PD Political Programme

THIS POLITICAL PROGRAMME WAS ADOPTED AT A P.D,. CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY 29TH NOVEMBER '70.

AIMS The aim of the Peoples Democracy is the establishment of a socialist system of society in Ireland and throughout the world. The first step towards that objective is the establishment of a Workers' and Small Farmers' Republic in the 32 counties of Ireland. But, since complete socialism cannot be established in any one country, or so long as the great imperialist powers like the U.S.A. remain capitalist, the P.D. will readily co-operate with and render every assistence to socialists in all other countries.

Believing that both parts of Ireland to-day suffer from the twin evils of capitalism and imperialism the P.D. is firmly committed to the removal of British troops and Anglo-American economic control from Ireland, and to breaking the stranglehold of grasping native capitalists over the Irish people.

The Workers! Republic will be a society in which all natural resources, major industries and financial institutions will be publicly owned and jointly controlled by those who work in them, or use their products. It will guarantee to each citizen a home, a livelihood and a job, plus an adequate medical and educational service. It will encourage the development of cultural activities and end the tyranny of commercialism over art and culture. Believing that progress can only come about through intellectual freedom and the right to ‘question the established order, the Workers' Republic will also guarantee to all its citizens freedom of politic al and religious belief and freedom to disseminate political and religious views. It will not grant a special position or privileges to any religious group. The Workers' Republic will be based on a mutual respect for the different cultural tendencies in Ireland, and will work to create one unified community out of a synthesis of what is best in the different traditions in Ireland, rather than-by the destruction of one tradition by another.

The Workers' Republic will be a thoroughly democratic society in which governmental functions will be shared by representatives elected on a territorial basis by all citizens over 18,and by delegates from councils of workers, tenants and farmers. All public representatives will be subject to re-call and re-election by their constituents. As much decision-making as possible will be devolved from the centre to local factory councils, tenants associations and farmers! co-operatives.

### METHODS OF ACHIEVEMENT

The P.D. believes that the Workers! Republic can only be achieved with the consent of the majority of the Irish people. The P.D. hopes to win that support by building a mass political organisation throughout Ireland committed to the establishment of the Workers! Republic and totally opposed to both Green and Orange Toryism, and to sham Labourism. This organisation will work for the immediate improvement of the conditions of the working class and small farmers, but will constantly attempt to show that only a socialist society can ultimately free working people from poverty and want and give them the opportunity to develop their personality to the fullest extent.

To secure its objectives the P.D. will use both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary means as appropriate. Recognising also that grasping employers and exploiting imperialist powers rarely give up their illgotten gains without a struggle and that the law, the police and the imperialis: troops constantly defend the exploiters, the P.D. will not be intimidated by the threat of force and recognises that a certain degree of counter force may be necessary to carry out the wishes of the people.

While anxious to stimulate increased political awareness and politicai activity among working people, the P.D. recognises that haphazard and directionless activity will not overthrow the highly-organised forces of imperialism and capitalism. A well-organised political movement with a clear political strategy, whose members have a sound understanding of socialist theory, is the best weapon of the working class in the struggle.for socialism,

### IMMEDIATE DEMANDS

| The P.D. believes that the following measures are necessary both immediately to improve the living conditions of the working class and to lay the foundations of the Workers' Republic by wresting control of the economy from the profiteers and exploiters. Some of these measures could be taken by a capitalist government, but some could only be taken by a socialist administration. The P.D. will campaign for the implementation of this programme both by harrassing the existing government and by winning tiie public support neccessary for socialism to come to power. These measures could be applied in the 26 Counties-as_in-the “6 Counties: 1. Nationalisation »r handing over to co-operatives of all mines, inland fisheries, forests and other natural resources including large estates. 2. Nationalisation of all Banks, Insurance Companies and Financial Institutions. 3. Nationalisation, or handing over to co-operatives, of all firms and farms employing over 25 people. 4. All nationalised resources or industries to be handed over to co-operatives or to be managed by workers' councils. 5. A ban on the export of profit from any part of Ireland. 6. All remaining privately-owned firms to publish annually a full statement of accounts including the salaries of all involved in the firms. “7, A minimum wage of £20 per week for all full-time workers and guaranteed work or full maintenance for all. An upper wage-limit for all workers. 8. An upper limit on all privately-owned farms. Encouragement of the growth of co-operatives among small producers (privately owned firms and farmers) by a re-structuring of grants and subsidies and by a _ programme of education in the value of co-operation. 9. Massive ‘state and municipal investment in new industry, taking account of people's social and enviromental needs as well as economic requirements. 10. The abolition of all ground rent and absentee landlordism. 11. No-one to own more than one dwelling house. Local housing authorities to be given first option on buying all vacant housing and housing authorities to have the power to order the sub-division or re-allocation of unusually large houses. 12. The provision of a universal free health service i.e. the abolition of prescription charges etc. and full maintenance for the sick. No preferential treatment for anyone under the Health Service. 13. Schools to be organised on a comprehensive and co-educational basis, and to be religiously integrated. New schools to be provided by the state and all schools controlled by management committees, representative of parents, students, teachers and local authorities. 14. The provision of nusery school places for all children, and adequate provision of parks, swimming pools and playgrounds. Widespread provision of community centres and greatly increased grants for cultural activities. Commercial advertisements to be excluded from television and radio services. 15. Repeal of the Special Powers Act (N.I.) and Offences Against the State Act (26 Counties), Criminal Justice Act (N.I.), Public Order Act (N.I.) and all other repressive legislation. Rigid outlawing of all discrimination on the basis of religion, colour, or sex in all spheres of activity, public or private. 18, Guarantees of freedom and equality of religious and political belief and repeal of all laws and ordinances which give a special position to any religious or political belief e.g. the section of the 26 County constitution which gives a special position to the Catholic church and the law in N.Ireland prescribing an oath of allegiance for most public employment. No legal enforcement of the moral code of any particular sect,e.g. an end to the ban on contraception and divorce in the 26 Counties and to restrictive laws on Sunday observance in N.Ireland.

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FREE CITIZEN 4th DECEMBER 197(