support the continuation of capitalism?

Well, let us first tell you about the alternative to capitalism, Socialism, and then see if we can resolve the problem of what you should do with your vote.

As we have shown, it is parliament which makes the law and it is the laws made by parliament that make possible the usurpation of the means of production by the capitalist class and the consequent enslavement of the working class. Obviously, therefore, it follows that if we are to change things the working class must organise for the purpose of electing its own representatives to parliament and making the means of production the property of society to be used solely for the satisfaction of human needs. Socialism is a feasible proposition NOW! 

Its introduction is delayed not by the capitalist class but by you, the working class: it is your political naivety  that prevails against it; your reluctance to look beyond the narrow limits of capitalism that keeps that system in operation. It is your vote that gives it legitimacy and  legality.

When there is no Socialist Party candidate standing and if you accept its case for socialism you will realise that in giving it to any candidate or party in this election you are pledging your support for capitalism; but you can register your disapproval of capitalism by going to the polls and writing across your ballot paper the word “World Socialism”.

But whether you make such a gesture of protest or even simply refrain from voting, what is really important is that you join with us and ensure that next time there will be an effective socialist opposition sufficiently strong locally to challenge the parties of capitalism at the polling stations.