https://socialistaction.org/2019/06/13/the-worldwide-crisis-of-capitalism-and-the-relevance-of-socialism/
The worldwide crisis of capitalism and the relevance of socialism
/ 5 days ago
Hong Kong Climate Student Protests
Hundreds of schoolchildren take part in a climate protest in Hong Kong,
Friday, March 15, 2019.?? (Kin Cheung?? / AP)
By JEFF MACKLER
We reprint here the introduction to Socialist Action???s new pamphlet
entitled, ???The Worldwide Crisis of Capitalism and the Relevance of
Socialism.??? Authored by Socialist Action???s 2020 candidate for the U.S.
presidency, Jeff Mackler, the article reviews the central ideas adopted
by Socialist Action at its October 2018 Eighteenth National Convention
in Minneapolis.
Socialist Action???s Political Committee and National Committee prepared
the initial draft of the resolution in this pamphlet for consideration
of the membership during the party???s three-month pre-convention period
of internal discussion and debate in the lead-up to Socialist Action???s
October 2018 National Convention. In its final adopted form herein, the
resolution entitled ???The Worldwide Crisis of Capitalism and the
Relevance of Socialism??? serves as the party???s assessment of the nature
and depth of the present world capitalist crisis and, therefore, the
framework for Socialist Action???s understanding of and participation in
the myriad of social and political movements where working people
struggle to improve their lives.
The pamphlet includes major excepts from a joint statement on the world
economic crisis issued by Socialist Action (U.S.) and its sister party
of the same name in Canada:
???Global capitalist competition, including the current trade wars, is a
completely unavoidable aspect of the system of private profit.
Competition results in new innovation/automation that increases the rate
of profit for the initial innovator. But these gains are offset again by
the rapid adoption of ever more advanced technology by competitors, and
profit rates continue to fall.
???In this profit or die system those competitors that can???t keep up are
driven from the field or forced to consolidate or merge with others to
stay in the game. In the end the profit or die game is played by giant
multi-national monopoly corporations that continue the competition on a
global scale with dire consequences for all humanity.
???In their desperate struggle to fight the falling rate of profit
capitalists try to reduce costs and increase their competitive edge by
attacking trade unions and workers??? rights, by attacking wage and
benefit levels, by attacking general social benefits such as education,
health care, and pensions, by refusing to accept responsibility for the
massive environmental damage caused by cutthroat capitalist competition,
and by transferring production to low-wage, unregulated areas both
within and outside their own countries???
???The world???s working people have no interest in this potential world
conflagration. When capitalists win, workers lose???a fundamental law of
the capitalist system. The common interest of workers lies in defending
working people everywhere against all the onslaughts of capital. This
means international solidarity on every front, from united worldwide
efforts to organize workers into powerful unions to united opposition to
capitalist wars and the capitalist destruction of the environment???
???There is no such thing as peaceful and/or regulated competition among
capitalist nations. No self-respecting capitalist is in business to be
the world???s ???nice guy.??? There are only winners and losers in this deadly
game of production for private profit.???
Today, with U.S. and global corporate profit rates continuing to
decline, the major capitalist behemoths increasingly shun investments in
new plants and have turned to unprecedented government-promoted
speculative investments in the stock market, hedge funds, and other
financial instruments that have generated massive paper profits and led
to the present global shift of wealth from the vast majority to the
elite one percent who own close to 50 percent of the world???s wealth.
In this financialization of capital process, giant paper bubbles of
capital are produced with no corresponding creation of real value. The
stupendous rise in the share values in the U.S. stock market has no
relation to the actual value of the corporations. As in the 2008-9
crash/depression, yet another massive bust is on the order of the day,
wreaking untold misery on working people.
Thus, any serious explanation of today???s increasing global misery;
massive impoverishment; environmental destruction; persecution and
demonization of immigrants; endless wars; and racist, sexist, homophobic
and Islamophobic attacks have less to do with whether the Democrats or
Republicans are in power at any particular moment than with the inherent
contradictions in the capitalist system itself. It is these
contradictions that explain both the rise of right-wing and neo-fascist
currents worldwide on the one hand, and the rising and simultaneous
interest in socialism on the other.
