ALL OUT FOR COMPUTERISATION OF SOCIETY – PROVISION OF PLENTY FOR ALL- AND FOR DIRECT DEMOCRACY USING THE INTERNET
1. THE STATE THEY ARE IN
The world bourgeoisie which is monopolist and imperialist is in deep crises. Wars, famine, genocide, illnesses, destruction and misery of all sorts are the only things it can offer to humanity. This is the only way it can rule. To continue its rule, all it can offer for the future is more of the same and even worse. The fact that it is a moribund class with no ability and therefore no right to govern the society, the fact that it cannot govern the society, is thus exposed every day; for obviously, this is not the way humanity should be ruled.
In the meantime its members and all sorts of representatives talk of democracy and human rights. The world has never seen such a hypocritical class all through its history.
In the U.K., throwing workers out of their jobs, cutting expenditure on the unemployed and pensioners, causing death through poverty in the midst of plenty and looking at us in the face and without blushing in the slightest they are coming up with so called sovereign democracy which reveal the fact that they are neither sovereign nor democrat.
We have computers in every school, in every community centre, in every local government and central government offices and in many other places besides. Much more can also be provided most readily. Even children in primary schools can use the Internet. And yet, all the democracy they can offer to the society are pitiful and powerless assemblies and Houses of the parliaments at Westminster, while all that is needed to have direct democracy and therefore continual referendum on all matters high and low, is readily available to the society.
See what flimsy excuses Mr. Bill Gates comes up with in regard to direct democracy in his book “The Road Ahead”( Read: “The Road Backwards”). He rules direct democracy through the Internet out. He demands that politics be left to the experts, while the common folks should engage in nothing more than choosing them once in a while and putting pressure on them through the Internet. Experts? Experts at what? Lying? Hypocrisy? War making? Famine creation? Destroying the world? Creating poverty and misery in the midst of plenty? Genocide?. Furthermore, if we can choose these experts once a while, why can we not choose them every day if we want to? The Westminster variety of these “experts” declare the same in their little pamphlet: that representative democracy is the only way for democracy past present and future, that the direct democracy using the internet is not workable.
We are told that Welsh Assembly, Scottish Assembly, Regional Assemblies, Mayor of London-and other towns, and the elections to Westminster-Houses of Commons but not the Lords- are the latest and best forms of democracy. Although, judged by what can be and by what ought to be, that is direct democracy using the internet, these are nothing but a blast from the past-thus reactionary.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
Computers are universal means of control which permits workers, no one but the workers, to transform all forms of machinery into slaves at the service of humanity. In other words, “full automation” of all productive activities is assured.
1. Workers can build a system of fully integrated, continuous and automatic i.e., computerised production, transportation and distribution, and thus, ensure plenty for all.
This also means that workers can build a fully integrated, continuous and automatic system of computerised communication network.
This network of computers would be connected to all the cultural, sportive and educational facilities; to all the research & development facilities and libraries; to all the hospitals and other medical centres; to all the government institutions, to all the military and public security facilities; to all the community centres, to every house and to every individual. Wherever there is a human activity, this network would be connected to it.
This network of computers shall collect instantaneous and continuous information on all our activities and make it available to all.
2. Using the above mentioned computer network: workers can build a system of government by direct democracy and a system of central planning for the economy. Everyone will know everything and everyone will participate on every decision made.
3.To achieve the above mentioned plan everything is available except this: common ownership of the means of production. Without this form of ownership, it is impossible to realise this plan.
THE STATE WE ARE IN
Just as the bourgeoisie is running fast to avoid even a discussion on direct democracy using the internet how about our parties, the trade union movement and all sorts of revolutionaries?
Try talking to comrades about computerisation and direct democracy in the society and the party and the trade unions. They will join in the race with Bill Gate and our MPs to run away from computerisation and direct democracy and have no doubt that they will leave him behind by a large margin. If people are really interested in plenty for all and democracy, they should not create problems in the propagation and implementation of computerisation and direct democracy using the internet, but work to achieve it..
DEMOCRACY IN THE PARTY AND THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT
No change in the forms of ownership can be achieved in this society except through political struggle, waged through a revolutionary party.
Worker comrades must build DD(C)P as a revolutionary party which aims to realise the computerisation of society, that is the provision of plenty for all and the direct democracy using the internet.
DD(C)P must establish its own network of computers and practise direct democracy within the party, and use its influence in the Trade Unions to ensure that Trade Unions propagate and implement direct democracy.
ELECTIONS TO THE COUNCILS, TO THE WELSH AND SCOTTISH ASSEMBLIES, AND U.K. PARLIAMENT.
While participating in these elections DD(C)P. candidates should question the nature of democracy on offer to the people of U.K.. They should encourage the citizens to question the nature of democracy offered to them. They should go all out and start the discussion on computerisation and direct democracy using the internet.