Socialism? What is that? Several dozen people seeking answers to those questions attended a socialism program at the Johnstown Library Jan. 26, 2025.
The presenters were Madeline Burrows and Frank Scarsella of Johnstown, members of the Pittsburgh Chapter, Party for Socialism & Liberation – PSL. Attendees were mostly young people in their 20s or 30s, a couple of senior citizens and an energetic little blonde, Madeline’s son.
As an ice-breaker, Frank asked why people had come to the program. Answers varied:
- “I feel I’m a Socialist. We need a system that replaces the profit and domination mindset of the current system.”
- “Because Trump has rolled back civil rights.”
- “I came today because I need a little hope here.”
- “We are not really a country that aligns with our morals. I want to be more action oriented.”
A Power Point presentation defined Socialism as “the revolutionary struggle to build a world free from exploitation, racism, war and oppression where political and economic power is in the hands of the working class and the oppressed.” The definition continued, “Socialism is the effort to construct a society based on the needs and interests of the working class, as opposed to the ruling, capitalist class where basic needs of the population and the planet are planned for and guaranteed. “It is the long term, historical project of abolishing class society.”
The presentation addressed some myths and facts about Socialism. Here are a few:
- MYTH: Socialists want to take your property
- TRUTH: Socialists want to reorganize the ownership of the means of production that generate wealth, this being private property. There is an important distinction from personal property (your home, car, personal items)
- MYTH: Under Socialism, there is no incentive to work.
- TRUTH: Socialism supports a system where the workers are compensated proportional to the work they do.
- MYTH: Socialists don’t respect freedom of religion.
- TRUTH: Socialists believe religion to be a private matter.
The presentation stated that we need a Socialist Society because of poverty, racism, imperialism and ecological devastation. PSL maintains that workers make the world run, and workers should run the world. The group envisions expansion of democracy to grassroots and local communities, production re-oriented to meet the needs of the people and the planet, meaningful work and more free time, and stopping the cycle of endless wars and sanctions, instead developing a foreign policy of cooperation.
The presenters told the group that all poor people are powerless under the current system, and that’s what PSL is trying to change. Madeline said, “The root of the problem is capitalism. We live under a for-profit system. Making money for the rich takes precedence. The working class builds houses – they don’t own them. Workers are housing insecure.”
The group tended to agree that reforms to the voting system, properly funding measures to protect the environment, changing building practices, reducing dependence on fossil fuels are only a few of the concerns that need to be addressed. The attendees were asked, “What if your job didn’t suck?” Workers would put effort into something they cared about. PSL may be onto something. People are connecting with their message, the presenters said at the Socialism Program at the Johnstown Library.
Our new columnist and board member Nancy Coleman has written this article about a local meeting of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Johnstown.
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We need a National Glossary for updating language to fit current understanding. Defending labels gets us no where. Civil coexistence aka peace is and has been an ever evolving challenge and work of humanity in progress among humanoids.But if we citizens agree to prioritize and esteem public health well-being and safety above profits then we will get some where by talking directly to issues that are relevant in our home fronts. Look what unfolded with Prospect and the threat to people living in homes that had questionable structural flaws that could injure or kill. Lively activist with the support of many were finally heard and the collaboration and cooperation needed to get the situation remedied. finally was realized. A sustainable wage (income enough to cover the basics to survive and thrive) is doable and so is health care for all. We live in the remnants of Creation. Care for the environment is up to us because of the need for stewardship and sustainability. I am a firm believer in Citizenship being a public ministry/endeavor that requires all of us to think, do and act for public health well-being and safety…everything else will fall in line.