It’s them or us!

Our ideas about society, our consciousness, reflect the social environment. Capitalist society never stands still, and so the ideas about it also never stand still. Planning for use would require a tremendous increase in the forces of production whereas fascism is tearing down these forces at an unprecedented rate. There is utter confusion concerning the meaning of planning and the distinction between production inside the factory walls and in society as a whole. Marx drew a distinction between the orderly planning of production inside the factory and the resulting anarchy of production in the whole of society despite this factory planning. True enough, within the sphere of its control, the global corporations introduces some order. As Engels wrote :

“When we pass from joint stock companies to trusts which control and monopolise whole branches of industry, not only private production comes to an end at that point, but also planlessness.”

Capitalism introduces planning of production in an entire sector of economy (each in its own sector), but this still does not and cannot mean control of all economy. Monopolies can in some sense control production for the market (for their own bloated profits), but they cannot control the market itself. The proof of this was the last crisis and the one before that one – and the next one and the one after that. Reformists cannot abolish exchange, the market, competition, crises.

No matter what workers believe or what politicians  whether on the right or the left, say our wellbeing is inconsequential to capitalism’s pursuit of profits. The working class must sacrifice its welfare and the welfare of future generations in order to ensure the comfort and security of the ruling class. Workers,get paid only as much as is necessary for our survival or as much as we can extract (i.e., win through trade union struggles) from the bosses. Our strength lies in the fact that, in spite of all our superficial differences, we all really want the same things — to live happy, productive lives with the goal of providing an even better future for our children. The capitalists try to convince workers that we have to compete amongst ourselves to gain improvements in our lives. That we have to win out over others of our class to rise to the top. But that’s only true as long as we continue to believe we have no right to the full amount of wealth that we produce. And as long as they can continue to blind us to our strength as a unified force with the power to claim all the wealth we produce for ourselves to be shared by all, and for the good of future generations.

The fundamental problem with capitalism is that it can’t increase their profits and our standard of living and protect the planet all at the same time. It’s one or another! Or, more accurately, it’s them or us! The only way capitalism can maintain or increase their profit-margins is to plunder the planet for more resources as cheaply as possible while forcing workers to sacrifice their well-being, the well-being of their children and future generations, for basic survival today. As long as capitalism survives, the Earth’s natural habitat will continue to suffer from capitalism’s toxic and wasteful production practices, endangering the future for all of us. The truth is, we can put an end to this capitalist insanity.

There is a real alternative — an independent, self-organised, democratically-run revolution to ensure the happiness and well-being for all. We can put an end, once and for all, to the system of capitalism because it’s an insane way to use the world’s resources, and inhumane manner to treat the world’s people. In fact, it’s barbaric. And it simply doesn’t have to be this way.

The ruling class wants us to believe that they can do what they want; and that we are powerless over them. The truth is, they are only as powerful as we allow them to be because we massively outnumber them. We all want the same thing, to share the wonders of the Earth, and preserve its bounty for the future. Our hope for the future lies in massive, organised resistance to capitalism’s brutality. Capitalism is all that’s standing in our way of choosing Paradise over Hell.

Harry And Megan. Coming To Live Here!

In Canada there is a million tons of hoopla about the possibility of Harry and Megan coming to live here which seems to have delighted most people. There are those - shame, shame - who speak of them as parasites and there are those who say, ''Not so, they are prepared to do work as opposed to shaking hands and getting paid a fortune for doing so''. 

The truth, if allowed to come in anywhere, will be a bit of both, but so what? If they get jobs it will be high profile stuff which the average Canadian worker could never aspire to. 

Who really needs these people anyway? What are they but public relations and propaganda value to the capitalist class? 

Capitalism is a system that downgrades the individual and hammers home that there are people better than you whom you should look up to, and if you buy into that then your playing their game. So let’s have done with that crapola and aim for a society, which in the words of W.S. Gilbert, in The Gondoliers, ''Where everyone is somebody and no ones’ anybody.''

for Socialism
SPC members & GAC

It Would Be Better To Abolish Capitalism.

