Editorial from the March 2000 issue of the Socialist Standard
Most people throughout the world believe that socialism has been tried and failed. They refer to the former USSR, China and Cuba. But these were—and are—capitalist states.
So what is socialism? It is a world where goods are produced to satisfy social needs rather than for profit; a democratic world system in which each person contributes their abilities to society and takes what they need to live in comfort. No borders or frontiers; no social classes or leaders. No buying or selling, no money or wages. A world of free access.
It's clear that this type of social system has never yet come into existence. Numerous people, such as Marx, Engels, Morris, etc, who developed the theory of socialism, would have stood firmly opposed—as real socialists do today—to those who describe socialism as anything less than what is outlined above.
Obviously the cynic and reformer will think socialism is a utopian dream. However, it's those who believe the manifold problems we face today can be solved under the auspices of capitalism, whatever cloak it wears, who are the utopian dreamers.
Why are thousands living on the streets when there's a glut of empty houses and thousands of unemployed building workers? Why are people allowed to suffer and die waiting for hospital treatment while there's no shortage of resources being allocated to the armed forces, which exist to kill people, not to cure them. Why is food locked way in cold storage or dumped as garbage while around the world over 40,000 children under five die daily of hunger and disease?
The UN and WHO have both reported that food, clean water and medicine could easily be available to all except for the constraints placed upon producers by the demands of the capitalist system.
Total world military spending, as always, is increasing in prepartion for war. At present it stands at £750 billion; equivalent to the annual incomes of the world's poorest people. Wars have causes—power struggles, trade routes, markets and spheres of influence; alienation, environmental and ecological destruction are all effects with a capitalistic cause too.
Is capitalism the social system that you want to live under? That you want your children to inherit? That you think cannot be changed and is the best that there is or can ever be? Socialists do not. "Imagine' there's no countries" as John Lennon sang. "Nothing to kill or die for". Imagination only needs consciousness for it to become reality.
In many countries throughout the world, ordinary people have formed the World Socialist Movement. There are no leaders, and decisions are arrived at through fully democratic means, rather than the sham that all capitalist politicians call democracy today.
If you know a better alternative than this, please tell us. If not, join us!
Most people throughout the world believe that socialism has been tried and failed. They refer to the former USSR, China and Cuba. But these were—and are—capitalist states.
So what is socialism? It is a world where goods are produced to satisfy social needs rather than for profit; a democratic world system in which each person contributes their abilities to society and takes what they need to live in comfort. No borders or frontiers; no social classes or leaders. No buying or selling, no money or wages. A world of free access.
It's clear that this type of social system has never yet come into existence. Numerous people, such as Marx, Engels, Morris, etc, who developed the theory of socialism, would have stood firmly opposed—as real socialists do today—to those who describe socialism as anything less than what is outlined above.
Obviously the cynic and reformer will think socialism is a utopian dream. However, it's those who believe the manifold problems we face today can be solved under the auspices of capitalism, whatever cloak it wears, who are the utopian dreamers.
Why are thousands living on the streets when there's a glut of empty houses and thousands of unemployed building workers? Why are people allowed to suffer and die waiting for hospital treatment while there's no shortage of resources being allocated to the armed forces, which exist to kill people, not to cure them. Why is food locked way in cold storage or dumped as garbage while around the world over 40,000 children under five die daily of hunger and disease?
The UN and WHO have both reported that food, clean water and medicine could easily be available to all except for the constraints placed upon producers by the demands of the capitalist system.
Total world military spending, as always, is increasing in preparation for war. At present it stands at £750 billion; equivalent to the annual incomes of the world's poorest people. Wars have causes—power struggles, trade routes, markets and spheres of influence; alienation, environmental and ecological destruction are all effects with a capitalistic cause too.
Is capitalism the social system that you want to live under? That you want your children to inherit? That you think cannot be changed and is the best that there is or can ever be? Socialists do not. "Imagine' there's no countries" as John Lennon sang. "Nothing to kill or die for". Imagination only needs consciousness for it to become reality.
In many countries throughout the world, ordinary people have formed the World Socialist Movement. There are no leaders, and decisions are arrived at through fully democratic means, rather than the sham that all capitalist politicians call democracy today.
If you know a better alternative than this, please tell us. If not, join us!
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