https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/austerity-death-rate-life-expectancy-flu-uk-a9350346.html

“State ownership of the productive forces is not the solution… neither the conversion into joint-stock companies nor into state property deprives the productive forces of their character as capital… The workers remain wage-earners, proletarians. The capitalist relationship is not abolished; it is rather pushed to an extreme.”  – Engels Anti-Dühring



The aim of the Socialist Party is the general liberation of mankind through the establishment of a class-free, state-free society, embracing the whole globe. The goal is world socialism: the abolition of classes, nations and states on a world scale. Socialism is not an “improved” or “more just” version of the system of wage labour, but a wholly new mode of production



Capitalism is a system of universalised commodity production, in which the individual producers do not possess any of the means of production, political issues arise when the definition is concretised. The political problem here is how to define capitalism in such a way as to give an adequate account of forms of commodity production, other than the traditional private firm. In particular, the state socialist and syndicalist deviations must be countered by showing the capitalist character of workers’ cooperatives and nationalised industries.



The basis of a socialist society must be the common ownership of the means of production and distribution. Machinery, transport, factories, warehouses, mills, mines, communication and the land must all be at the disposal of society. All these means of production must be under the control of society as a whole, and not as at present under the control of individual capitalists or capitalist corporations. What do we mean by society as a whole? We mean that ownership and control is not the privilege of a class but of all the persons who make up society. In these circumstances society will be transformed into a huge working organisation for cooperative production. There will then be no anarchy of production. In such a social order, production will be planned. No longer will one enterprise compete with another; the factories, workshops, mines, and other productive institutions will all be one worldwide workshop, which will embrace the entire global economy of production. If all the factories and workshops together with the whole of agricultural production are combined to form an immense cooperative enterprise, it is obvious that everything must be precisely calculated and allocated.



Socialism is the cooperative organisation of all the members of society that puts an end to exploitation, that it abolishes the division of society into classes. Socialist society frees people from oppression by others. The cooperative character of production is displayed in every detail of organisation. Products will be distributed in accordance to the needs. There will be no classes and if there will be no classes, this implies that there will likewise be no State. Previously, the State has been a class organisation of the rulers. The State is always directed by one class against the other. A capitalist State is directed against the working class . If there are no classes, then there is no class war, and there are no class organizations. Consequently the State has ceased to exist. Since there is no class war, the State has become superfluous. There is no one to be held in restraint, and there is no one to impose restraint. Who is going to work out the plans for social production? Who will distribute labour power? Who is going to supervise the whole affair? There will be no need for special ministers of State, for police and prisons, for laws and decrees – nothing of the sort. Just as in an orchestra all the performers watch the conductor’s baton and act accordingly. The State, therefore, has ceased to exist. There are no groups and there is no class standing above all other classes. Moreover, the bureaucracy, the permanent officialdom and elite civil service, will disappear. The State will die out.



In socialist society, where production is not for profit but for use, a plan of production is possible.Socialism implies, in the economic field, ownership of the means of production by society as a whole leading to a rapid increase in the productive forces, planned production. The capitalist class is no longer fit to run society. Capitalism is the main obstacle preventing progress towards a new society in which there will be a good living standard and a rich political and cultural life for all working people and their families; the basic problem of present-day society can only be solved by a revolution by which the working class. The capitalist system is a parasite on society and is maintained entirely by the labour of working people. Capitalism has imposed great suffering upon working people. This can only happen because capitalists possess a monopoly ownership of the means of production, and their control is backed up by the powers of the State. The motive force of the capitalist system, independent of the wishes of individual capitalists, is the drive for profit, which can only be obtained by the exploitation of the working class.



The well-being of the whole of society will be the condition for the healthy development of its individual members. Capitalism, contrary to its claims, represses the potentialities of the great majority of people; these can only be developed under socialism.



The Socialist Party fights uncompromisingly for the interests of fellow-workers. Capitalism has nothing to offer the majority but uncertainty for tomorrow, unemployment, environmental disasters, poverty and war. The struggle between different and irreconcilable class interests dominates social life in all capitalist countries. Society is more and more divided into two camps, where the working class and the ruling class stand against one another. The struggle between these two classes is the most important contradiction in capitalist society. The working class is the only revolutionary class under capitalism. It is the historical task of the working class to put an end to capitalist exploitation and oppression. The most dangerous supporters of capitalism, are the various “worker’s parties” and “Marxists” that act as anti-capitalists and socialists. Reformism will always try to paralyse the workers’ struggle and lead it astray and towards reconciliation with the class enemy. Socialism is the power of the working class. Socialists reclaim the people’s property from the capitalists. The class-free society is the goal for the Socialist Party where the principle “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is fully realised.

1. What is the Socialist Party of Great Britain?

It is a political party, separate from all others, Left, Right or Centre. It stands for the sole aim of establishing a world social system based upon human need instead of private or state profit. The Object and Declaration of Principles printed in this introductory leaflet were adopted by the Socialist Party in 1904 and have been maintained without compromise since then. In other countries there are companion parties sharing the same object and principles, and they too remain independent from all other political parties.



