By Lisa Macdonald
The public response to the words Democratic Socialists, which appeared on ballot papers for the first time in the NSW election last month, was a clear indication that the right-wing rhetoric about the "death of socialism" has been far from universally accepted. The socialists polled between 1.4 and 2.3% of the vote in the seats of Marrickville, Fairfield, Newcastle and Wollongong, and 0.3% or 6000 votes in the upper house.
"We are very pleased with this response" the candidate for Marrickville, Karen Fletcher, told Green Left Weekly. "The fact that almost 10,000 people across NSW voted socialist in this election is interesting, both as a reflection of the degree to which a lot of people see through the scam of mainstream politics and parties, and also because these were conscious votes for the socialist, as opposed to green or single issue, alternative."
In a campaign which focused its message on the limitations of parliamentary democracy, the Democratic Socialists offered a radical alternative.
"The increase in general interest in politics which accompanies elections is an important opportunity for democratic socialists to reach as many people as possible with our perspective. We say that, no matter which major party is elected, leaving the day-to-day decision making to professional politicians will not stop the rot in society. Environmental destruction will continue on a massive scale, the sell-off of public assets will continue, and the wages, social security and living standards of the majority of people will continue to be attacked", Fletcher said.
"Working people have to take decision making into their own hands at every level if we are going to really change the world. It is only through collective action, building the broadest possible support for demands which challenge the status quo, that we can defend and extend our rights to a healthy environment, jobs, free education and health care. Such campaigning must be ongoing, linking people and the issues at every opportunity, not just around election time."
The ALP victory in NSW is a step forward for the green, left alternative say the socialists. "It is not simply that Labor is a lesser evil than the Coalition parties. Their basic goals, methods and impact are, in fact, no different — something which was clearly understood by the many people who refused to vote for either on March 25. In taking power, however, the ALP will be forced to reveal more clearly its true colours, a profits before people agenda which it is more able to conceal behind left and green posturing while in opposition."
In this framework, the Democratic Socialists have announced that they will be standing candidates in the next federal elections. In addition to a Senate ticket, they will contest several lower house seats around the country, including the seat of Sydney, where Karen Fletcher will be nominated.
"After 12 years of Hawke-Keating government, and with all the major parties continuing their moves to the right, those elections will be a great opportunity for socialist and all left and green activists to campaign more effectively around specific issues. It will be a chance to reach out to new people who want to get involved in bringing about radical social change and to strengthen the mass movements which will eventually win environmental sustainability and social justice for all people."