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The SP believes in political democracy and defines itself as a democratic socialist organization. This means that we are committed to the democratic process and its extension to the economy. Socialists have also been in the forefront of those supporting civil liberties for all, for two reasons: we recognize that if unpopular views are allowed to be quashed, those in power use those laws against those who threaten the status quo, (of which Socialists will be high on the list); and because civil liberties are necessary for a functioning democracy. Choices can’t be made adequately if all views are not allowed to be aired. Political democracy also involves secularism, or advocacy of separation of church and state. Socialists believe that people should be free to believe whatever religious doctrines to which their consciences lead them, or to not believe in the super-natural, without state interference. Likewise, no religion has a right to special preference by the state. We also apply our principles of economic democracy to other countries that call themselves socialist. If they have tried to enforce equality at the expense of political democracy, we disagree with attaching the label “Socialist.” Indeed, it is a contradiction to speak of “enforcing equality,” as that implies someone who is “more equal” is doing the enforcing. We may disagree amongst ourselves as to how to designate the previous Communist Party controlled states, whether bureaucratic, collectivist, state capitalist, or a class society or a new type. In our foreign policy we withhold support for such governments, as we do for capitalist governments. |
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Socialist Party
USA 339 Lafayette St. #303 New York, NY 10012 |