Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:10 am Post subject: Democratic Socialism!
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IS DEDICATED to fighting for a world free of all exploitation, racism and sexual oppression— a society whose productive resources are democratically owned and controlled by the working-class majority, and where human need replaces capitalist greed.
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Who owns what?
Socialism is the collective ownership by all the people of the factories, mills, mines, railroads, land and all other instruments of production.
Who benefits?
Socialism means production to satisfy human needs, not as under capitalism, for sale and profit.
Who run things?
Socialism means direct control and management of the industries and social services by the workers through a democratic government based on their nationwide economic organization. Under socialism, all authority will originate from the workers, integrally united in Socialist Industrial Unions. In each workplace, the rank and file will elect whatever committees or representatives are needed to facilitate production. Within each shop or office division of a plant, the rank and file will participate directly in formulating and implementing all plans necessary for efficient operations.
Local and national Government
Besides electing all necessary shop officers, the workers will also elect representatives to a local and national council of their industry or service--and to a central congress representing all the industries and services. This all-industrial congress will plan and coordinate production in all areas of the economy.
Democratic Control
All persons elected to any post in the socialist government, from the lowest to the highest level, will be directly accountable to the rank and file. They will be subject to removal at any time that a majority of those who elected them decide it is necessary.
Such a system would make possible the fullest democracy and freedom. It would be a society based on the most primary freedom--economic freedom.
Individual Rights
For individuals, socialism means an end to economic insecurity and exploitation. It means workers cease to be commodities bought and sold on the labor market, and forced to work as appendages to tools owned by someone else. It means a chance to develop all individual capacities and potentials within a free community of free individuals. It means a classless society that guarantees full democratic rights for all workers.
What Socialism is not
Socialism does not mean government or state ownership.
It does not mean a closed party-run system without democratic rights.
It does not mean "nationalization," or "labor-management boards,"
or state capitalism of any kind.
It means a complete end to all capitalist social relations.
http://www.internationalsocialist.org/
Socialism Never tried
Socialism has never existed. It did not exist in the old U.S.S.R., and it does not exist in China. Socialism will be a society in which the things we need to live, work and control our own lives--the industries, services and natural resources--are collectively owned by all the people, and in which the democratic organization of the people within the industries and services is the government. Socialism means that government of the people, for the people and by the people will become a reality for the first time.
How We Can Get Socialism?
To win the struggle for socialist freedom requires enormous efforts of organizational and educational work. It requires building a political party of socialism to contest the power of the capitalist class on the political field, and to educate the majority of workers about the need for socialism. It requires building Socialist Industrial Union organizations to unite all workers in a classconscious industrial force, and to prepare them to take, hold and operate the tools of production. You are needed in the ranks of Socialists fighting for a better world--to end poverty, racism, sexism, environmental disaster and to avert the still potent threat of a catastrophic nuclear war. Find out more about the program and work of the Socialist Labor Party and join us to help make the promise of socialism a reality.
Good idea to elect your industry leaders. The UK is too efficent in the Finance sector anyway. Here in the USA we could get rid of Robert Cole, Mark Pigott, George Bull and Richard Sands. That'll help us get worse to catch up with you.
I've posted three times on this topic and no one has wanted to argue with me. I'm very disappointed, because arguing against socialism is so much fun.
It's been discovered that there is a significant correlation between how happy you are and the degree of capitalism in your society. There's also a high correlation between how well off your believe you will be in the future and the degree of capitalism in your society. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Why shouldn't you be happier in a capitalist society?
Now please.. why exactly would you support socialism? Could it be you're afraid you can't make it in a capitalist society?
(Interesting sources: Johan Norberg and Richard Layard. Read both so you understand why and how they differ on the topic.)
Socialism is by requirement an ideological expression of the discontented. In order to exist there must be discontented, in order to survive there must remain discontented. The National Socialists (Nazis) are a perfect example of both requirements being present in their society, and the results, and they most certaintly DID socialize the German economy.
It is a social construct designed to maintain discontent while appearing to relieve discontent.
I'd rather be capitalist and happy than a socialist drudge. Plenty of surveys have proven capitalism leads to the happiest and most forward looking people.
As far as countries that have tried it, it depends on your definition. By my definition the USA is too closely socialist. By yours, maybe not.
Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 28765 Location: Kentucky , USA
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject:
All I want are unions , health care , child care , aid for students , longer unemployment insurance ,and social security .Not out of any ideology but since they are good for everyone .Gun control , gay marriage ,more prisons , and geting out of Iraq wud be good too .
Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 833 Location: Lancashire
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:41 am Post subject:
Lena wrote:
All I want are unions , health care , child care , aid for students , longer unemployment insurance ,and social security .Not out of any ideology but since they are good for everyone .Gun control , gay marriage ,more prisons , and geting out of Iraq wud be good too .
Come to the UK! Everything is free for illegal immigrants!
House, furniture, car, health care, free specs, dental treatment, free school uniforms, free school dinners, legal aid etc..
Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 64 Location: South Dorset
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:
WiredCoffeeJunkie wrote:
Socialism is by requirement an ideological expression of the discontented. In order to exist there must be discontented, in order to survive there must remain discontented. The National Socialists (Nazis) are a perfect example of both requirements being present in their society, and the results, and they most certaintly DID socialize the German economy.
It is a social construct designed to maintain discontent while appearing to relieve discontent.
I'd rather be capitalist and happy than a socialist drudge. Plenty of surveys have proven capitalism leads to the happiest and most forward looking people.
As far as countries that have tried it, it depends on your definition. By my definition the USA is too closely socialist. By yours, maybe not.
Capitalism is fine locally. It's when you take it global that you impinge on the rights and humanity of others. Profit may encourage optomism, but all too often it is counted without true deduction of all costs, and is therefor an illusion. Profit is only beautiful where it does not detract from the environment and life sustainability, too often it does just that. Lets have Humanity first, then you can have all the other isms to play with!!!.
Capitalism is fine locally. It's when you take it global that you impinge on the rights and humanity of others. Profit may encourage optomism, but all too often it is counted without true deduction of all costs, and is therefor an illusion. Profit is only beautiful where it does not detract from the environment and life sustainability, too often it does just that. Lets have Humanity first, then you can have all the other isms to play with!!!.
Capitalism is only one small aspect of a society. It excels at motivating workers to be productive and it's efficient in allocating resources.
Without enforced sensible laws, capitalism will of course run amok. The days of the India companies are and should remain a history lesson.
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