Posted by
VBushmills on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 4:29:42 PM
This not our case, but the case, and a book we recommend you get and read.
By Fred Henderson, written around 1911 in England, it was printed by the American Socialist Party all during the FDR years, and sent out through their affiliates all over America.
Why it's important is that it predates the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, so carries no baggage. All the world's socialists were brothers then. Easy to read, my own copy from the 1930s, so the first chapter-foreward had been amended to include comments about American political parties.
What is also interesting is that, even in light of history as it had evolved by 1932, let alone today, so much of the theory of socialist had been disproved, i.e, socialism's tolerance for private property and liberty in general. In fact, many of the things Henderson accused capitalists of being in 1911 are now part and parcel of the Democrat Party, even proudly so.
Still, the basic tenets, as laid out in 1911 are unchanged, at least as far at the rhetoric is concerned.
I had though maybe we would commission a line-by-line analysis, but, hey, you do it. It's one of those books you want to buy, read, underline and tab, and keep on the bookshelf for reference. Just 140 pgs.
Easily available on Amazon.com for around $10. Just search, "Henderson, The Case for Socialism>"
A must read.
Bernard Chumm