The ruling-class response is always to foster divisions by scapegoating
and persecuting the oppressed; the socialist response is to unite all of
capitalism???s victims in common struggles that aim at challenging the
legitimacy of the system itself. In this context the resolution in its
various component sections focuses on unifying, strengthening and
fostering the independent mass action character of all fighting social
movements.
Russia and China
The resolution takes up some of the important questions that have been
in dispute in the broader socialist movement, including the nature of
the Chinese and Russian states. ???China,??? the resolution asserts, is ???a
major and growing imperialist power in its own right, but considerably
less developed in key areas than the U.S.??? (See Keith Leslie???s ???China: A
New Imperialist Power,??? soon to be published by Socialist Action.)
Russia too, the resolution holds, is an imperialist nation ???of
considerably less weight in the world economy and in many other
respects. Socialist Action???s analysis of the respective roles of China
and Russia in the increasingly polarized world political situation, as
with all other analyses, is subject to an examination of the facts and
context at hand.???
Statewide teacher strikes
The resolution devotes considerable attention to the eruption, seemingly
out of nowhere, of statewide ???red state??? teacher strikes in West
Virginia, Kentucky, Arizona, Oklahoma and North Carolina, predicting
that these may well be the heat lightning that sparks broader and
effective fightbacks that portend a fundamental change in the present
negative relationship of forces.
These teacher mobilizations employed a series of class-struggle
strategies beginning with powerful statewide strikes accompanied by
massive teacher-community rallies as opposed to isolated strikes in a
single school district. Mass decision-making based on democratic
discussion and debate marked an historic return to the kind of
democratic fighting unionism that won major gains in decades past.
In this context the aroused and directly engaged teachers and their
allies challenged and rejected the class-collaborationist directives of
the union bureaucracy, which counseled caution and warned against strike
action that ???violated the law.??? Indeed, this conscious mass defiance of
capitalist laws prohibiting statewide strikes, in combination with
broad-based demands aimed at improving public education and uniting
parents and working class communities, proved to be decisive.
In West Virginia, teachers broke new ground by demanding and winning the
restoration of funds for all public employees, that is, not only for
teachers. In contrast to the usual one-day, token strike wherein
teachers are called to state capitols to lobby legislators, teachers
insisted that they would not return to work until their demands were
met. And these included the key demand that the state legislature return
to public education and public employees the billions of dollars that
had been looted from state budgets and gifted to the corporate elite
over the past decade. The teachers had the facts to prove it. Their
demand to ???Tax the rich, not working people!??? was elevated from a slogan
to an immediate demand.
This ???red state??? militancy undoubtedly inspired the Los Angeles and
Oakland teacher strike actions that followed a year later???actions that
demonstrated the power of teacher-community unity but lacked the
decisive impact of the statewide confrontations in West Virginia.
Subordination to the Democrats
The Socialist Action resolution also took note of a critical weaknesses
in the teacher-union movement and, indeed, in most social struggles
today. Following the strike victories, the AFT and NEA leaderships
pledged to run some 400 teacher candidates as Democrats in the 2018
midterm elections. Similarly, the leadership of promising social
struggles led by Black Lives Matter, March for Women???s Lives, and
350.org, all of which have led massive mobilizations against racism,
sexism, and catastrophic impending climate change, largely ushered these
promising movements into the electoral framework of the Democratic Party.
Indeed, the 2020 national elections will undoubtedly see a concerted, if
not unprecedented rush to ???lesser evil??? politics, as evidenced by the
Democrats running some 23 candidates, all focused on proclaiming
themselves best suited to ???Dump Trump.??? No doubt, all will dutifully
unite, as was the case with Bernie Sanders in 2016, behind whichever
candidate emerges as the top dog in capitalism???s carefully orchestrated
election swindle. Already Sanders has been the first to sign such a
unity pledge.
