Practicing Socialism

Parmeshwar Devkota

In his famous essay ‘Why Socialism?', Albert Einstein states that human beings are still in the early stage of reformation, development and civilization, and have been practicing capitalist economy which is guided by the age-old mindset of hoarding goods and services for the sake of security and profit. ‘Production is carried on for profit, not four use’ is the major characteristic of capitalism system which is against the basic rights of human beings and it must be changed for good.  Einstein sees all evils in this system as he writes, "the economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil." He proposes a new system of production and distribution, that is, socialism. 

To get rid of vicious cycle of capitalism, he stresses on two things - reformation on education system and social control in the means of production of goods and materials. While providing education to the children, they should be taught that state provides basic needs in case one is ill or unable to work for survival, so that the new generation should minimise hoarding goods.  On practicing socialist system, Einstein suggests that the means of production should be under the control of a society and they should be utilised in the planned way, so that it can adjust the production to the needs of the community and guarantees a livelihood to every man, woman and child. 

If a scientist can forward such a fruitful suggestion of reforming the entire economic system, the communist parties that consider Marxism as their guiding principle, must start practicing socialism in their respective committees.  Recently, CPN-Unified Socialist concluded its 10th convention by electing its apex body's leadership. It discussed and endorsed socialism as its political programme. The party can mobilise resources of the party committees and invest them in the productive sectors such as agro enterprises. The local committees can aptly utilise various subsidies provided to the farmers and small scale entrepreneurs.

They can demand other facilities from the government for the growth of entrepreneurship and trade. They should bring the products via the channels of cooperatives or other means, so that, the consumers can get the farm products in fair rate. In this way, if the party's local communities become successful, they will win the faith of the local people, thereby implementing the socialist system in the production and distribution of goods and services at the national level. 

However, CPN-US cadres should change their own perception about the small level enterprises that have potential for big economic gains. Similarly, the general people, intellectuals and government institutions should stop judging a political party on the basis of seats it has in the parliament. By engaging the party functionaries in productive works, the party will expand its organisation and be free of the burden of giving political appointments to them. This is also a good way to fight comprador class that has forayed into the top bodies of major political parties.