The real spirit of ’45

[Young Master Smeet]

Over on Scrocialist Untie blog: http://tinyurl.com/caz59l4

They've published the '45 Labour manifesto, which is a surprisingly cerebral document, and contains useful insights into the core of Labour thinking.  A few quotes:

Quote:

First, the whole of the national resources, in land, material and labour must be fully employed. Production must be raised to the highest level and related to purchasing power. Over-production is not the cause of depression and unemployment; it is under-consumption that is responsible. It is doubtful whether we have ever, except in war, used the whole of our productive capacity. This must be corrected because, upon our ability to produce and organise a fair and generous distribution of the product, the standard of living of our people depends.

and

Quote:

But great national programmes of education, health and social services are costly things. Only an efficient and prosperous nation can afford them in full measure. If, unhappily, bad times were to come, and our opponents were in power, then, running true to form, they would be likely to cut these social provisions on the plea that the nation could not meet the cost. That was the line they adopted on at least three occasions between the wars.

There is no good reason why Britain should not afford such programmes, but she will need full employment and the highest possible industrial efficiency in order to do so.

These quotes are pretty much at the nub of what labour tried to do, use the state to promote economic efficiency, and growth, and use the growing economy to deliver greater absolute value to the working class (without necessarily having to redirect the relative values).  They are right that over-production doesn't cause crises, but the above shows why we need to be clear that it isn't under-consumption either that causes them: they left the form of capital intact, despite their efforts to enact price controls and co-ordination.

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