Election Manifesto

*EVER THOUGHT OF DOING IT YOURSELF?*

Our world contains massive resources ---raw materials, systems of

manufacture, communications technology, sophisticated transport. Enough to

give everyone a comfortable and fulfilling life.

It is also beset by perennial problems ---constant war, never-ending poverty,

economic and other kinds of insecurity. Life is becoming more and more

commercialised and people are increasingly isolated from each other, with

drug abuse and mental illness on the increase. The standard of living may

have risen a little for some, but the quality of life deteriorates.

Why don't we change our world so that we have the benefit of those resources

without the problems?

*“How can we do that?”*

By holding the resources in common and using them directly to serve

everyone's needs instead of just creating ever greater profits for a tiny

minority. Genuine socialism – a moneyless society of free access to goods

and services

*“So, we vote you in and you create this wonderful world for us. Why should

we trust you to do that?”*

Please don't, we can do absolutely nothing for you. (Ask yourself how many

political parties are prepared to say that!) The new society can only be

created when a majority of people like you actively decide to do so. You can

use the Socialist Party as an instrument of democratic revolutionary change

but you are yourselves in control of what happens.

*“Isn't this all fantasy politics? People are too selfish to put everything

at risk for the sake of pie in the sky.”*

Stick to the case you know best – yourself. Are you too selfish to realise

that your own interests can be advanced by making an alliance with others and

pursuing joint interests? Are you not sufficiently open-minded to consider

alternatives to our present social arrangements? Prove that you can do this

by taking advantage of our offer of a free subscription to the Socialist

Standard. Do it for yourself.

*“Hasn't all this been tried and shown not to work?”*

No. Small political minorities have tried concentrating resources in the

hands of the state and just continued the profit system in another form.

Instead, we are talking of a world where we all democratically decide how to

use those resources directly for our own benefit.

*“This is all a long way off. In the meantime, shouldn't left-wing

organisations sink their differences, defend working people against attacks

on their living standards and eventually work towards a socialist

society?”*

We all have to live in the here and now, but how far off socialism is depends

on when people are prepared to take action to establish it. More than a

century of attempts by the left to reform capitalism has shown that none of

its major problems can be removed. So, be clear about this: if you do nothing

about socialism now, the meantime lasts forever. You will be putting off for

all time the greatest advance that human society could ever make.

*IF NOT NOW, WHEN?*

ISLINGTON JUNCTION:

Bill Martin

RICHMOND BARNES:

Adam Buick

SOUTHWARK BOROUGH AND BANKSIDE:

Kevin Parkin