Socialism means the complete transformation of society. It is not state ownership, nationalisation or government management of industry. It is a society in which the means of producing and distributing wealth are held in common by the whole community and democratically controlled. Production would take place directly for use and not for sale. Money, wages, buying and selling would be abolished and replaced by free access to the goods and services people need. In such a society there would be no classes, no rich and poor, no employers and employees and no exploitation of human labour.
The emancipation of the working class must be the conscious act of the working class itself. Socialism cannot be introduced by leaders, parties or experts on behalf of an uncomprehending population. It requires a clear majority of workers who understand what socialism is, why capitalism cannot be reformed and who are determined to establish a new system of society. Political power currently rests in the institutions of the capitalist state. When a socialist majority exists, it must use the democratic process to gain control of these institutions in order to prevent the capitalist class from resisting the change and to formally abolish private and corporate ownership of the means of production.
Other political parties offer reforms within capitalism. They promise better wages, cheaper housing, improved public services and fairer management of the economy. Yet generation after generation the same problems persist. Reforms do not remove exploitation because they do not change the basis of society. So long as workers must sell their labour and employers must pursue profit, inequality, insecurity and social conflict will continue. Reforms may modify conditions temporarily but they cannot abolish the wage system or end class society.
The Socialist Party exists solely to achieve socialism. We stand for the abolition of capitalism worldwide and for a society based on common ownership, democratic control and production for use. We reject all forms of reformism, nationalism and leadership politics. We do not seek to manage capitalism and we will not form alliances with parties that support it. Our purpose in contesting elections is to present the case for socialism, to encourage working class understanding and to build the conscious majority necessary for fundamental social change.
A vote for the Socialist Party is not a request that we run capitalism in a different way. It is a declaration that capitalism itself is the problem and must be replaced. It is a statement that working people must take control of society for themselves and organise consciously and democratically for a new system.
Every election offers the same false choice between rival groups of politicians who all accept the continuation of capitalism. The real choice is between a society based on profit, exploitation and insecurity and a society based on cooperation, equality and human need. The Socialist Party stands for the second.
Do not vote for new masters.
Organise for a new system.
Vote for socialism
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