Party News from the April 1999 issue of the Socialist Standard
No to Holyrood, No to Westminister, Yes to World Socialism
Holyrood Hysteria
The press and television are screaming at us about the importance of this first Scottish Parliamentary election.
“The most important event of the century . . . ”
“A moment of destiny that will change all our lives for ever.”
It’s all nonsense of course. The day after the election we will find that it is business as usual.
Men and women of the working class will return to the office, the factory or the hospital where we work for a wage or a salary. That is those of us “lucky” enough to have a job. The same round of work, insecurity and poverty will continue irrespective of the make-up of the new parliament in Edinburgh.
Why We Are Standing
THE SOCIALIST PARTY is taking this opportunity to reach out to as many workers as possible. We are not after your unthinking support. We do not want your vote unless you understand that the present system of society—capitalism—cannot be made to run in the interests of the majority.
We want you to consider an alternative society to the present production for profit rat-race that is capitalism. We want you to look at present-day society and ask yourself: does it operate in your and your family’s interest?
Let’s look at this society and see how it operates against the majority and only favours a tiny handful of wealthy owners.
The Present Rat-Race
The whole purpose of producing anything today is to sell it and make a profit. No profit, then no production. That is why so many live in sub-standard housing while building workers are unemployed. That is why people throughout the world are undernourished while farmers are paid not to grow food.
Production for profit means that the world is armed to the teeth. Billions are spent on armies, the whole purpose of which is to protect markets, trade routes and sources of raw material.
Wars are inevitable under capitalism. Capitalism is based on competition, and the logical outcome of global competition is military violence.
Our Opponents
At this election you have a wide choices of parties. Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Nationalist, Green, even some calling themselves “socialists”.
There are many differences in their policies, but what have they all got in common? They want your vote on the basis that they could run the system better or more fairly. Despite their differences they all want to run the buying and selling system of capitalism, and this applies as much to the “left” as the out and out supporters of capitalism.
This system is based on the production of all wealth by the working class for a wage or salary. The owning class live off the unpaid labour of the working class.
To talk of “fairer” capitalism is like talking of “fairer” robbery.
What Is To Be Done?
As capitalism cannot work in the interest of the majority, it must go. It must be replaced by a new society based on common ownership and democratic control. There must be production to meet people’s needs instead of production for profit. We must all be free to take what we require to satisfy our needs, without being rationed as today by the size of our wage packet or giro cheque.
This new society can only come about when a majority want it and are determined to get it. Nobody can bring it about for you.
So it’s up to you, not the politicians. The future is in your hands, not theirs.
If you agree with the aims of THE SOCIALIST PARTY you will vote for our list, if you are interested in the ideas of socialism you will contact us.
About Ourselves
THE SOCIALIST PARTY was formed in 1904 with only one object: the abolition of the wages system and the establishment of a society based on common ownership and democratic control.
As part of the world socialism movement, we want a democratic world without frontiers or separate “nation-states”.
We campaign to get workers to say no to a society based on profit, privilege and competition and yes to a society based on equality, cooperation and meeting people’s needs.
THE CANDIDATES ON OUR LIST ARE: Hugh Armstrong, Richard Donnelly, James Fleming, James Robertson, William Ross, Henrietta Vallar, Victor Vanni.
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