Socialism. What’s the difference?

Socialism is being resisted at every turn in what is generally termed the “western world”. Why? What difference would it make in a society where Greed takes precedence over Need?
Two headlines in today’s press report on what is happening globally. In the Guardian we read about the owners of Silver Spoon Sugar and Twinings Tea avoiding tax in Zambia where sugar is produced. Exploitation continues apace as Greed takes precedence over Need. Who controls these corporate giants which hold greater power than governments, or exert massive influence through entrenched lobby systems in western governments including US, UK and EU. While we elect representatives who do they take notice of as they are enticed by lucrative directorships for themselves and their families, or lavish entertainment. We see in the UK MPs and Lords, Tory or New Labour, falling like flies as corrupt Russian billionaires wine and dine them in their luxury homes and yachts in their exclusive playgrounds. The same impose austerity on the rest in need of decent homes, jobs, education and health and social care as local authorities are cut to the bone. We’re all in it together says the Chancellor from his ivory tower. Both he and Peter Mandelson have enjoyed the attention of their wealthy Russian friends, neither short of a bob or two while assuring us “we’re all in it together”.
Secondly how did that horse get into my dinner? Perhaps its better for me than fatty beef products. Well that’s what David Cameron would have us believe. Health and safety watchdogs are sleeping, again cut to the bone. It’s not the horse meat itself, something else has been found inside it says The Independent. Clearly Cameron is embarrassed as his underling gets addressing down for sleeping on the job.
In Birmingham last night we caught a glimpse of how it might be otherwise as the Socialist Labour Party celebrated the 41st anniversary of the “Battle of Saltley Gate” and discussed Need over Greed, a different world view that does exist elsewhere as we heard from the Cuban Ambassador, Esther Armenteros and the Deputy Venezuelan Ambassador, Alvaro Sanchez. First Pete Jackson, author of a publication “The Battle of Saltley Gate” gave an overview of events in Birmingham in 1972 when 30,000 Birmingham workers stopped work in support of the beleaguered miners. 10,000 joined another 6,000 miners, an event that was to have a decisive effect on an earlier Tory Government that promoted Greed over Need. A year ago Arthur Scargill and his Deputy in Yorkshire NUM, Ken Capstick returned to Saltley Gate and stressed the lessons for us today faced with an even greater threat to working people. If we define this group as all those who don’t have control over production vs. those who do we see it as a much larger group of people losing out as an ever smaller elite gains control over all our needs. Greed over Need. In the SLP we emphasise Need over Greed. In Cuba and Venezuela we can see this in action as health and education are provided to those previously excluded, and then shared more widely with others in need.
Esther Armenteros spoke of the increased influence Cuba has in Latin America as they assume the presidency of CELAC. Alvaro Sanchez spoke as Venezuela celebrated the 21st anniversary of an attempted coup involving Hugo Chavez who has just won back leadership in recent elections, but is recovering from major surgery in Havana. SLP President Andrew Jordan summed up the situation as we struggle for jobs, for housing, education and health, services all destroyed as services are handed over to private bodies greedy for profit, short on compassion.

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