Scientific achievements such as the comet landing are an important reminder that humanity is capable of great things, both within and outside the confines of the Earth’s atmosphere. They point to possibilities whose realization depends on the independent political mobilization of the working class, which must emerge as the defender of everything that is progressive. What is it that blocks a resolution to the great and pressing challenges that we confront? It is not the productive capacities of mankind, but the social organization of capitalism. In a society that was set on rational foundations, the scientific methods used to land on a comet would be applied equally successfully to solving problems here on Earth: poverty, unemployment, environmental catastrophes, disease, hunger, war. In considering the comet landing, one is reminded of the late Carl Sagan, who once remarked, in contemplating the vastness of the cosmos: “Countless worlds, numberless moments, an immensity of space and time. And our small planet, at this moment, here we face a critical branch-point in history. What we do with our world, right now, will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants. It is well within our power to destroy our civilization, and perhaps our species as well … But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet.” These words were said in 1980, amidst the Cold War conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Thirty-five years later, they apply with even greater force. The choice between the two possibilities—the destruction of civilization or the establishment of the conditions for scientific improvement and social progress—depends on the creation of a new foundation for human society, the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement with socialism. It is, in short, a revolutionary question. wsws.org/en/articles/2014/11/15/pers-n15.html
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 01:58:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015