Mankind’s Glorious Socialist Future

The Newsletter, vol. 2 no. 70, 27 September 1958 · scan pages 6, 7

Read from the scan by machine and not corrected: headlines and words can be misread, and a caption or advert can run into the text. For anything you quote, read the scan.

THE continual expansion of ‘world production, and the revolutions. in technique accompanying it and initiating it, will not only enrich mankind in all-the material objects in life but will also release everyone to enjoy culture to’ the ‘full.

-socialist- world look’. like? We cannot ‘give-a - .

_ What -will-a full--picture; but from .a study. of «the -potentialities revealed -in present-day science we can sketch some likely features of the future socialist: society. - The rapid: advarice- of automation. and nuclear power: will :

' This is- the last of a series of articles. on: socialism by.

Harry Finch, a Birmingham Labour. councillor - sand. -a shop steward at GEC.

Previous articles in the series appeared. on-Augu ist. 16 = : a (p.. 211), August: 23 (Pp. 219-20), . September 6 ©. 232) _ ‘and’ September 20 (op. 24 2-3). :

again and again redhiice the hours of labour required to turn out an abundance of goods. ~ Factories will be. clean. Dust willbe eliminated. Streets will ‘becleaned by’ electronic devices: Hard physical. labour will be replaced by robots.

- This continual ‘reduction of working “hours will enable ‘all : :

if-they desire to be university students. There-will be'a a great thirst for learning. and adequate time to satisfy: it. Rest of their lives -We can envisage people electing how to do their few hours ; of work required. Some may decide to work for a year of their lives. at, say, thirty a hours. a week (instead.-of the. required two or three hours) arid then Spend the rest of their -- lives in. physical and mental pursuits.

Utopia? I do not think so. Once. capitalism: is removed there is 10 limit to the revolutionizing of production.

Would controversy cease? I think that as long as-man exists on this planet controversy will always be present.

But under socialism there will be no political parties, for these represent economic classes:

Therefore controversy. is most likely to take the form of sharp debates on scientific theories, criticism of. various -schools of ‘art, music and so on.

We can well imagine the line-up of ‘factions’ in the uni- ; ; versities and elsewhere on. the huge projects—inter-planetary travel, for. instance—in which a socialist world will engage.

People will be able: to exercise and develop their mental faculties as. never. before. Having. time before. them many will not only ‘study in art schools but Paint and do handicraft themselves.

“T am’ sure ‘that the socialist man will be as erudite as ‘some ; ; :

of our own scientistsand_ professors today. In fact there -is no reason why: all of the’ future generations shall not be on that level.

ToO WILL: man grow- fat -and lazy ? Why should: :- he?

Released: from. the labour of. capitalism, which even among manual-workers develops only some of: their muscles _(depending ‘on what job they do), people will engage in physical as well as mental culture.

The sports will. be there for all to enjoy. Proper dieting ; coupled ‘with .physical recreation,.tife. in. -beautiful country cities. where smoke.and disease are ¢liminated; should produce people who will tower both: physically and. mentally over the present. generation... -Women will be liberated: The day of the wash- tub ‘and i sink -will. be gone. for ever.

“Af families still-wish:to-eat at home then: electronic machines .

will..cook for them. Already there ‘are ‘experiments on the market for houses: to be ‘panel- switch’ controlled, and ‘infrared’. cookers turn steaks. in’ two: minutes.

_No traveller’s cheques required But to me the most exciting ‘prospect of all is mass migrations- and intermingling ‘of the world’s populations: People will be born in a-certain country but the whole world will be their home.

How often ‘have we ordinary workers said: “How I would love to travel!’?

Socialism will allow all to traverse the globe. No traveller's cheques or visas required!

And for the ‘stay-at-homes’. I am sure that -science will find a. way to improve the climate.

We are facing the last big fight. against capitalism with all its filth and bloody violence.

To reach the bright horizon of socialism we must build up the leadership that will carry forward this fight. The alternative is a planet of radio-active dust.

T am convinced that mankind has not travelled to. within an inch of universal abundance only to allow a few to destroy the human race: Thé working class will destroy capitalism instead, and ‘lead humanity on to the classless society.