Saturday, December 05, 2015
For a fair world
Friday, December 04, 2015
Solving Problems
It is necessary, at various stages, to re-examine and analyse the principles, policies and tactics of the World Socialist Movement to consolidate and refresh the ideas. The movement of the working class does not proceed in a straight line. The working class does not come to revolutionary conclusions easily. There is the problem of tactics as tactics, and not as for-all-time strategies. The most vital need for all socialists is a proper sense of history and an appropriate sense of proportion - without these we are lost. Our current strength and resources are extremely small. That has always been our curse. Nevertheless we have not succumbed to the reformist pressure constantly upon us.
As socialists, we supported no capitalist party. Voting for the Conservatives or the Labour Party means supporting both parties’ attacks against the working class and especially the most vulnerable. Capitalism is a decadent system that offers no future for workers. We are ruled by a minority against the interests of the majority.
“That this emancipation must be the work of the working class itself.” says our Declaration of Principles. No small groups of conspirators could bring about the changes we believe are necessary to change the world. This will take the power of the great majority of the people organised determined to introduce socialism. Of course there are some who believe that the people of our country are an unintelligent mass who can’t think for themselves, who will never move against the injustices that beset them daily, and that the fate of the people rests in the hands of a small number of the most intelligent or most courageous and active who will take action themselves without waiting for the “common herd”. According to such people it is inspired leaders who make history and not ordinary men and women. We, in the Socialist Party, oppose to such ideas. We recognise, of course, that some individuals have played a big part in making the history of the world, and there have been influential men and women in the socialist movement, but their ideas have only been effective when the people have been convinced that these ideas are correct, are beneficial for them. So all our efforts are directed towards getting the great majority of the people to right their own wrongs, to take action themselves in their own interests and we have confidence in the ability of the people to do this. We have always argued against those who have a contempt for the people and who take “short cuts” by acts of individual violence or terror which we know from bitter experience do not advance the peoples’ interests but hold them back.
The great majority are ruled by a small minority who, because they own and control the industries, mines, ships, banks, etc., also control the livelihood of the workers who work for them? This small minority is actually a dictatorship which decides, on the basis of whether it is profitable for them or not, whether a man or woman will work or not and how he or she will work. The worker has no say whatsoever in this vital matter.
The objective of the Socialist Party is a classless society where the people as a whole own the means of production (factories, mines, etc.) and where production is for people’s use, not for private profit. The principle of society is “from each according to ability, to each according to needs”. Production will be of such a high level that there are abundant commodities for every member of the community and each member helps oneself according to need.
Thursday, December 03, 2015
No change at the top
Socialism is Freedom
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
A world fit for live in
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
Socialist Standard No. 1336 December 2015
- Editorial: Neither God nor State
- The False Promise That is Jeremy Corbyn
- Pathfinders: Digging Optimism
- Too Little Too Late
- Halo Halo! Seasonal Goodwill, Dodgy Deals and Unreliable Witnesses
- Cooking the Books: You Can’t Buck the Market But You Can Abolish It
- Material World: Burma - More Rounds To Go
- Greasy Pole: Liz and Her Life and Loves
- What is the 'Islamic State'?
- From Political Economy to Vulgar Economics
- Lee Harvey Oswald, ‘Hunter of Fascists’?
- Paul Mason Waits For Godot
- Cooking the Books: Yes, We Have No Economic Policy
- Mixed Media: Mary Barnes
- Book Reviews: 'The Next Revolution', 'The Killing Fields of Inequality', & 'Humanity at the Crossroads - A Political and Humanist Dialogue'
- Proper Gander: Cheapness At a Price
- 50 Years Ago: Christianity or Socialism
- Action Replay: Sadness in the Beautiful Game
- Voice From the Back
- Cartoon: Free Lunch
The power of the people is stronger than the people in power
THE SOCIALIST PARTY, THE GENUINE REAL THING |
Monday, November 30, 2015
Live Long and Prosper
Who owns the North Pole Part 88
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Celtic's Woes
Celtic was founded to help the poor Irish peasantry who fled their homeland in the 19th century following the ravages of an Gorta Mór, the Great Famine, which ravaged the land. The descendants of these people still form the core of the Celtic support and many are also to be found working for the club on low wages or in a part-time capacity. Their love of Celtic and what they think the club represents play a major role in their job satisfaction and loyalty to their employers. For many of the supporters, poverty, multi-deprivation and health inequality remain significant factors in their day-to-day existence.
The Socialist Movement
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Something can be done
Friday, November 27, 2015
Common Ownership
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Europe's Shame
PRESS RELEASE ON TRADE UNION BILL (EC STATEMENT)
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Socialism and the Socialist Party
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Why socialism?
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Republican Ideal
"Mississippi Yearning" is an article in The Toronto Star, October 19, that describes that the state is America's poorest and sickest state but where, unbelievably, opposition to Obama's health care reforms are fierce. A comment in a barber shop gives some indication of the level of understanding of health care, "Nobody should be handed high quality (health care) coverage simply because they happen to live in America. If you want insurance, get a damned job and pay for it. That's the way I look at it, it's not my job or anyone else's job to pay for their insurance." Unfortunately that's a pretty typical attitude showing a complete lack of understanding of the situation. Presumably he is quite happy to drive on roads that somebody else has paid for and will accept government social programs. Eighty- nine per cent of those who have fallen into the 'health coverage gap' are from the South. The Republican ideal scores heavily in such areas of extreme ignorance! John Ayers
Worker V Capitalist
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Gaining Consciouness
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Right now there are hundreds of campaigns globally for fossil fuel divestment as a strategy in the fight against climate change. Many are pr...