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Title: What is Reformism? Author: Albert Meltzer Language: en Topics: reformism, reform, definitions Source: Retrieved on 22nd September 2020 from https://libcom.org/library/what-is-reformism-meltzer
Reformism is not the same as advocating or getting reforms. There is a
hell of a lot in this society needs reforming. Reformism is the belief
that all efforts should be directed at the bit that needs reforming
(with the economic system, society, the State or a political party) to
which all efforts should be directed. Someone who thinks an old banger
of a machine is fundamentally sound and only needs a bit of tinkering to
make it perfect is called a bodger. Someone who decides there’s nothing
wrong with a crap institution but a change of leadership, a reform of
moral outlook, a few new laws, a ban here and a relaxation there, is
called a reformist, though could equally well be called a bodger.
Certainly there is a lot about exploitation, the State and the ways of
society that can and should be reformed. But all reforms granted by the
State can be taken away by the State. There is no such thing as natural
or God-given rights except those that people have taken for themselves
and can be defended.
An example of the evils of reformism: Many months ago in Bangladesh a
travelling US senator was horrified to find that local factories
employed an overwhelming amount of child labour. The children worked
from dawn until dusk, receiving no schooling, and for ridiculously low
pay used their supple hands and mobility to swell the profits of the
bosses. Politicians love worthy causes that cost them nothing and the
worthy Senator went home and protested loudly. He got Washington to
threaten to cut investment (nowadays called ‘aid’).. Overnight child
labour was abolished! The children could now go to school instead — if
there was any, which there wasn’t. What happened was they were sent out
into the street to starve and to a life of begging and prostitution,
while their places were taken by adults. To make up for the sacrifice,
adult pay was cut from the pittance it was to their level. The children
had not only failed to benefit, their livelihood had been sacrificed and
their parents, if any, had even less chance of maintaining them than
before.