Toronto Mayor John Tory, is determined to reduce the level of poverty in Toronto. With the brilliance and clarity of genius, this worthy said, ''Poverty is not a problem that arose overnight and is not one that will be solved overnight. Certainly not by one government alone''. 

Ain't his electors smart?

 He intends doing this by increasing the hours libraries are open, which should please the homeless who sit around in them, to sustain funding to student nutrition programs and reduce the waiting list for city-run recreation programs in low income areas. Also Tory intends giving cheap transit fares to those who incomes, ''Fall below the threshold that is 15 per cent above the federal government’s low income measure.'' 

Now doesn't all that make you feel good? 

But at least Tory does realize poverty cannot be eradicated under capitalism. So given that plain fact of the cash-nexus life wouldn't it be better to abolish capitalism?

for Socialism
SPC members & GA

Are Unions Useless? (1978)

Letters to the Editors from the February 1978 issue

From time to time through the columns of the S.S. you have made the following points:-

1. You warn workers to beware of reforms and illusions.
2. You acknowledge the importance of trade union organisation for the defence of wages and working conditions.
3. You state that taxes is not a working class issue.

Here are my views; would you please comment on them.

1. I agree that workers must become aware of the uselessness of reformist action, which leads me to
2. I believe that the trade unions are as much a part of the state as the DHSS or the Housing Department. Like them they are reformist in as much as they can only secure for the worker that which capitalism will allow. The unions are also a hindrance to the workers’ material advancement and political awareness due to their allegiance to the Labour Party and the concessions they give this capitalist party, on behalf of the workers, by agreeing to and helping the workers to swallow pay restraint etc. They also foster among the workers the notion that people can be led to socialism (the leaders being the TUC and the Labour Party). They would have us believe that the only barrier to socialism is the Conservative party and Idi Amin.
3. You hold the view that wages are a working class issue (hence your support of the unions on this); then how is a tax cut any less a wage rise than say the equivalent amount on your hourly rate?

George McCabe
Glasgow.

Reply

We agree entirely with much of what you say; for example about trade union support given to the Labour Party and Labour government, and the workers’ belief in leadership, but not withstanding all the erroneous policies of trade unions it is not true that union organization cannot serve a purpose useful to the workers.

While it is true, as you say, that trade union action is limited by the conditions of capitalism, that does not mean that the wages and conditions resulting from the struggle are simply what the capitalists would like them to be. If workers gave up organization and struggle entirely their standard of living would certainly be worsened. In Marx’s colourful words ’’they would be degraded to one level mass of broken wretches past salvation”.

When you equate a wage increase with a tax cut you overlook the fact that the worker’s standard of living (the purchasing power of his take-home pay) is the result of the struggle; again quoting Marx, “the respective powers of the combatants”.

This was dealt with in the Reply Taxes and Labour in the January issue.

Editors

Hot Scots

Unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut substantially, researchers say every summer in Scotland could be like 2018 towards the end of the century. The report by researchers from Edinburgh and Oxford universities and Met Office staff analyses UK climate projections. They suggest there is a substantial increase in the likelihood of temperatures reaching 2018's levels between now and 2050.

The Met Office said 2018 was the joint hottest on record for the UK.

A heatwave saw temperatures reaching 30C in parts of Scotland during June and July.

The researchers say the warm weather led to an increase in "staycations" and boosted sales of garden furniture, fans and ice cream.

