【導(dǎo)讀】

蕭伯納（George Bernard Shaw，1856—1950）愛爾蘭劇作家，是英國現(xiàn)代杰出的現(xiàn)實主義戲劇作家，是世界著名的擅長幽默與諷刺的語言大師。1925年，因其作品具有理想主義和人道主義而獲諾貝爾文學(xué)獎。蕭伯納的一生，是和社會主義運動發(fā)生密切關(guān)系的一生，他認(rèn)真研讀過《資本論》，公開聲言他“是一個普通的無產(chǎn)者”，“一個社會主義者”。然而，由于世界觀上的局限性，他沒能成為無產(chǎn)階級戰(zhàn)士，而終生是一個資產(chǎn)階級改良主義者。本文是蕭伯納于1926年在七十壽辰宴會上的講話。

【箴言】

社會主義理論是明白無誤的，它指出需要關(guān)注的事情是分配制度。

我們認(rèn)為，如果分配出了問題，那么宗教、道德、政府，一切都會跟著出問題。

我在年輕時，思想轉(zhuǎn)變，加入了工黨，現(xiàn)在我確信，從每一方面來說，我的轉(zhuǎn)變都是正確的。

【正文】

我們批判資本主義時說道：你們的制度自從公布以來，就從來沒有一天實踐過你們的諾言。我們的生產(chǎn)是荒唐的，我們本該建造很多房子，卻去生產(chǎn)八十四匹馬力的汽車。孩子們就要餓死了，我們卻生產(chǎn)最浪費的奢侈品。你們把生產(chǎn)本末倒置了。你們不首先生產(chǎn)國民最需要的東西，卻反其道而行之。……

我們反對這種資本主義理論。社會主義理論是明白無誤的，它指出需要關(guān)注的事情是分配制度。我們必須從這個問題入手。如果私有財產(chǎn)阻礙了公正的分配，那么就要廢除私有財產(chǎn)?！?/p>

我們認(rèn)為，如果分配出了問題，那么宗教、道德、政府，一切都會跟著出問題。因此我們說，必須從分配著手，并采取一切必要措施，這就是我們的社會主義理論的全部意義。

我認(rèn)為，這一點我們要時刻記著，因為處理好世界財富的分配是我們的主要任務(wù)。我過去告訴過你們，現(xiàn)在還要告訴你們，在我們四千七百萬人口中，沒有兩個人，可能連一個人也沒有，會贊同現(xiàn)存的財富分配制度。我甚至可以說，在整個文明世界中也找不出一個人贊同現(xiàn)存的財富分配制度。這個分配制度已經(jīng)毫無意義，荒謬絕倫了?！?/p>

我在年輕時，思想轉(zhuǎn)變，加入了工黨，現(xiàn)在我確信，從每一方面來說，我的轉(zhuǎn)變都是正確的。

原文鑒賞

We say in criticism of capitalism: Your system has never kept its promises for one single day since it was promulgated. Our production is ridiculous. We are producing eighty horse-power motor cars when many more houses should be built. We are producing most extravagant luxuries while children starve. You have stood production on its head. Instead of beginning with the things the nation needs most, you are beginning at just the opposite end….

We are opposed to that theory. Socialism, which is perfectly clear and unmistakable, says the thing you have got to take care of is your distribution. We have to begin with that, and private property, if it stands in the way of good distribution, has got to go…

We say that if distribution goes wrong, everything else goes wrong—religion, morals, government. And we say, therefore (this is the whole meaning of our socialism), we must begin with distribution and take all the necessary steps.

I think we are keeping it in our minds because our business is to take care of the distribution of wealth in the world: and I tell you, as I have told you before, that I don’t think there are two men, or perhaps one man, in our 47,000,000 who approves of the existing distribution of wealth. I will go even further and say that you will not find a single person in the whole of the civilized world agrees with the existing system of the distributi0n of wealth. It has been reduced to blank absurdity……

I know now that when I was a young man and took the turning that led me into the labor Party, I took the right turning in every sense.