Receptivity to socialist ideas
Recent polls by the Pew organization, Gallop, and The New York Times
report that a majority of youth under 30 prefer socialism over
capitalism; for the Black communities over all age groups, the figure
stands at 55 percent. Socialist Action???s recruitment of a new layer of
Black and Latinx youth is a prime indication of the reality of this
preference. Confidence in the capitalist system today stands at a low
point in the modern era, while the appeal of socialism to increasing
millions informs us that the times are propitious for revolutionary
socialist ideas to sink deeper roots in broad layers of the population.
In this context, Socialist Action???s decision in mid-April 2019 to run
its National Secretary, Jeff Mackler, for the U.S. presidency and
National Committee member Heather Bradford for vice president offers the
party a unique opportunity to popularize socialist politics and win new
fighters to the socialist cause.
Similar polls register majority support for trade unions at a time when
the percentage of union membership stands at a modern all-time low. The
recent and impressive teacher strikes, the union mobilizations against
the government budget shutdowns, and other militant strike actions
inform us that a new layer of class-struggle union fighters is emerging.
DSA and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In noting the mid-term election victory of New York City Democrat and
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
the resolution states: ???Here, we are qualitatively less concerned with
criticizing the limitations of the Ocasio-Cortez campaign platform than
we are in pointing to its overall confirmation that socialist ideas are
increasingly finding a receptive ear among broad layers of the population.???
The resolution continues: ???We need not review our historic opposition to
any capitalist candidate or party. As we are fond of saying, ???If Lenin
ran as a Democrat on the Bolshevik program, we would not support him!??????
Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA, their ???socialist??? imprimatur notwithstanding,
had no problem endorsing all Democrats in the 2018 midterms, including
the ???Blue Dog??? Southern racist variety and all other stripes within the
spectrum of ruling-class politics.
Though they call themselves ???democratic socialists??????falsely implying
that other socialists oppose democracy???we prefer the traditional label,
???social democrats,??? which makes clear that the DSA and similar
organizations are Democratic Party supporters first and foremost, who
pretend that socialism???a fundamental break with capitalist exploitation
and rule???can be won through electoral reforms and other incremental
changes to the capitalist system.
Trump threatens North Korea
President Trump???s grandstanding negotiations with North Korea should not
put anyone fearful of nuclear war at ease. For Socialist Action the
starting point in explaining our views is our historic demand for the
total and unconditional disarmament of the imperialist U.S. military
nuclear behemoth. Not one penny for war!
Just as Trump abrogated previous treaties with Iran and the nearly
worthless COP 21 UN Paris climate ???agreement,??? he and any future
president, in the name of ???national security??? or some other pretext, is
fully capable of invading and destroying any nation.
Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba
U.S. recent threats to invade Venezuela and Nicaragua, to further
embargo revolutionary Cuba and now threats to send 130,000 U.S. troops
to the Middle East to potentially wage war against Iran and Iraq and to
deepen the imperialist war against Syria, inform us, yet again, that war
is inherent in the imperialist system. Today, the bipartisan war-making
parties speak the same language, whether it be in voting for the
trillion-dollar annual war budget or in supporting Trump???s ???regime
change??? wars in Latin America and the Middle East.
To abolish war once and for all requires the abolition of capitalism. An
indispensable step toward this end is the construction of a massive,
united front, democratic antiwar movement to challenge all U.S.
imperialist wars against working people at home and abroad. The central
demands of today???s antiwar movement must be clear and unequivocal: ???U.S.
Hands Off!??? and ???Self-determination for all poor and oppressed nations!???
Regardless of our most serious criticisms of the leadership of nations
in the imperialist gunsights, we unequivocally and unconditionally
defend their right to self-determination. While we lend no political
support to these or any other capitalist governments, we defend their
right to seek military aid from Russia and China or from any other quarter.
We fully understand that a mass revolutionary socialist party is an
absolute necessity in winning a socialist world. But the road to the
construction of such a party begins with winning the confidence and mass
support of the working class. This begins with a program of unalterable
opposition to imperialist intervention and war, whether it be in the
form outright U.S. coup efforts, sanctions, embargoes, blockades, drone
wars, privatized army wars and all the rest. Our revolutionary comrades
and co-thinkers in any nation facing imperialist intervention and war
stand on the front lines in opposition to all imperialist invaders.