But they found there were a series of negative impacts which may have been under-reported at the time. They include:

• Foreign holiday operators and indoor recreation businesses suffered
• Fashion retailers reported a drop in profits due to lower sales of coats and jumpers
• An increase in pests like wasps, jellyfish and mosquitoes
• Lower yields of peas, broccoli, potatoes and cauliflower due to water shortages and pests

A 30% increase in water demand, putting pressure on the utility company

Other consequences of the heatwave include:

• A lack of food and water had a significant impact on grouse numbers
• A large number of wildfires damaged newly-planted trees and local biodiversity but could generally be contained
• Whisky distilleries were closed longer than normal due to low stream flow in rivers used for cooling
• Reports that the roof of the Glasgow Science Centre and asphalt on the roads "melted"
• Buckling rails and signal faults caused rail disruption. Rails were painted white to reduce heating and trains had to run at a reduced speed.

Lead researcher Professor Simon Tett, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, said: "Despite its cool climate, Scotland must start to prepare now for the impact of high-temperature extremes. The bottom line is that heatwaves have become more likely because of human-induced climate change."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-51347881

Environment activists are right to argue that the choice of technology should be a matter of public discussion and democratic social decision and not left to capitalist enterprises or government bureaucrats. Where many go wrong is in believing that this is possible within the framework of existing capitalist society. Decisions on the technology are constrained by the capitalist framework 

Capitalism is based on the ownership and control of the means of production by a minority, either privately or through the state. Under capitalism production is carried on to make a profit. Capitalist firms and states compete to sell their goods profitably. If an enterprise can produce its goods cheaper than its competitors it can make an extra profit until they too introduce the cheaper method. There is thus a stimulus under capitalism to continually introduce cheaper methods of production. One business or one nation can win a competitive edge over its rivals if it can cut down on the costs. Environmental considerations only enter marginally (to the extent that other capitalist interests might be harmed by the pollution) into decisions about which method to use. The prime consideration is cheapness, the competitive position and profits of enterprises. As long as capitalism continues this will happen, despite your protests, peaceful or otherwise. It is the logic of capitalism, its law of profit, which dictates this and which all governments must apply or risk hampering the competitiveness of goods produced in their countries.

Environment campaigns divert attention from the need to get rid of capitalism before anything meaningful can be done to tackle the problems of the environment. Our alternative is world Socialism. Already a number of writers on green issues understand that there are no national solutions to the problems of the environment, pollution and waste. The planet forms a single ecological system so it is only on a planetary scale that ecological problems can be solved. Unfortunately, this world consciousness does not go farther than demanding a world government or world bodies to deal with environmental problems, without changing the capitalist basis of society. This is why the solutions they propose can at best only be palliatives; they deal with effects while leaving the cause—the ownership of world resources by a section only of mankind and the production of goods to be sold with a view to profit—intact.

Only when freed from the vested interests of capitalism, can mankind deal rationally with the question of its relationship to the rest of nature. The production of wealth would then be under democratic social control and would be geared not only to satisfying, in accordance with the principle “from each according to abilities, to each according to needs”, mankind’s material needs but also to protecting the environment and sensibly conserving resources.

What could be done on the basis of the common ownership and democratic control of the world’s resources can be sketched (we emphasise that this is not in any way a blueprint). The burning of coal and oil could easily be phased out and, in addition to the development of clean alternative sources of energy such as water, winds, tides, the earth’s heat and the sun’s rays could be properly investigated.

Such a world plan presupposes that commercial and nation-State interests have been swept away and that all the world’s resources, man-made as well as natural, have become the common heritage of all mankind. In short, world Socialism. This is why we concentrate all our efforts towards the spread of socialist consciousness without which socialism cannot be established. Socialism can only be established when working people want and understand it and take the necessary democratic political action to achieve it. We feel that this is a much more worthwhile activity for you who are concerned about the environment than negative and ultimately futile protests at the effects of capitalism. We invite those of you who want to know more about our viewpoint to contact us.

Socialism is not reform, it is revolution

 The man who has money is the master of the world, and in his presence the people prostrate themselves.  The chief aim is to become wealthy, and in these days society is not very particular as to the means you employ in accumulating your wealth. The power of money power now dominates every department of the government.

“What’s the matter with the world?“ Capitalism! What’s the solution? Socialism! 

