Socialism’s Principles

Liberation is both international in scope and flexible in its’ application thereby meeting the specific requirements of national, ethnic, religious, gender issues locally and regionally. National liberation is built on international solidarity and respectful of the internal ethnic and religious differences. Taking into consideration gender and sexual orientation is a must. In any liberation movement democracy is critical. Democracy must include at a minimum all of the following, economic, political, cultural and intellectual. In saying this it becomes obvious that socialism and democracy can be used interchangeable.  One cannot exist without the other. Capitalism is always anti-democratic, oligarchical, and autocratic. This is because the twin cabalistic impediments to democracy private property and profit. Production for profit requires putting social needs over personal greed. The short-term aim of socialism is decent incomes for everyone, meaningful employment for all who are able to work, lifetime security, access to any and all resources necessary to live and to work for everyone, and the active pursuit of happiness.

Labor unions, consumer unions, citizen unions, civil rights advocacy groups, and environmental watchdogs are necessary for our mutual endurance.  This requires community tenure of important segments of the economy. Public ownership or stewardship is not government ownership. Civic tenancy and sovereign of that part of the earth we live and work on is not a proprietorship of a regime of intimidation.  It is always and must be democratic control of the economy. This maybe worker councils, consumer cooperatives and municipal enterprises working together for a common goal, or it would be possible that it maybe nationalize firms. These nationalized firms must be administered through joint representation of labor unions, consumer groups and community advocacy organizations.  Through collective discussions and joint negotiations of the above groups democracy is possible.

Local interests must always be taken seriously.  Individual civil liberties can never be threatened, while protecting gains against reactionaries trying to destroy democracy. Balance is difficult by essential.

Rewards for doing one’s job must be fairly distributed including wages, enjoyment of the job, pride in the craft and self-respect in accepting social responsibility. In doing this all and any ethnic groups, religions, gender or sexual orientations within each nation must be respected. Finally any form of imperialism is evil and we must diligently work to bring it to an end.

The desire of most people and the main goal of democracy/ socialism is happiness. Happiness of the extensive diversity of life and continual font of delight is mastered only through education. Because people are a product of their social environment, education as well as the rest of the environment is the raw material in the formation of the human soul. There is only two ways that this can become possible either through democratic socialism or the struggle to establish democratic socialism.

Public education must be liberated from political control of the existing state, church or other power elites. Education is the source to the hope of deliverance from servitude.  Democratic education is the solution to allowing children or adults to learn to live in an egalitarian and democratic society. Socialism in the classroom is the best way to learn.

Let’s talk bottom line the production of goods and services and the hiring of a work force in the private sector is profit for the business owner. In the public sector the bottom line is service. Because the public sector is inspired by service not profits it is often cheaper and more efficient then the private sector. The community servant chooses the life of public service over income because she cares about the greater good. This is the true economic foundation of any economy. This economy is both humane and sustainable because the job is embedded in social responsibility, concern for others and the community wellbeing. The private sector is also vital to a sound economy, but its’ role must always remain supplemental to the public sector. Small family businesses are the moral center of our communities.  It provides places where public employees can buy certain consumer items. Beyond this a market economy out of control is both immoral and unsustainable. Major international investors speculated irresponsibly on high return and unsafe speculation for quick returns on investment without creating jobs or any long-term benefits to society. Throughout history they gambled and lost only to be saved by big government for example in the years 1873, 1929, 1949, 1973, 1987, 2001, 2008. The Public sector is the ethical and economic bedrock of our nation as a whole. Lets see what the candidates in the next election have to offer in saving the family farm, family owned small business, and most important expanding public employment. To the public employees social needs are more central to the economic concerns of the people than profit. Work is driven by concerns for social responsibility and community protections.  Having said that, I imagine that the issue should be democracy not bureaucracy. This can be maintained by rank and file run unions, with shop stewards, Civil rights advocacy groups, civil libertarians, environmentalists, feminists, consumer groups, community rights and client rights action groups as a real power to be dealt with in managing the economy. True economic democracy requires no less.  Private investments should be carried out with public responsibilities being most important. The leading concern should always be to provide good jobs with good wages and benefits. Furthermore it will provide the general public with affordable, safe, and reliable goods and services.

Frankfort Declaration

Declaration of Principles

June 30 – July 3, 1951

Norman Thomas Socialism Reexamined

V.I. Lenin: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

William Godwin: Enquiry Concerning Political Justice

Epicurus: The Essential Epicurus

Albert Camus; The Rebel