Socialist Action on Syria
The resolution reaffirms the party???s previously adopted position. To
wit: ???With regard to Syria, our unconditional support to
self-determination includes Syria???s right to seek allies and support
against U.S. imperialist intervention and war from Russia, Iran, and the
Lebanese-based fighters of Hezbollah.
???While we extend no political support to the capitalist Bashar Assad
regime in Syria, or to any other capitalist regime, we remain
unconditionally opposed to all imperialist efforts to remove it. The job
of challenging capitalism in Syria is the sole responsibility of the
Syrian people. The future construction of a mass revolutionary party in
Syria remains a prerequisite to socialist revolution there and in any
other nation.???
Latin America???s ???pink revolutions???
Whatever differences have distinguished one of Latin America???s ???pink
revolutions??? from another regarding the implementation of sometimes
substantial reforms, all retained the essential social structures and
institutions of the capitalist state. The fundamental ownership and
control of the commanding economic heights of the nation remained in
capitalist hands including the land and natural resources, the key banks
and the financial institutions.
In sharp contrast, the Cuban Revolution of 1958-59, in the words of
Fidel Castro leadership nationalized bourgeois property ???down to the
nails in the heels of their boots??? and went on to establish a state of
the working class. This is the preeminent explanation for why the Cuban
state endures and all the others have suffered retreat and/or
humiliating defeat.
Experienced revolutionaries, as well newcomers to the socialist cause,
will find in this 2018 Socialist Action convention resolution, ???The
Worldwide Crisis of Capitalism and the Relevance of Socialist
Revolution,??? a resounding affirmation of the party???s confidence in the
socialist future.
An acute analysis of the central and inherent contradictions of
predatory capitalism today is combined with plan of action aimed at
winning the present radicalizing generation of youth and all working
people to the fight for new world where the fulfillment of the highest
aspirations for human dignity, equality and social justice are primary.
Share this:
???Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
???Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
June 13, 2019 in Marxist Politics and Philosophy, Vote Socialist Action.
Related posts
Socialist Action launches 2020 presidential campaign
U.S.-backed revolt fails in Venezuela
Vote Socialist Action in 2016! Jeff Mackler for U.S. President!
Post navigation
??? U.S/NATO false flag in Syria exposed: Skepticism is essential when
assessing official propaganda
Why Zionists are in a panic ???
Get Involved!
Donate to help support our work
Get email updates
Join Socialist Action
Newspaper Archives
Newspaper Archives Select Month June 2019?? (9) May 2019?? (12) April
2019?? (12) March 2019?? (13) February 2019?? (10) January 2019?? (16)
December 2018?? (12) November 2018?? (15) October 2018 (10) September
2018?? (8) August 2018?? (12) July 2018?? (13) June 2018?? (11) May 2018??
(19) April 2018?? (15) March 2018?? (17) February 2018?? (14) January 2018??
(13) December 2017?? (13) November 2017?? (13) October 2017?? (16)
September 2017?? (15) August 2017?? (16) July 2017?? (17) June 2017?? (16)
May 2017?? (17) April 2017?? (14) March 2017?? (13) February 2017?? (19)
January 2017?? (13) December 2016?? (12) November 2016?? (19) October 2016??
(12) September 2016?? (10) August 2016?? (10) July 2016?? (14) June 2016
(14) May 2016?? (9) April 2016?? (12) March 2016?? (14) February 2016?? (8)
January 2016?? (11) December 2015?? (11) November 2015 (9) October 2015??
(8) September 2015?? (10) August 2015?? (7) July 2015?? (13) June 2015?? (9)
May 2015?? (10) April 2015?? (12) March 2015?? (9) February 2015?? (11)
January 2015?? (10) December 2014 (12) November 2014?? (11) October 2014??
(9) September 2014?? (6) August 2014?? (10) July 2014?? (11) June 2014??
