SOCIALISM 101

At some point, you may have asked yourself, “what is socialism?”

Sometimes politicians or conservative agitators will use this term, along with Marxism, as an alarmist hook that relies on people’s lack of knowledge in order to fear monger against socialism. No doubt, you've heard an assortment of opinions on what it supposedly is: “Socialism is when everyone has the same clothes, the same home, and the same food,” or “Socialism is when the government forces everyone into poverty!” 

In reality, this is not at all what socialism is. To help us understand socialism better, let's contrast it with the current socioeconomic model we do follow: capitalism.

The idea behind capitalism isn't necessarily the activity of bartering and trade. Capitalism is an economic system that allows individuals with power and privilege to own and accumulate wealth from the labor of everyday workers. In this system, capitalists collect wealth for their personal benefit rather than fairly compensating workers for the substantial profits they generate.

When we observe a factory under capitalism, we see workers refine raw resources (like wood) into finished products. The workers add significant value to these materials through their skills, time, and labor, creating profitable products. Yet, despite their contributions, workers only receive an hourly wage—a fraction of the value they have created. Why is this? Because the capitalist, who merely owns the factory and manages the workers’ time, claims a substantial portion of the value that the workers have created.

You may ask yourself: “Why do we need the middleman in this transaction? Why don't the workers own the factory, keep all the profits, and democratically operate it? Why do we have this disconnect between workers, who seek fair compensation and work-life balance, and capitalists, who want maximum work for minimal pay?”

To answer these questions, consider how the capitalist acquired the wealth to buy the factory in the first place. They likely did not earn it through an hourly wage like their workers. If that were possible, we'd all be factory owners. Instead, they used the value created by workers to buy the factory. This dynamic exists because capitalism naturally concentrates wealth in the hands of a select few, while keeping ownership away from the majority.

The capitalist only risks becoming a worker, whereas the worker risks not being able to retire, struggling to feed their family, and becoming unhoused if the business doesn’t succeed. If workers owned the means of production, they would have a vested interest in the factory's success and would work cooperatively to secure their livelihood. The workers would have a vested interest in the success of the factory. They would work hard and cooperate as best as possible with their fellow workers to succeed and secure their means of existence!

Socialism acknowledges our shared interests as workers and promotes working together for a better world where no one lives off the labour of others. It’s about strengthening community and uplifting workers, preventing a privileged few or corporations from hoarding wealth and opportunities while workers struggle with poverty and climate disasters caused by the wealthy elite.

Despite what right-wing parties and capitalists want workers to believe, socialists do not want to control everyone and force people into poverty. Socialists believe that workers should hold all the power, since we are the ones who make the world go ‘round!

After decades of inaction and the status quo, workers are tired and disillusioned with the state of politics in British Columbia (and Canada as a whole). Although we have been made to believe that true change is slow and unlikely, we know that change can happen through the power of the working class.

Electing an independent socialist into the BC Legislature will strengthen the political dialogue and inspire change in the oppressive landscape of late-stage capitalism. Socialists care about empowering the working class rather than the corporate elite, who already benefit so much and do not care about what happens to workers or historically excluded populations. 

Right-wing parties (like the BC Conservatives and the BC United) and even the centrist party that the BC NDP has become, have shown to only prioritize profits, corporate interests, and regressive policy at all costs—including the harm continually being inflicted on the environment, human rights, and the safety and dignity of workers. 

People are ready for a change, and that change won’t come from electing the same corrupt and elitist parties over and over again.

People are ready for legitimate left-wing representation!

Elect Eden Haythornthwaite on October 19!