Socialism is a common-sense path to a fairer, more prosperous and more democratic USA.

WE MAKE IT …

Right now, 99% of Americans share the work of producing all of the products and services of our economy. We work together in person or online. We work in factories and offices. We work in schools and stores. We work in laboratories and in hospitals. And, we work on farms and construction sites.

THEY TAKE IT!

But, when it comes to reaping the rewards of this collective labor, things get turned upside down. What the joint labor of millions of Americans has produced ends up being owned by a handful of billionaires. Those same billionaires , without any say-so by the American people, make all the decisions. THEY get to decide to cut pensions, close schools, ship jobs overseas, and pollute the environment.

A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!

In a socialist economy, things get turned right side up. The ownership and control of the means of production would be in the hands of those who do the work. As a result, those of us who produce – the 99% – would make these important decisions together. This would correspond to the way we produce the wealth together.

WE MUST PUT PEOPLE –AND OUR PLANET – BEFORE PROFITS

With the people in the driver’s seat, corporate profits would no longer be Number One. Instead, the things the American people think are most important would come first.

Enough resources would be freed up to do many things. We could fully fund public education and health care for all. We could have mass transit, Social Security, free college tuition, and child care. At the same time, we could remove lead from our pipes. We, the American people, could set other priorities, too.

SOCIALISM = ‘LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS’

In a socialist society, people would get paid for the hard work they do. They would be rewarded for the initiatives they take. The difference? Corporate big shots and hedge fund managers could no longer walk off with trillions of dollars that belong to working families.

War, racism, sexism, and homophobia would lose their corporate sponsors.

We could apply the full power of American ingenuity and technology to reversing climate change and developing green industries.

America’s rich and diverse heritage could flourish in music and literature. Sports, dance, film, and art would be available to everyone. Opportunities would open up for millions of young people to contribute their talents and energy. This would result in well-paying and satisfying careers for our nation’s youth. Small businesses would have a role to play in building this vibrant economy. They would be protected from the unfair advantages given to big corporations.

BILL OF RIGHTS UNDER SOCIALISM

Socialism in the United States would be built on the strong foundation of our Constitution’s Bill of Rights. This includes making the promises of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equality for all real. The rights to a job, to health care, and education must also be guaranteed by the Constitution. The criminal justice, police and prison systems must be overhauled from top to bottom to get rid of racial disparity.

VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR CORPORATIONS

A fairer political system goes hand-in-hand with a socialist economy. To work effectively, socialism needs the active and informed participation of the American people. The American people already agree that corporate money must be barred from corrupting our election system. Ten million undocumented workers are a part of our country’s working class. They must be welcomed to participate as citizens in a socialist democracy. By the same token, the voting rights of millions of incarcerated Americans – mostly African Americans and Latinos – must be restored. In place of voter suppression laws, fair election processes are needed. Universal voter participation is the basis of democracy.

In both open and hidden ways, racial inequality and sexism are built into the structure of our nation’s capitalist economy and society. Rooting it out is a task for the entire American people. That’s the only way we can build the unity that we need. It is this unity that will give us the power to build a just and democratic society for every one of us and for future generations.

A socialist society also needs checks and balances. Organizations at the grass-roots level can make sure there are democratic controls. Our country already has great traditions of grass-roots organizations: town-hall meetings, tribal councils, and student governments. Our working class has gained valuable experience in operating labor unions, cooperatives, and credit unions. At a local level Americans contribute their talents in PTAs, churches, and charitable organizations.

WE HAVE A VISION

Building on this expertise and experience, Americans can have the confidence that together we can build a political and economic system of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The unity of America’s working people – African American and white, Latino, Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern – is critical to our progress. Men and women, LGBTQ and straight, young and old must stand together for each other. This unity cannot be broken if it is based on the working class principle of “an injury to one is an injury to all.”

This is our vision of a socialist USA. You can join with us. Help us make this vision a reality.

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