From the August 2024 issue of the Socialist Standard
Diggers Festival in Wigan
‘True commonwealth’s freedom lies in the free enjoyment of the earth‘ (Gerrard Winstanley 1652).
Stripped of his religious, patriarchal views, Winstanley is still relevant today. He saw that:
Freedom has an economic basis and is impossible in a property-based society.
Society is structured to maintain the privilege of a few. Laws are made essentially to defend property and official religion is designed to terrify us into submission.
Buying/selling causes war and keeps us poor.
Winstanley’s answer was much like ours. A society where things are produced purely to meet human need (no form of exchange), where production and distribution are based on democratic, informed consent, and everyone can achieve their full potential.
This is what we mean by socialism. Everyone can have a life of material security – provided the majority takes control of the world’s resources from the capitalist minority.
Even if you came today just for a pint and the music, you might want to consider joining with us to put things right at last.
Leaflet to be distributed at this year’s Diggers Festival in Wigan in September.
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