Economic Democracy

What is Economic Democracy?

Economic Democracy is real socialism, period. It is a state of society in which all people work cooperatively as equals for the common good of all. It is achievable only when democracy has been extended from the political sphere to also include the economy. The titles democratic socialism, economic democracy and participatory economics have been used lately to distinguish “true socialism” from the authoritarian and undemocratic states which have wrongly mislabeled themselves as socialist.

Here Are A Few Simple Principals of Democratic Socialism:

• Production for human use, not for profit.
• Classless society where no person should exploit any other person.
• Conservation of natural resources through sustainable production.
• Changes in society and government should be made by free and open elections.
• Widespread and full public education is essential to guarantee the equality of people.
• People must have access to information and be allowed to communicate their ideas in order to make informed democratic decisions.
• Public, collective ownership of the means of production and distribution, as well as the democratic management thereof. (Not state ownership of every human enterprise)
• Food, housing and healthcare are basic human rights and should be guaranteed to all.
• Democratic socialism must be achieved democratically.

“Socialism” Misused

Many societies have disguised themselves by using the term socialism. Countless dictators and despots have been able to rally people around the egalitarian ideals of socialism in order to take control of their governments and then never put these ideals into effect. "National Socialism" for example advocates a one-party dictatorial capitalist society, aka fascism. "Communism" has been used by one-party authoritarian states with centrally planned economies, aka state run capitalism. The Soviet Union was neither democratic nor socialist. A real socialist society would have to arise by democratic means and remain completely democratic in order to remain truly socialist.

The Socialist Party, USA

Todd has been endorsed by The Socialist Party, USA and will appear on the CT ballot as the socialist candidate. The Socialist Party, formed in 1901, strives to establish a radical democracy that places people's lives under their own control - a non-racist, classless, feminist socialist society...where working people own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically-controlled public agencies; where full employment is realized for everyone who wants to work; where workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions; and where the production of society is used for the benefit of all humanity, not for the private profit of a few. We believe socialism and democracy are one and indivisible.

A Note To “Nervous” Voters

You agree with Todd’s views on the major issues but are reluctant to vote for a socialist candidate? Please consider this: One socialist representative on the floor of the House of representatives will obviously not transform America into a democratic socialist society. What it will do is place a very progressive (liberal) voice in congress that will fight for the interests of the working class (middle class) and the poor, not the corporations. The wealthy already have more than 400 voices representing their interests in congress.

If you are afraid of being put on some kind of “government list” then you need to reconsider your belief that we live in an open and free society. I encourage everyone to learn more about socialism and what it really is. It is NOT the bogeyman trying to take your stuff and eliminate your freedom… it is actually the opposite. Please visit some of the links below to educate yourself on a subject that is always mislabeled and suppressed by the ruling capitalist class in order to maintain the current world order that is very profitable for them at the expense of the rest of us and the planet.

Learn More About Democratic Socialism

The Socialist Party, USA

http://www.sp-usa.org

Text Descriptions of Democratic Socialism:
A Primer on Democratic Socialism, by Edwin Laing (PDF)
http://daschaich.homelinux.net/SP/Saint.pdf
The Renewing of Socialism: An Introduction, by John Bellamy Foster
http://www.monthlyreview.org/0705jbf.htm
Approaching Socialism, by Harry Magdoff and Fred Magdoff
http://www.monthlyreview.org/0705magdoffs1.htm
Parecon: Life After Capitalism, by Michael Albert
http://www.zmag.org/ParEcon/pelac.htm

Audio Descriptions of Democratic Socialism:
A Primer on Democratic Socialism by Edwin Laing (mp3)
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=14518

Video Descriptions of Democratic Socialism:
Parecon Description Pt. 1 of 3 by Michael Albert
http://www.zcommunications.org/zvideo/6
Introduction to Participatory Economics Pt 1 of 5
http://www.zcommunications.org/zvideo/11