The Worker, Vol. 37, Number 9
Contents:
I. Unlocking Our Potential
II. Mobilizing for a Pro-Social Alternative in Today's Political Climate
I. Unlocking Our Potential
II. Mobilizing for a Pro-Social Alternative in Today's Political Climate
Note from the editor:
Last month we published a Special Edition of The Worker to coincide with the launch of our new campaign slogan. The campaign is going well so far! Members and supporters of the Workers Party are encouraged to participate in the campaign by reciting the slogan with others in any language of their choice while shaking hands and looking into each other's eyes. Here it is: "If you are illegal, then I am Illegal!" Do it with love in your heart. We are looking forward to even more write-ins and reports about how how many new friends you convert or simply to tell us anything you'd like to about your experience with it.WorkerspartyUSAChicagoBranch@gmail.com
Unlocking Our Potential
The Workers Party holds that the well-being of society is determined by the type of society in which people live. We assert that the ultimate goal of human society is to establish a social environment that ensures the rights and well-being of all individuals. As the contradictions of capitalism intensify, the need is felt more urgently than ever for society to align its interests and overall development with the rights and responsibilities of each person.
The American people have long fought for a society that guarantees equal rights for all. These demands are now being voiced by millions of people. The high level of socialization in our economy, along with the awareness gained as a result of this reality, has brought economic rights to the forefront as a practical problem that urgently needs to be addressed.
What stands in the way of solving this problem is not about lack of resources. (On the contrary! The workers of our country produce more than enough to meet the needs of all.) The issue is a political one. In order to assert their inalienable rights, the workers and people must come together as an independent political force. They need to challenge the political power and privileges held by capital in order to achieve victories for the working class in terms of political economy.
Take the example of the need to guarantee a secure job or livelihood for every member of society. Both capitalist parties deny that society has a responsibility to guarantee the inalienable rights of the people, including the right to a secure job or livelihood. These two parties are continuously stripping away the rights that people have fought for over many years. Alternatively, the Workers Party holds that the human race cannot survive by the capitalist ideal and practice of social relations that reduce the life of the individual to a sole focus on their own needs and desires.
The human individual is not an isolated entity, but lives in a social environment that profoundly influences their ability to live and develop their personality. The livelihood of workers, whose labor creates the wealth in society, is not as uncertain and limited as it is for millions and millions of people in the "modern" U.S. due to a mass plague of vices such as laziness or lack of motivation as claimed by the capitalist ideologues. Rather, the livelihood of the workers is determined by the decisions made by capitalist owners. Unlike in the ancient past where individuals could secure their livelihood through self-sufficiency, such as by staking out territory or gathering wild berries, the modern world operates on a vast social division of labor. In this contemporary economy, all the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and education, are produced and distributed through this complex social system. Therefore, the life of an individual is intricately tied to the organization of the economy and society, as well as their position within this social hierarchy.
Today, even while years of reductions in wages have resulted in a reduced purchasing power and an accumulation of unsold goods the capitalists aim to eliminate income-support programs, like unemployment insurance, in order to undermine the confidence of the class-conscious elements of society in their conviction that the workers, whether employed or unemployed, deserve a standard of living commensurate with our country's high level of development. By removing these protections, the capitalists would be trying to further decrease wages and living standards for all workers, while simultaneously increasing competition among them. Additionally, they use the threat of hunger as a means of coercing workers into accepting harsh exploitation.
Under capitalism, unemployment and job insecurity affect all sections of the working class, including from the youngest to the most experienced workers. In many cities, youth unemployment exceeds 50%. Even workers with extensive experience can suddenly find themselves jobless without any pension or future prospects when capitalist corporations shut down plants or reduce production. Because capitalists aim to extract the most work from the fewest workers while paying them the lowest possible wages, this system always maintains a "reserve army of the unemployed" – a pool of available workers which allows capitalists to perpetuate uncertainty in job security for all workers. This situation affects both skilled and unskilled workers alike.
The existence of a large and growing pool of unemployed workers gives capitalists an advantage in negotiations with individual hires. The employer boasts that it can always find someone else to fill a position if an employee demands higher wages or better working conditions. The capitalist has millions and billions of dollars hoarded away and is not worried about paying the rent out of the next paycheck. On the other hand, the workers cannot afford to hold out for too long and must accept whatever the capitalist offers. As a result, the wages paid by capitalists are typically just enough for workers to survive and continue selling their labor power. Despite fluctuations, it is a consistent pattern that workers produce more value during their workday than they receive in wages. The surplus, or profit, generated by this discrepancy goes to the capitalist.
Thus, the Workers Party denounces the capitalist ideology which places blame on individuals for the problems of capitalism, rather than acknowledging the crises and oppression caused by capitalism. This ideology only benefits the rich and powerful. We go amongst the broad masses of the population and tell the truth about the fact that the capitalist system is characterized by inequality, as it grants a small portion of the population ownership of the means of production. Through the use of force, the capitalist class has gained exclusive control over the tools necessary for transforming nature and ensuring their own survival. This monopolization extends beyond just the tools of society and also encompasses land and natural resources. As a result, the majority of the population has been forcefully deprived of their rights and marginalized.