In building the mass movement to overthrow the capitalist system, the workers have the greatest power to cripple the capitalists. If the workers don’t work, the capitalists don’t profit. Finally, as the only thoroughly productive class in society, as the only class which produces and distributes the things necessary for life, the working class is the only class which literally holds in its hands not only the ability to destroy the old, rotting capitalist society, but the ability to build the new, healthy socialist society. For this reason, the Socialist Party believes that the working class must play its role in creating and developing the revolutionary movement to overthrow capitalism and to replace it with socialism. Some people who call themselves socialists, however, do not believe that the working class will play this active role. Essentially, their position comes down to the old romantic notion of a handful of heroic revolutionists making the revolution for the people rather than the people making the revolution for themselves. They lack confidence in the ability of the people themselves to make a revolution, and who therefore feel that they must do it for them. They called the Socialist Party idealists and utopians because we refuse to go along with their notion.

The Socialist Party proposes to put an end to the rule of capital by abolishing the capitalist class, and transferring the means of production and distribution from private hands for personal gain to common ownership for the welfare of all. The profit system will thus cease to exist, and all industry will be owned and controlled by the people in their collective capacity, organized on a scientific basis, operating with the most improved technology. This will mean economic equality, the basis of the only real civilisation the world can ever know.

All men and women will enjoy access to the necessities of life. Wage slavery will cease. The capitalist master will disappear together. Under the capitalist system the few have enjoyed the fruits of the Earth and the people have been doomed to serve as beasts of burden. The beneficiaries of this system believe that a system under which the few rule and the masses toil and submit to their masters in silence is on the whole a good system. It is a system, however, which has filled the world with unspeakable misery. There is another system under which there is no favoured class, no special privileges, where the earth and the fullness thereof becomes the heritage of the common people. In the socialist system, economic freedom will be established and the brotherhood of man will be inaugurated. The time has come to supplant this system with the cooperative system under which men and women shall work together for the common uplifting of our common humanity.

There are those who say this is a good system. It may be a good system for its beneficiaries, but it is not a good system for the people. If men and women enjoyed economic freedom, if they had equal opportunities this would be a different world — it would be a veritable paradise. The Socialist Party proposes that technology shall become the property of the people. The new technology that was designed to bless the world is, under its present management, its curse. It displaces workers, it starves workers. Whether the good time comes sooner or later, it will come. The working class, the sleeping giant, is already beginning to stir, and when it fully awakens, when it recognises the great power it has in its hands, the whole world will shake. It is only a matter of time.

Reforms Come. Reforms Go. Get Off The Roundabout.

About 1.5 million Ontario workers, or 1 in 5, do not have drug coverage, according to a recent study. This affects mostly visible minorities, young people and recent immigrants in part time employment. This study conducted by the Toronto based Wellesley Institute shows that this is exacerbated by the shift to part time work we've seen in the last few years. To quote, ''Part time workers are often low wage earners and are highly concentrated in the retail trades, accommodation and food services industries which have a high concentration of vulnerable workers in precarious work. A significant portion of part time work is low wage, without benefits and has scheduling uncertainty which creates stress''. 

Ontario's previous Liberal government passed a law that part-time, temp. and casual workers would not be paid less for the same work as full-time workers, which the Ford government rescinded.

So much for well meaning reforms.

for Socialism 
SPC members & GAC

Small Business Worries. What's New?

A survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business revealed that 56 per cent of small business owners said they are worried about future business prospects in 2020. The respondents felt that global trade and international tensions will stunt growth and that Canada is dealing with a weakness in the natural resources area owing to depressed energy prices. 
Furthermore some Canadian businesses took a heavy blow from the 7 day CN Railroad strike in November which disrupted key shipments of agricultural and mining products across Canada. 

Some of these small companies are run by people who are just members of the working class trying to get ahead, but nevertheless, if their companies go bankrupt it will still mean more unemployment. 

Under capitalism nothing much generally changes for workers.

for Socialism 

SPC members & GAC