And so a new year has begun. It is necessary to make plans
for a new and better future, according to tradition. One way to judge a theory is its ability to
explain what really happens in the world. Sadly, from recent events of history it’s
difficult for some of us to trust in the ability of the working class to change
society. Most workers, influenced as they are by the politics of reformism, are
unwilling to take this step. To the working class who are witnessing the
destruction of the so-called "welfare state", which had been
abandoned even by the Labour Party, which played a major role in its
establishment, we now have only two roads to follow. Either continue along the
road of capitalism, towards steadily worsening living conditions or choose the
road towards socialism and social security, in the full true meaning of that
phrase.
The capitalist system rests on the exploitation of workers.
By bringing workers together in order to exploit us, capitalism ultimately
gives us the power to overthrow it. Everything turns on the potential of the
working class to gain an understanding of this world and determines to change
it to their own benefit. The future of socialism depends upon the creation of
an independent revolutionary party. We in the Socialist Party of Great Britain believe
that we have made a start at building such a party. The existence of a
socialist party can make the difference between victory and defeat. There
should be no mistake – the stakes are very high. Only the world working class,
by tearing the ownership of global wealth from the grasp of our rulers, can
save humanity from the prospect of environmental annihilation. With socialism,
we can go on to use the world’s resources, and humanity’s accumulated knowledge
and skills to change the face of the world, to create a world in which poverty,
exploitation, and war are only bad memories of the past. The Socialist Party has
no illusions about the scale of the task, or about the limitations imposed by
our size, influence, and talents. We don’t regard ourselves as the Elite, the
bearers of the truth. We know that only the working class can transform
society. We don’t seek to put ourselves in place of that class. We strive only
to make workers conscious of their interests and their power, and to direct that
power at ending the capitalist system. We appeal to all who agree with us to
join us. Together we have a world to win and a planet to save.
2 comments:
I agree with the strategic goal of the SPGB. I try to push the wheel of history in that direction myself. But my tactics include class conscious unionism to back up the socialist ballot and being ok with reforms of the wage system which allow for greater control and social ownership over the social product of labour and the conditions under which we produce it as we gain the assent of the immense majority to actually establish common ownership and democratic control over the collective prouduct of labour.
I hope the SPGB will never try to shoe-horn workers into pre-determined actions in the class struggle.
Your support and sympathy for the WSM (and the blog) has been much appreciated. We hope to receive many more of your contributions over the coming year.
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