Editorial Comment
This publication supports no political party in this country, also we do not support any existing social system practised in the world.
We are the offspring of the Socialist Party of Great
Britain, and its
companion parties in America, Australia Ireland, New
Zealand,. and
Austria. We call ourselves Socialist, Although you have
heard this word
before, we shall prove in time, that our conception of
socialism is
completely different from any individual, or organisation
that bear
this name.
As socialists we see the enemy as capitalism, the social
system that
exist throughout the world. We do not preach hate against
individuals
who administer Capitalism. To do this would only reveal
ignorance of
how the system function. Capitalism can only be abolished when
the
majority of people throughout the world desire the change
to
socialism, and take the appropriate action through the ballot
box.
Socialism can not be brought about by violence, therefore we
do not
advocate or support physical force in any form.
It is our job to bring the socialist case here, and let people
realise that
there is an alternative to the present social system. The only
barrier
to socialism now, is the lack of socialist knowledge among the
working
class, we have accepted the challenge of this barrier.
The Task Ahead
We welcome you to this our first edition, and look forward to
a long
and enlightening association. First, let us state clearly what
is our
object, and how we intend to achieve this. The education of
the
working class to their real interest in society, and expose
the bankrupt
social order, under which we live.
We live in a Capitalist society, and this is world wide. The
main
feature of this society is property ownership, buying and
selling. On
the one hand there are those who own all the important things
in the
world, land, factories, mines etc. On the other side the vast
majority
of those who own nothing, except their abilities. By sheer
necessity,
those who own nothing are forced to sell their abilities to
those who
own. On this basis society as it is functions.
From what have been said it is clear that there are only two
classes of
people in capitalist society. Those who own, the Capitalist
class, and
those who sell their skill, the working class. The popular
view of a
middle class is really a myth. The doctor is as much a worker
as the bus
driver, or the street cleaner. Observe, that even doctors have
gone on
strike, to support their demands for more pay, and better
conditions.
Workers income groups are different,but they are still of the
same class.
The conflict between Capitalist (to pay as little as possible)
and
worker (to secure as high a price as possible) is an inherent
feature
of Capitalist society. Nothing that can be said, or done can
reconcile
the opposing interest of these two classes. Those of the
owning class
have clear ideas as to their interest. They however, with
their power
and wealth, and control of the mass media use this to maintain
and even
widen the division within the workingclass. They have done
this with
great success. Their existence depends on this division.
We must remember that society as it is today does not mean
that it was
always so. There was a time when men lived as slaves, they
changed from this
became serfs. They again changed, to the present system of
wage earners.
We Socialist believe and events the world over supports us,
that the
time is ripe for another change. Our present social system has
outlived
its social usefulness, it is now a hindrance to mankind. Most
people
sense that something is fundamentally wrong with the world,
but can’t
name it. That unnamed thing really is, trying to operate a
social
system that is no longer in harmony with world
condition.Things are
produced only if they can realise a profit, not to satisfy
human need.
Observe the vast areas of poverty alongside pockets of wealth.
Capitalism has done much in the improvement of productive
methods for
man. It is quite hopeless at distributing this wealth it can
create.
Socialists advocate a system of society where each will
contribute to
production and partake freely of their needs. Sound fantastic?
We have heard
that before, just think for a moment of the fantastic things
we have
come to accept as normal under capitalism. It is now quite
normal for
thousands of people to starve to death, as we have seen in one
time
Biafra, while farmers in America are paid not to cultivate
their land.
Capitalism distort the vision of a future society We can only
see a
different system in terms of our present one.
Socialism can only function on a world wide basis, it cannot
and does
not exist in any country. Russia is just as capitalist a
country, as a country like
America. The constant reference to Russia as a Socialist
country, only
serves to confuse the issue of what socialism is.
The
attainment of socialism might almost seem a hopeless task, but
the
gradual development of Capitalism itself will make people
realise that
Socialism is not only possible, but necessary. The great
mental
problems that are evident in the developed countries, more
people are
going mad, there is widespread frustration and a deep sadness
that seems
to dominate peoples life. Even pleasures have been turned into
a way of
escape. All these things are becoming more noticeable in our
own
society.