We recognize that social development – life itself – is demanding the transition from capitalism to socialism.
The American people have long fought for a society that guarantees equal rights for all. These demands are now being voiced by millions of people. The high level of socialization in our economy, along with the awareness gained as a result of this reality, has brought economic rights to the forefront as a practical problem that urgently needs to be addressed.
What stands in the way of solving this problem is not about lack of resources. (On the contrary! The workers of our country produce more than enough to meet the needs of all.) The issue is a political one. In order to assert their inalienable rights, the workers and people must come together as an independent political force. They need to challenge the political power and privileges held by capital in order to achieve victories for the working class in terms of political economy.
Take the example of the need to guarantee a secure job or livelihood for every member of society. Both capitalist parties deny that society has a responsibility to guarantee the inalienable rights of the people, including the right to a secure job or livelihood. These two parties are continuously stripping away the rights that people have fought for over many years. Alternatively, the Workers Party holds that the human race cannot survive by the capitalist ideal and practice of social relations that reduce the life of the individual to a sole focus on their own needs and desires.
The human individual is not an isolated entity, but lives in a social environment that profoundly influences their ability to live and develop their personality. The livelihood of workers, whose labor creates the wealth in society, is not as uncertain and limited as it is for millions and millions of people in the "modern" U.S. due to a mass plague of vices such as laziness or lack of motivation as claimed by the capitalist ideologues. Rather, the livelihood of the workers is determined by the decisions made by capitalist owners. Unlike in the ancient past where individuals could secure their livelihood through self-sufficiency, such as by staking out territory or gathering wild berries, the modern world operates on a vast social division of labor. In this contemporary economy, all the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and education, are produced and distributed through this complex social system. Therefore, the life of an individual is intricately tied to the organization of the economy and society, as well as their position within this social hierarchy.
Today, even while years of reductions in wages have resulted in a reduced purchasing power and an accumulation of unsold goods the capitalists aim to eliminate income-support programs, like unemployment insurance, in order to undermine the confidence of the class-conscious elements of society in their conviction that the workers, whether employed or unemployed, deserve a standard of living commensurate with our country's high level of development. By removing these protections, the capitalists would be trying to further decrease wages and living standards for all workers, while simultaneously increasing competition among them. Additionally, they use the threat of hunger as a means of coercing workers into accepting harsh exploitation.
Under capitalism, unemployment and job insecurity affect all sections of the working class, including from the youngest to the most experienced workers. In many cities, youth unemployment exceeds 50%. Even workers with extensive experience can suddenly find themselves jobless without any pension or future prospects when capitalist corporations shut down plants or reduce production. Because capitalists aim to extract the most work from the fewest workers while paying them the lowest possible wages, this system always maintains a "reserve army of the unemployed" – a pool of available workers which allows capitalists to perpetuate uncertainty in job security for all workers. This situation affects both skilled and unskilled workers alike.
The existence of a large and growing pool of unemployed workers gives capitalists an advantage in negotiations with individual hires. The employer boasts that it can always find someone else to fill a position if an employee demands higher wages or better working conditions. The capitalist has millions and billions of dollars hoarded away and is not worried about paying the rent out of the next paycheck. On the other hand, the workers cannot afford to hold out for too long and must accept whatever the capitalist offers. As a result, the wages paid by capitalists are typically just enough for workers to survive and continue selling their labor power. Despite fluctuations, it is a consistent pattern that workers produce more value during their workday than they receive in wages. The surplus, or profit, generated by this discrepancy goes to the capitalist.
Thus, the Workers Party denounces the capitalist ideology which places blame on individuals for the problems of capitalism, rather than acknowledging the crises and oppression caused by capitalism. This ideology only benefits the rich and powerful. We go amongst the broad masses of the population and tell the truth about the fact that the capitalist system is characterized by inequality, as it grants a small portion of the population ownership of the means of production. Through the use of force, the capitalist class has gained exclusive control over the tools necessary for transforming nature and ensuring their own survival. This monopolization extends beyond just the tools of society and also encompasses land and natural resources. As a result, the majority of the population has been forcefully deprived of their rights and marginalized.
We recognize that social development – life itself – is demanding the transition from capitalism to socialism.
Mobilizing for a Pro-Social Alternative in Today's Political Climate
The current state of bourgeois politics in 2023 highlights the bankruptcy and degeneration of capitalist politics. The monopoly capitalist class dominates the two major parties, the mass media, and the entire political process and system. In the midst of an all-sided crisis, the program of big capital is to shift the burden of the economic crisis onto the people, increase exploitation, deny social responsibility, incite racism and chauvinism, and prepare for new imperialist wars. This reactionary program is throwing the country backward.