(10) May 2014?? (11) April 2014?? (10) March 2014?? (9) February 2014?? (11)
January 2014 (11) December 2013?? (10) November 2013?? (11) October 2013??
(17) September 2013?? (13) August 2013?? (10) July 2013?? (11) June 2013
(15) May 2013?? (14) April 2013?? (14) March 2013?? (12) February 2013??
(10) January 2013?? (17) December 2012?? (7) November 2012 (8) October
2012?? (19) September 2012?? (2) August 2012?? (27) July 2012?? (18) June
2012?? (3) May 2012?? (19) April 2012?? (14) March 2012?? (17) February
2012?? (19) January 2012?? (17) December 2011 (3) November 2011?? (33)
October 2011?? (14) September 2011?? (13) August 2011?? (34) July 2011??
(24) June 2011?? (19) May 2011?? (19) April 2011?? (15) March 2011?? (15)
February 2011?? (15) January 2011?? (15) December 2010?? (17) November
2010?? (1) October 2010 (6) September 2010?? (3) August 2010?? (8) July
2010?? (7) June 2010 (2) May 2010?? (10) April 2010?? (3) March 2010?? (8)
February 2010 (3) January 2010?? (9) December 2009?? (6) November 2009??
(5) October 2009?? (16) September 2009?? (3) August 2009?? (2) July 2009
(5) June 2009?? (2) May 2009?? (7) April 2009?? (6) March 2009?? (16)
February 2009?? (9) January 2009?? (10) December 2008?? (11) November 2008??
(8) October 2008?? (16) September 2008?? (14) August 2008 (18) July 2008??
(12) June 2008?? (3) May 2008?? (2) April 2008?? (3) March 2008?? (14)
February 2008?? (11) January 2008?? (11) December 2007?? (8) November 2007??
(1) July 2007?? (1) June 2007?? (1) April 2007?? (1) March 2007?? (1)
February 2007?? (3) December 2006?? (11) November 2006?? (11) October 2006??
(13) September 2006?? (15) August 2006?? (11) July 2006?? (18) June 2006??
(7) May 2006?? (14) April 2006?? (6) March 2006?? (14) February 2006?? (5)
January 2006?? (2) December 2005?? (9) November 2005?? (8) October 2005??
(13) September 2005?? (12) August 2005?? (9) July 2005?? (16) June 2005??
(16) May 2005?? (16) April 2005?? (12) March 2005?? (14) February 2005??
(19) January 2005?? (15) December 2004?? (14) November 2002?? (17) October
2002?? (19) September 2002?? (22) August 2002?? (21) July 2002?? (15) May
2002?? (21) April 2002?? (21) February 2002?? (15) January 2002 (15)
December 2001?? (17) October 2001?? (24) September 2001?? (18) July 2001??
(19) June 2001?? (18) October 2000?? (17) September 2000 (21) August 2000??
(19) July 2000?? (16) June 2000?? (26) May 2000 (21) April 2000?? (22)
March 2000?? (28) February 2000?? (18) January 2000?? (20) December 1999??
(20) November 1999?? (26) October 1999 (25) September 1999?? (18) August
1999?? (40) July 1999?? (38) June 1999?? (24) May 1999?? (27) April 1999??
(25) March 1999?? (26) February 1999?? (29) January 1999?? (24) July 1998??
(12)
Search
???View socialistactionusa???s profile on Facebook
???View SocialistActUS???s profile on Twitter
???View SocialistActionCT???s profile on YouTube
Subscribe to Our Newspaper
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events
Category Cloud
Actions & Protest Africa Anti-War Arts & Culture Black Liberation Canada
Caribbean Civil Liberties Cuba East Asia Economy Education & Schools
Elections Environment Europe Immigration Indigenous Rights International
Labor Latin America Marxist Theory & History Middle East Palestine
Police & FBI Prisons South Asia Trump / U.S. Government Uncategorized
Vote Socialist Action Women's Liberation
View Calendar
Blog at WordPress.com.
Follow
--
---
Carl Sagan
??? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. ???
??? Carl Sagan