The task ahead is difficult indeed, so much distortions, and
confusion
to clear up. That is why we need your help, in whatever way
you can.
Read our literature, get to understand fully our point of
view. Apart
from the personal reward that this knowledge will give, you
will be
able to play an historic part in popularising Socialism
throughout
Jamaica. Hard and difficult yes, but so worth while.
Black Power
The rise of the Black Power movement in the United States, its
ideas have spread
around where ever negroes live. It has also invaded this
country,
gaining rapidly mainly among the young.
According to its followers, the poverty that affects the black
masses
is caused by the whites. We hear daily of white exploitation,
and the
desire by the Black Power advocates to replace this by black
exploitation. Now, will this make the exploitation any more
worthy? Will the advent of Black Power (whatever that is)
create jobs for the
unemployed? Will they secure a better price for the fading
sugar
industry. Except for a change of boss, how different would the
life of
the man street be?
Under the searching light of reason Black Power turns out to
be nothing
more than another racist organisation. Designed to gain power
for a
few, by exploiting the ignorance of the majority. Those who
are really
interested in solving the desperate poverty we see around us,
should
think carefully, before they fall victim to cheap
emotionalism.
The problems of black people is not caused by whites, there
are whites
in developed countries like America, and England who are just
as
poverty stricken as people are here. It is the social system
that
people the world over live under, that make poverty and other
things a
part of man’s life. There is only one race, that is the human
race, let
us realise that we must all work together or the enemy may
never be
destroyed.
Who is Boss?
Have you ever thought of how prices keep rising, and the
government
seem powerless to do anything about it? Ever since devaluation
things
seem to go up by the day. It is a curious thing how at
election time
politicans keep telling us how prosperous we would all be if
they only
got in power. When this power is achieved, they start telling
us how
they have no control over some things.
Remember how the present government made a great deal of noise
of the
slum conditions in the ’62 elections, when they were the
opposition?
Observe that over the past eight years despite an apparent
rise in the
general standard of living for some, the gap between rich and
poor
remains, and widens. How come these things are so? Politicans
are not
in charge of things as is widely believed. It is capitalism
that is in
charge of them! They are elected to administer a system rigged
with
contradictions and not in the interest of the majority. They
can do
nothing to change this, regardless of their good intentions.
There is
no political conspiracy against the poor, it is the system
that makes
poverty inevitable.
Discover the nature othe capitalist system, realise that your
problems
and the others all round the world can’t be solved within it.
Understand
that it does not matter how clever, or educated your leaders
are, they
are helpless in doing anything fundamental about conditions.
Observe
the performance of Harold Wilson in Britain, he was a
university
teacher in his twenties! Socialism can only come about when
you say so.
It will have to be your free choice.
Reformism or Socialism. A Brief Note
Ever since the effects of Capitalism war, unemployment, race
prejudice
etc. became regular feature of life, various reformist
organisation,
and parties have sprung up. They reason that, if these bits
could be
ironed out the system could function smoothly for the benefit
of all.
Well, after centuries of reform, we still have all the old
problems,
and more. Poverty is just as evident today, as it has ever
been.
Socialists know that Capitalism can never be reformed to serve
the
interest of all, because conflict is an inherent part of it,
we are
interested with its abolition.
Many of these reformist parties have called themselves
Socialist, or
Communist. This have only helped to distort what Socialism
really is,
and add confusion to working class thinking. They are busy
fighting the
effects of Capitalism, and every defeat seems to have the
wrong effect,
they seem encouraged for the next. The problems of the world
cannot be
remedied within the Capitalist system. History has condemned
reformism
as a futile venture.
All the necessities are here to start a new social order, more
in
harmony with our development. Socialists say that nothing less
than
production for use is worth any effort. Why should the
majority of
mankind spend all their lives worrying about their material
need, when
the knowledge to produce enough for all exist? Reformism has
been a
failure, the more evident this becomse to people the better
are our
chance of achieving our goal, quickly.
(Kingston, 1970)