Where We Stand 1.3

Revolution

As Socialists we support the right of workers and all the oppressed to struggle against their oppression. Reforms may improve the living, working, and social conditions of workers and the oppressed. But capitalism endangers these reforms, and without replacing capitalism with socialism, oppression and exploitation will remain.

The government now was created and is maintained as an instrument of the ruling class; it is there to protect their interests. Therefore, workers need a completely different government, one that democratically represents their interests -- that of the majority. We do not endorse capitalist parties such as the Democrats or Republicans. We support true left wing candidates and direct political action. We must work to break down the capitalist, two party system that strangles true democracy.

Where We Stand 1.2

Workers' Power


It is from the labor of the workers that wealth is created, but it is not the workers who own that wealth. The means of production are owned by the ruling class. Only when workers take control of the means of production and organize it democratically will a socialist society be possible. The workers make up the majority of society and it should be the majority that governs rather than a small minority.

Through the use of the strike and independent organizing from the union bosses can workers emancipate themselves. As such, we support trade unions, and the right of workers to unionize in an economy that constantly puts the capitalists' interests over those of the worker.

Because of workers' position as producers of social wealth they are the most capable of bringing down the capitalist system that continues to exploit and oppress.

Where We Stand - The Politics of the ISO

Part 1.1

In order that people who come across our page can learn more about us, we are putting up a series of posts titled "Where We Stand - The Politics of the ISO." Many of our posts come from Socialist Worker, our daily publication, or International Socialist Review, a bimonthly scholarly journal. But more could be said about the politics, perspective, and organization that is the ISO. Usually when we sit down with our contacts to talk over politics we bring along a copy of this packet. It is the simplest tool we have to introduce you to our project.

We will do abbreviated points every Sunday based on the information in the packet.

Socialism, Not Capitalism

The injustices of war, poverty, exploitation and oppression are a result of a capitalist system. This system puts the interests of a small minority above the interests of the rest, from whom the capitalists profit from their labor. A socialist society is the alternative where workers work, own, and govern collectively. Our tradition is founded in the works of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, carried on in the works of Lenin, Luxemburg, and Trotsky.