Socialism is Ours for the Taking

Under capitalism goods are produced for the market, that is, they are commodities. Included in commodities is a special commodity, labour power, which is also bought and sold in the open market. The price of labour power takes the form of wages. These wages are supposed to be enough to allow the labourer to purchase the necessities of life which can reproduce the labour power lost at work. 

Under capitalism there are private owners of the factories, mills, mines and other means of production, and workers must sell their labour power to the capitalists for wages. However, when the workers in the factories and other places of production work for the capitalists, they produce much more value than they receive in the form of wages. This surplus value included in the whole product of the factory is the property of the capitalist and becomes his profit.

The capitalist is in business for the profit and does his best to increase the mass of profit and the rate of profit. He can do this either by winning more markets or by reducing the cost of production or by speeding up the circulation of his capital, or all these. In short, in order to increase his profit the capitalist must expand his business and produce more stuff at lower cost. To do this he must accumulate capital and reinvest part of his profits back into the business. This accumulation of capital is the basic law of capitalism. Because of it, the factories grow larger, the industries become greater, little business turns into big business in this in turn develops into huge multinationals and corporate conglomerates. The chief method by which the capitalist can lower the cost of his production is through cheapening the value of labour power. This is done by introducing new machinery which can enable the worker to produce an ever-increasing quantity of goods in less and less time and with the same effort. Thus the introduction of machinery which increased not only the actual production but also the productive capacity of industry had two effects: if the market did not expand as rapidly as production increased, then workers were thrown out of work.

It is plain that poverty and inequality will never end so long as there is capitalism, and that to fight the misery means to fight to overthrow the capitalist system. Let the workers unite their mighty strength together to get rid of the parasitic system that condemns them in the midst of plenty to hunger like beggars for a crust of bread. Let us not hesitate to organise our strength together and take what belongs to us. Only the end of capitalism will give any degree of security or comfort. The workers can accomplish that mighty job, the biggest job any class of people ever tackled, only if they prepare themselves.

All economic obstacles to development will be abolished under the new system. Thus, the application of machinery, which under capitalism is determined by considerations of profit, under the new system will depend entirely upon productivity, sustainability and environmentally friendly. Technology which may be very useful for saving labour is very frequently useless from the standpoint of capitalist profits. In socialist society such a point of view will not prevail and there will therefore be no obstacles to the application of labour-saving machinery.

We stand for socialism: a new system in which the people own in common and collectively control the economy, through various social institutions of the widest democracy. We stand completely  opposed to the reactionary systems of exploitation of man by man. Capitalism is an outlived system whose life-blood is private profit and oppression, whether or not represented as free-enterprise or the “welfare state” administered by liberals or self-styled “socialists.” It perpetuates poverty, unemployment, racism, and national conflict. Socialism is our opportunity for a new world of freedom, peace and security. Socialism is liberty.

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.