[Marxism] World Socialist Party (or movement)

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Does anyone know about the world socialist party? I have been to their
web page but want members of this list comments.
_____________
Go to:
http://www.worldsocialism.org/introduction/others.html

"Founded in 1904, the World Socialist Movement is unique in maintaining
the original principles of Marx."
__________

You can answer this yourself by reading Marx: "The Communist Manifesto"
(including its programmatic demands) and "Socialism, Utopian and
Scientific." Then look at any of Marx's historical writings.

Answering what this group is about is answering why it is so wrong. It
is wrong on everything except that socialism would be a good thing.

There is perhaps one simple answer to them. They want socialism, but
ignore or denigrate every step towards it. If only we would ignore the
real struggles of people against capitalism and simply declared for
socialism. They are opposed to fighting against all reforms whether
minor, immediate, transitional, whatever. It is all a waste of time.
"Socialism" is not only the final answer to every issue; it is also the
immediate answer. Don't fight for reform, vote for socialism.

To any issue, they have one answer: socialism.

Fight against the landlords: socialism; against war--don't form
organizations and demonstrate: socialism; racial oppression, oppression
against women, against gays, other minorities: socialism

Apparently socialism will come about all at once throughout the world
through parliamentary elections. The world socialist party (or
movement) believes capitalist state's elections, as presently
structured, are to be used to vote socialism in. You see, to even fight
for election reform itself, according to these folks, is a no-no. In
the U.S., this means they accept all the rules of the U.S. election
system. Perhaps they also believe that if we talk enough about
socialism that they present rulers of the U.S. will change the laws
themselves through good will--influenced by all the rest of us--and
create election rules allowing us to vote socialism in.

If that were so, perhaps we already have socialism or something very
much like it. All that is necessary is for everyone to change his or
her ideas and vote.

They criticize a number of groups. Examining this criticism, the group
they are closest to appears to be the De Leonite Socialist Labor Party
(the group they probably came out of). And what is their main criticism
of it? That the SLP believes that socialism will come about if it is
elected to office in the United States. Since that wouldn't be
worldwide--it wouldn't be socialism.


from Brian Shannon








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