Greetings,
On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Tom Walker wrote:
> Shawgi Tell asked,
>
> >Tom what do you think is needed to move society forward? I posed
> >this question to Michael yesterday. Hope to hear from the both of you and
> >others.
>
> I will begin with a brief citation, which not only sums up my own position
> but states the practical program drafted by Karl Marx and adopted by the
> Congress of the International Working Men's Association at Geneva in 1866:
> "The limitation of the working day is a preliminary condition without which
> all further attempts at improvement and emancipation must prove abortive."
>
> A U.S. resolution to the same aim, also adopted in 1866, concluded with the
> following oath: "We are resolved to put forth all our strength until this
> glorious result is attained."
>
> What is needed is a broad popular movement to limit the working day. No one
> has asked me what my program would be if I found myself suddenly the
> socialist prime minister of France. But I'll answer anyway. My program would
> be based on the principle that so long as a single person is unable to find
> sustaining work, the hours of labour are too long. My program would also be
> based on dismantling the state apparatus that has been built up for the sole
> purpose of artificially prolonging the working day (and thereby underwriting
> the accumulation of capital and fostering division among workers).
>
> I wouldn't bother expounding on whether such policies are social democratic,
> socialist or communist. I would defend them on the sole grounds that they
> are necessary and just. I would be shot within a few weeks.
Tom, at this time the broad masses of the people in the U.S. do
not hold supreme political decision-making power. They do not set the
agenda in society, nor do they lay down any of the laws. They have no
real and decisive say in the direction of society and continue to be
marginalized and ghettoized by the present political and economic set-up
of the bourgeoisie. They are extremely dissatisfied with the political
process, politicians and political parties of the super-rich.
In order for any serious social problem to be solved, in order for
society to move forward, people must first have real and decisive
decision-making power. They must first be sovereign. They cannot come to
power, and therefore affect change for the better, if the present set-up
of the super-rich is not rejected and a New electoral process created.
So, for example, work hours, healthcare, employmnet, education,
housing, enviornmental problems, arms problems, racism, inequality,
poverty and so on cannot be properly addressed, let alone solved, unless
the people are politically empowered, unless they capture the present
state, smash it and erect a new one. Once people have political power,
once the people themselves are sovereign, then they themsleves, not the
so-called "experts" and politicians, can take the urgent steps to
eliminate the crisis-ridden capitalist system, the source of all
exploitation and oppression.
Let me give you an example of how extremely dangerous it is to
promote something other than the concrete political empowerment of the
citizenry.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney spoke at the 1996 Democratic
convention and made clear what class stand he is pushing on the workers:
"What do working families want? They don't want to run the Congress, or
the White House or the political parties. They want to be compensated and
respected for the contributions they make. They want to send their
children to decent schools. They want to go to a safe workplace everyday.
They want a doctor when they need one, a little rest when they are weary,
and a pension after a lifetime of work."
It is necessary to seriously consider the class stand being
pushed by Sweeney. Workers *do want* control over their lives and
are dissatisfied with the present political set-up. Without political
power, how can workers have a role in deciding the direction of society?
Who is served when union leaders put forward the view that workers want no
political control? This is a class stand in favor of the status quo, in
favor of keeping the rich in power.
The content given for what workers want reflects the same stand.
No doubt workers want respect, safety, pensions, schools and doctors. But
can this be the limit of the vision of the working class? As producers of
all social wealth, shouldn't workers have a say in the direction of the
economy? What about discussing how to organize an economic system that
not only "compensates" workers but meets the ever growing material and
cultural needs of all members of society? What about a government that
guarantees human rights? This means, for example, not just "decent
schools" and doctors, but the best possible education and healthcare, free
and equal for all, from cradle to the grave. It means necessities like
food, shelter, clothing and a livelihood exist as a reality for all. Why
shouldn't workers put these aims on the agenda for solution?
The basic point here is that nothing can change for the better
unlesss the people themselves, led by the working class, come to power.
And this cannot happen unless the people themselves get involved in
organized collective discussion (i.e., investigation of the essence of
social problems and proposing real solutions on that basis) in educational
institutions, workplces, neighborhoods, seniors' homes, youth
organizations, military units and religious congregations. This sort of
discussion is largely absent in society.
How can workers limit the working day if there aren't even any
mechanisms in society which put them in a position to begin
making meaningful decisions? What can be achieved by workers so long as
they remain politically disempowered? Again, to bring about any changes
for the better, people must first have supreme political decision-making
power. At this time they do not.
> Regards,
>
> Tom Walker
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Shawgi Tell
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