2. What is capitalism?

Capitalism is the social system which now exists in all countries of the world. Under this system, the means of production and distribution (land, factories, offices, transport, media, etc.) are monopolised by a minority, the capitalist class. All wealth is produced by us, the majority working class, who sell our mental and physical energies to the capitalists in return for a price called a wage or salary. The object of wealth production is to create goods and services which can be sold on the market at a profit. Not only do the capitalists live off the profits they obtain from exploiting the working class, but, as a class, they go on accumulating wealth extracted from each generation of workers.



3. Can capitalism be reformed in our interests?

No: as long as capitalism exists, profits will come before needs. Some reforms are welcomed by some workers, but no reform can abolish the fundamental contradiction between profit and need which is built into the present system. No matter whether promises to make capitalism run in the interests of the workers are made sincerely or by opportunist politicians they are bound to fail, for such a promise is like offering to run the slaughter house in the interests of the cattle.



4. Is nationalisation an alternative to capitalism?

No: nationalised industries simply mean that workers are exploited by the state, acting on behalf of the capitalists of one country, rather than by an individual capitalist or company. The workers in nationalised British Leyland are no less the servants of profit than workers in privately-owned Ford. The mines no more belong to “the public” or the miners now than they did before 1947 when they were nationalised. Nationalisation is state capitalism.



5. Are there any “socialist countries”?

No: the so-called socialist countries are systems of state capitalism. In Russia and its empire, in China, Cuba, Albania, former Yugoslavia and the other countries which call themselves socialist, social power is monopolised by privileged Party bureaucrats. The features of capitalism, as outlined above, are all present. An examination of international commerce shows that the bogus socialist states are part of the world capitalist market and cannot detach themselves from the requirements of profit.



6. What Is the meaning of socialism?

Socialism does not yet exist. When it is established it must be on a worldwide basis, as an alternative to the outdated system of world capitalism. In a socialist society there will be common ownership and democratic control of the earth by its inhabitants. No minority class will be in a position to dictate to the majority that production must be geared to profit. There will be no owners: everything will belong to everyone. Production will be solely for use, not for sale. The only questions society will need to ask about wealth production will be: what do people require, and can the needs be met? These questions will be answered on the basis of the resources available to meet such needs. Then, unlike now, modern technology and communications will be able to be used to their fullest extent. The basic socialist principle will be that people give according to their abilities and take according to their self- defined needs. Work will be on the basis of voluntary co-operation: the coercion of wage and salary work will be abolished. There will be no buying or selling and money will not be necessary, in a society of common ownership and free access. For the first time ever the people of the world will have common possession of the planet earth.



7. How will socialism solve the problems of society?

Capitalism, with its constant drive to serve profit before need, throws up an endless stream of problems. Most workers in Britain feel insecure about their future; almost one in four families with children living below the official government poverty line; many old people live in dangerously cold conditions each winter and thousands die; millions of our fellow men and women are dying of starvation — tens of thousands of them each day. A society based on production for use will end those problems because the priority of socialist society will be the fullest possible satisfaction of needs. At the moment food is destroyed and farmers are subsidised not to produce more: yet many millions are malnourished. At the moment hospital queues are growing longer and people are dying of curable illnesses; yet it is not “economically viable” to provide decent health treatment for all. In a socialist society nothing short of the best will be good enough for any human being.



8. What about human nature?

Human behaviour is not fixed, but determined by the kind of society people are conditioned to live in. The capitalist jungle produces vicious, competitive ways of thinking and acting. But we humans are able to adapt our behaviour and there is no reason why our rational desire for comfort and human welfare should not allow us to co-operate. Even under capitalism people often obtain pleasure from doing a good turn for others; few people enjoy participating in the “civilised” warfare of the daily rat-race. Think how much better it would be if society was based on co-operation.



9. Are socialists democrats?

Yes: the Socialist Party has no leaders. It is a democratic organisation controlled by its members. It understands that Socialism can only be established by a conscious majority of workers — that workers must liberate themselves and will not be liberated by leaders or parties. Socialism will not be brought about by a dedicated minority “smashing the state”, as some left-wingers would have it. Nor do the activities of paid, professional politicians have anything to do with Socialism — the experience of seven Labour governments has shown this. Once a majority of the working class understand and want Socialism, they will take the necessary step to organise consciously for the democratic conquest of political power. There will be no Socialism without a socialist majority.



10. What is the next step?

Many workers know that there is something wrong and want to change society. Some join reform groups in the hope that capitalism can be patched up, but such efforts are futile because you cannot run a system of class exploitation in the interests of the exploited majority. People who fear a nuclear war may join CND. but as long as nation states exist, economic rivalry means that the world will never be safe from the threat of war. There are countless dedicated campaigns and good causes which many sincere people are caught up in, but there is only one solution to the problems of capitalism and that is to get rid of it, and establish Socialism. Before we can do that we need socialists; winning workers to that cause requires knowledge, principles and an enthusiasm for change. These qualities can be developed by anyone — and are essential for anyone who is serious about changing society. Capitalism in 2020 is still a system of waste, deprivation and frightening insecurity. You owe it to yourself to find out about the one movement which stands for the alternative.

