assurance that that is to only to a small extent. The experi- ence of the war shows that, given a large and insistent demand -- ensured during the last three years by the immense consump- tion of war -- the wealth necessary to satisfy it can be produced far more easily than was generally supposed. The high con- sumption ensured during the last three years by war, must after the war be ensured by the high standard of living of the workers. Those now busy destroying good houses in France and Belgium must after the war be kept busy destroying bad ones in the slums and in building better ones; and in all the work of readjustment and reconstruction necessary to ensure food and raw material, and a continually increasing produc- tivity in order to meet the continually increasing consumption of the workers.
A COMPLETE DEMOCRACY.
a.
Abolition of the House of Lords. Substitution for it of a Chamber based on the representation, not of geographical areas, but of occupations, industrial, professional and domestic, Labour and professional bodies thus becoming a constituent part of the country's government.
Political and industrial reconstruction cannot be considered in complete abstraction from each other, and it is essential to any plan, even of political reconstruction, that the workers should have their own industrial Chamber -- representative not of geographical areas, like the House of Commons, but of occu- pations, industries and professions. This body must sit, not for a few days in every year, but continuously. It must not merely pass resolutions and indicate policies, but have definite powers of initiative and control. It will represent the people in their capacity of producers, just as the present House of Commons is supposed to represent them, and as a reformed House of Com- mons will really represent them, in the capacity of consumers.
b.
Abolition of all titles and State-granted honours.
The traffic in titles has become a financial and moral pre- mium upon reactionary politics, as well as a subtle form of State bribery.
c.
Full political rights for all men and women. Payment of Elec- tion expenses.
d.
Democratization of Army and Navy (so long as they exist) by the effective representation of the Rank and File in all military and naval administrations not dealing with strategy. Abolition of military discipline in its present form immediately on the conclusion of peace.
Demobilization may last two or three years after the declara- tion of peace. During that time, unless the law is modified, men who had enlisted for the duration of the war may still be subject to restrictive forms of discipline and to the risk of being used for strike-breaking, etc.
The Laws framed for the purpose of providing for Freedom of Conscience to be made effective.
-317-
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Publication Information: Book Title: The British Revolution and the American Democracy: An Interpretation of British Labour Programmes. Contributors: Norman Angell - author. Publisher: B. W. Huebsch. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1919. Page Number: 317.
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