Posted by David Searles on February 21, 2008 at 16:42:59:
In Reply to: SP? posted by Dave Searles on February 18, 2008 at 09:29:29:
Wally wrote:
The SP has always been a "State" takeover of the economy to run it in the INTERESTS of the working class.. Unless they have changed, and I never read of such a transformation..., I would encourage Dave to be more assured that the SP is in full accord with the principles of a social and economic democracy.
Dave Searles writes:
I have found that the SP is a many things to many people kind of organization - multi-tendency they call it. I do not see them as being statist. A couple of ideas expressed in their principles and platform were enough for me to join:
"Socialism is not mere government ownership, a welfare state, or a repressive bureaucracy. Socialism is a new social and economic order in which workers and consumers control production and community residents control their neighborhoods, homes, and schools. The production of society is used for the benefit of all humanity, not for the private profit of a few."
"People across the world need to cast off the systems which oppress them, and build a new world fit for all humanity. Democratic revolutions are needed to dissolve the power now exercised by the few who control great wealth and the government. By revolution we mean a radical and fundamental change in the structure and quality of economic, political, and personal relations. The building of socialism requires widespread understanding and participation, and will not be achieved by an elite working "on behalf of" the people. The working class is in a key and central position to fight back against the ruling capitalist class and its power. The working class is the major force worldwide that can lead the way to a socialist future – to a real radical democracy from below."
"Democracy in daily life is the core of our socialism. Public ownership becomes a fraud if decisions are made by distant bureaucrats or authoritarian managers. In socialist society power resides in worker-managed and cooperative enterprises. Community-based cooperatives help provide the flexibility and innovation required in a dynamic socialist economy. Workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions. Worker and community control make it possible to combine life at work, home and in the community into a meaningful whole for adults and children."
"The Socialist Party stands for the right of all workers to organize, for worker control of industry through the democratic organization of the workplace, for the social ownership of the means of production and distribution"