Them and us (2024)

From the April 2024 issue of the Socialist Standard

What the politicians say

• An economy based on production for sale and profit can be made to work for everyone. The workplaces where useful things are made and useful services provided should be owned by rich individuals and private enterprises.
• The owners of these places should alone decide what is and what is not produced. The rule for this should be ‘no profit, no production’.
• Profit should have priority over public services.
• The essential rule should be ‘can’t pay, can’t have’.

What we say

• The present system cannot be reformed to work for the benefit of all.
• Natural resources and workplaces should be owned in common by all of us, not just by a few.
• We can produce enough to provide everyone with a decent standard of living.
• The resources exist to provide decent public services and amenities.
• The aim of production should be to meet people’s needs instead of to make a profit. The operating principle should be ‘from each their best, to each their needs’.
• Access to health care, utilities, food, transport, housing, public services etc. should be free.