The anti-social agenda imposed by the two parties is a product of monopoly capitalism in crisis. The government prioritizes billionaire capitalists over guaranteeing the rights of the people. Political discussions in the bourgeois-endorsed press remain within limits defined by the monopoly capitalist class. The media degrades people's consciousness, reduces politics to common sewer filth and slop-slinging, and hides the aims of capitalists through disinformation campaigns. The political system is rigged to give Republicans and Democrats a monopoly over political affairs, imposing the pre-set agenda of monopoly capital on the country.
The capitalists also attack progress through opportunism within the labor movement. By renouncing independent aims for the workers' movement, a labor aristocracy paid off by the workplace bosses aids bourgeois ideology to dominate and confine the workers' movement. Without their own aims and theory, workers remain at the mercy of capitalist exploiters and societal contradictions. The labor aristocracy denies the antagonistic interests between capitalists and workers, denies lessons of past class struggles that have given our country everything positive it has ever accomplished – from social security to the 8-hour day – and denies the need for workers to come to occupy center-stage as an independent class force based on its historic program for economic rights, democratic renewal, a democratic foreign policy, and socialist revolution.
The political system and ideological apparatus of today aim to depoliticize workers and prevent their self-conscious, independent organization and movement.
The conditions for a mass independent working class and popular movement are growing, as people are becoming increasingly disgusted with the Democrats and Republicans. There is a shift towards independent action, with many individuals embracing the independent program of economic rights, democratic renewal, a democratic foreign policy, and socialism. This has led to active participation and the creation of a vibrant atmosphere where people can come together and bring their own program of solutions and their own banners into the political arena.
In light of these new conditions, the Party encourages its members and supporters to consolidate their efforts and explore new avenues. They urge all workers and individuals to break free from the dominance of the Republicans and Democrats, speaking their own minds and contributing to the development of an independent political movement.
We call on progressive political activists to collaborate and find ways to advance their shared goals and agenda. The current political crisis presents a significant challenge, as both major parties offer more poverty, exploitation, racism, war, and repression. The solution lies in taking control of our future by actively participating in building an independent political movement.
People are fed up with the existing political establishment and are eager for fundamental change to the political system and social relations. The call for an independent movement is gaining momentum as more individuals embrace an alternative vision for economic rights, democracy, and social progress. By coming together, reflecting on their experience, voicing their opinions, looking into the root causes of the problems, learning about the laws of motion of capitalism, and studying the lessons of our movement, people have the power to shape their own future and break free from the limitations imposed by the two-party system.
The anti-social agenda imposed by the two parties is a product of monopoly capitalism in crisis. The government prioritizes billionaire capitalists over guaranteeing the rights of the people. Political discussions in the bourgeois-endorsed press remain within limits defined by the monopoly capitalist class. The media degrades people's consciousness, reduces politics to common sewer filth and slop-slinging, and hides the aims of capitalists through disinformation campaigns. The political system is rigged to give Republicans and Democrats a monopoly over political affairs, imposing the pre-set agenda of monopoly capital on the country.
The capitalists also attack progress through opportunism within the labor movement. By renouncing independent aims for the workers' movement, a labor aristocracy paid off by the workplace bosses aids bourgeois ideology to dominate and confine the workers' movement. Without their own aims and theory, workers remain at the mercy of capitalist exploiters and societal contradictions. The labor aristocracy denies the antagonistic interests between capitalists and workers, denies lessons of past class struggles that have given our country everything positive it has ever accomplished – from social security to the 8-hour day – and denies the need for workers to come to occupy center-stage as an independent class force based on its historic program for economic rights, democratic renewal, a democratic foreign policy, and socialist revolution.
The political system and ideological apparatus of today aim to depoliticize workers and prevent their self-conscious, independent organization and movement.
The conditions for a mass independent working class and popular movement are growing, as people are becoming increasingly disgusted with the Democrats and Republicans. There is a shift towards independent action, with many individuals embracing the independent program of economic rights, democratic renewal, a democratic foreign policy, and socialism. This has led to active participation and the creation of a vibrant atmosphere where people can come together and bring their own program of solutions and their own banners into the political arena.
In light of these new conditions, the Party encourages its members and supporters to consolidate their efforts and explore new avenues. They urge all workers and individuals to break free from the dominance of the Republicans and Democrats, speaking their own minds and contributing to the development of an independent political movement.
We call on progressive political activists to collaborate and find ways to advance their shared goals and agenda. The current political crisis presents a significant challenge, as both major parties offer more poverty, exploitation, racism, war, and repression. The solution lies in taking control of our future by actively participating in building an independent political movement.
People are fed up with the existing political establishment and are eager for fundamental change to the political system and social relations. The call for an independent movement is gaining momentum as more individuals embrace an alternative vision for economic rights, democracy, and social progress. By coming together, reflecting on their experience, voicing their opinions, looking into the root causes of the problems, learning about the laws of motion of capitalism, and studying the lessons of our movement, people have the power to shape their own future and break free from the limitations imposed by the two-party system.