From the November 1998 issue of the Socialist Standard
- The resources to produce what we need are owned by the rich 5 percent, while the remaining 95 percent of us do all the work.
- These two groups, or classes, are always going to be at loggerheads because of it.
- This dispute will only be settled when we 95 percent organise and abolish class ownership, and run a democratic system of communal ownership instead.
- When we do this, there will be no further oppression of any sort.
- But we must do it ourselves, without leaders.
- Since we can’t fight governments and armies, we must organise to take them over by political means and abolish them along with ownership by the rich.
- We must oppose any party which wants to keep or reform the present system, no matter how well intentioned.
- The World Socialist Movement calls upon all workers to organise to do this, in the interests of themselves, their children, and the future of the planet.
I'm always a sucker for a Socialist Standard article which shares its title with the title of an Orange Juice compilation album - bought it on vinyl and cassette back in the day.
ReplyDeleteDid you guess what it was? A simplified, potted version of the SPGB 'Declaration of Principles'. It's not my cup of tea but I understand that many SPGBers have beaten themselves down the years about the old-fashioned language and terminology of the D of P. Many have wanted to update it but the alternatives have not been up to par by comparison. What the next suggestion? An updated D of P as a series of memes? It could work in the 21st century. ;-)