If you have read this set of principles and agree with some or all of them, contact the Socialist Party with your questions and ideas about what you can do to help speed the progress towards Socialism.

An assessment from 40 global child and adolescent health experts in “A Future for the World’s Children?” The expert commission was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, says every nation on the planet is failing children because of the threats to their health and wellbeing from the climate and ecological crises and commercial exploitation.



No single country in the world is adequately protecting children’s health, their environment & their future. “This report shows that the world’s decision makers are, too often, failing today’s children and youth: failing to protect their health, failing to protect their rights, and failing to protect their planet,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The Socialist Party declares that the workers have it in their power to build a society wherein the wealth produced shall be freely available to everyone without the need to buy, sell or exchange everything that is required. To imagine themselves having access to the goods that they have worked to produce without having to ask “How much?” or “Can I afford it?” makes many workers shake their heads in disbelief. They recognise everything as the property of some person or persons. They accept without question the fact that goods are only available to them when they can afford to buy. The proposal that there can be a condition of things where the institution of buying and selling does not exist, makes them look for a flaw.



 At socialist meetings they will ask in a surprised tone, “Do you mean that we can just walk into a place and eat without paying?”, “Do you mean that we don’t have to pay rent?”, “Are you suggesting that we can go into a shop and get a suit of clothes and walk out without paying?”, “How will the boot repairer or the bus driver or the canteen waitress live if we do not pay for the goods that we have?”



It should not be difficult to visualise a society where such procedure prevailed. Goods and services would be produced as they are today. The difference being that many who now are engaged in socially useless tasks and those who are not engaged in production in any shape or form, would then contribute their share of effort, thus making the task lighter for all. All the things produced, food, clothing, houses, transport facilities, entertainment, furniture, etc., all the things necessary to make life comfortable, would then be at the disposal of everyone, according to their requirements.



 We cannot attempt to map out in advance the detailed plans of organisation of a future society. Society is not a piece of architecture, it grows like an organism, and organs develop as the need for them arises. The prevailing conditions will determine such details in a socialist community.



The Socialist Party does not advocate such a system of society just because it would be nice to live that way. We recognise that the present system of producing things in order that they may be sold, and that someone may make a profit out of the process, is the cause of all working class problems. From this root cause arises the poverty of the workers with its attendant problems of housing, malnutrition, overwork and unemployment, economic insecurity, crime, etc. Also from the same source comes the greatest of all catastrophes, War. To eliminate these evils it is necessary to remove the cause. 



So what must we do? If the cause is private ownership with its production for sale, what stands in the way of abolishing this condition? Private ownership. Only things that are owned by someone can be sold or exchanged. When goods are produced they are not made available to the producers. They remain in the hands of those who own the tools and machinery which are used to make them. By virtue of their ownership these people have the right to say what shall be produced, how much shall be produced and how the goods and services shall be distributed. The whole of the structure of present day society is directed towards maintaining this order of things. The majority of the workers accept this system, governments administer it, police, judges and jailers enforce it, soldiers, sailors and airmen fight for it, and the owners of the land, mines, factories, transport systems, workshops, etc., thrive on it. Only the socialist challenges it.



Many workers try to find ways and means of remedying the evil effects of this system without even realising the fundamental cause of these evils. To them it seems a very complicated affair, requiring complicated plans. To them the simple socialist proposition of converting the means of production from private or state ownership to common ownership, and thus making all the wealth produced freely available to everyone according to their needs, is difficult of comprehension. But there is no problem thrown up by society that does not have its solution portrayed in that society. If we seek an example, a lesson or an illustration of a future social development we can always find it in our present circumstances.

Companies paid out a record $1.43tn (£1.10tn) in dividends to shareholders around the world last year. From a low base in 2009 after the financial crisis, dividends have grown strongly over the past decade. In that time, pay-outs have almost doubled, with investors receiving $694bn more in dividends in 2019 than 10 years previously. Technology dividends, a notable bright spot, have quadrupled since 2009.



The record-breaking annual dividend pay-out from listed companies was driven by strong performances in stock markets in North America and emerging economies, including by some unusually high special dividends, although global economic uncertainty slowed the annual pace of growth. The total payment was 3.5% higher than in 2018.

Dividends from UK-listed companies reached $105.8bn (£81.2bn) in 2019, a rise of 6.2% on the previous year, boosted by large special payments from mining companies Rio Tinto and BHP, and Royal Bank of Scotland. However, the UK’s underlying 2.9% growth was below the global average.



Payments vary widely between European countries. For example, France registered record pay-outs, while Belgium’s were the weakest, due to a halving in the payment made by brewer Anheuser-Busch.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/feb/17/companies-paid-record-143tn-in-dividends-in-2019