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Socialist Alliance aims to provide an answer to the millions of working people seeking aworld free of war, poverty, bigotry, and environmental destruction. War and misery are thedefining characteristics of capitalism.
1. Preamble to the Socialist Alliance platform (2001)
The current invasion of Iraq by imperialist forces, including Australian troops, means notonly mass murder in the Middle East, but increasing attacks on the wages, services and livingconditions of working people in this country. The Socialist Alliance is opposed to the war onIraq and stands with the Iraqi people against the occupying force which seeks to rob them oftheir sovereignty and resources. In order to afford their war, Australia’s millionaires and theirpolitical allies intend to make the working majority pay for a conflict with which we profoundlydisagree.The tremendous wealth created by our collective labour should not be squandered by thetiny ruling minority. The redistribution of their undeserved gains would go a long way toalleviating the crises in health, welfare, education and housing that plague our society.The reorganisation of industries to permit worker and community control and the reversal ofprivatisation would create tens of thousands of jobs. Real democracy would unleash thecollective creativity of working people, so necessary to repair the damage to our communitiesand environments caused by decades of economic rationalism and the ruthless pursuit ofprofits.Injustice and capitalism are inextricably linked.Nationalism, sexism, racism and homophobia are the preferred tools of the ruling class,used to divide working people from each other and so divert us from our common struggleagainst exploitation. The Socialist Alliance is totally opposed to all forms of bigotry and willchallenge it wherever it appears. For this reason, the Alliance stands with Indigenous peoplein their centuries-long struggle to reclaim their land, and with all those fleeing persecution andpoverty to seek a better life in this country.The Socialist Alliance seeks to stand candidates in elections at every level of government.We intend to offer an alternative to both Labor and the Greens. Having embraced the policiesof corporate globalisation, Labor has long ceased offering traditional Labor voters analternative to the reactionary program of the Howard regime. And while the Greens go a longway in pointing out the injustices and depredations of the current system, ultimately they seekto reform it, rather than build a better alternative.To Greens voters the Alliance says that real change is not possible without removing thesource of environmental degradation—the profit system itself.Sustainability means socialism.If elected, a Socialist Alliance candidate would reject the perks and personal pay-outs ofparliamentary office and accept only the average worker’s wage. In parliament, SocialistAlliance candidates would use their position to give a voice to workers’ struggles and socialmovements, fight reactionary policies and promote the mass campaigns that can defeat theattacks on jobs and living standards.
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