In the words of a popular saying of today: “With friends like that who needs enemies?" If there is one group of people who are entitled to shout "you can say that again." that group is the membership of the World Socialist Movement. For certainly it is doubtful that all of the enemies of socialism, combined, have done as much to damage the image of socialism as the friends, even most of those who call themselves socialist or communist. In the minds of most, the "left wing" is made up of liberal socialists and communists while the “right wing" is the conservative and reactionary
And yet, when you examine the situation closely, there is not much difference between the left and the right, even the extremes. Certainly there is much more of a common nature to left and right than there is between left and scientific or Marxian socialism. Once one has disposed of or disregarded the contrasting slogans and catchwords the common denominator comes into view.
For example: both left and right, in all of their variations, advocate the wages system. The avowed defenders of capitalism, the rightists, prefer that wages come from private rather than government sources although they recognize the need for at least a good percentage of government employment and control. Most of those who consider themselves socialist or communist advocate either all - out government control over wages or, at least, what they call a mixed economy. Franco Spaln and Greece under the military Junta are examples of rightist regimes; Russia and China can be regarded, generally, as all-out government controlled economies; Sweden and England Illustrate the so-called mixed economy.
Yet, insofar as the worker is concerned. all that really differs about Spain and Greece, Russia and China. Sweden and England, or even America, are the labels used. Wages, in the final analysis, are wages, and will not stretch further even when the boss calls you "comrade.”
Another common tie that binds left and right is their attitude to war. Neither opposes war, in fact both openly support it. True, they are sometimes found on opposite sides in a particular conflict. Sometimes, because there have been many wars when so-called uncompromising enemies have been comrades-in-arms Examples that come readily to mind were World War II and the present-day Arab-Israeli continuing conflict The Mid Eastern war, in fact, finds professed leftists and professed rightists united on both sides. A mess of confusion if ever there was one. And as far as the war in Vietnam is concerned, it is supported by both left and right with the left, generally, on the side of the Viet Cong and North Vietnam, in opposition to Saigon and the United States. Not that these lines are clearly drawn, either, for many openly capitalist governments, such as the French, are by no means friendly to American efforts in Southeast Asia.
There is little in common, then, between the so-called left and the World Socialist Movement. True, one reads and hears the phrases and slogans of Marxism, a terminology the left takes much delight in. But in the mouths and the journals of the left these phrases and slogans are not remotely connected with world socialism. Would you put this assertion to the acid test? On your first opportunity ask the professed revolutionaries who, in their words, are out to smash capitalism the following question:
Are you advocating the immediate abolition of the system in which goods and services are produced for sale on the market with view to profit? Is this what you mean by smashing capitalism? Are you interested in the immediate establishment of a system of society based upon production for use, where all mankind will have free access to all that is in and on the earth?
We wager the self-styled revolutionaries will brand you a "utopian" and will advocate more of what we now have, with different labels and with different leaders — themselves Don’t be fooled by leftists. Get acquainted with socialism.
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