John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, posted the following recently on Facebook: John Clarke When three of us in OCAP faced a jury trial over the deeply reactionary public order charges that were laid against us in regard to the so-called Queen's Park Riot, I know my co-accused considered my … Continue reading The Radical Left Should Expose the Real Nature of the Legal System in General and the Court System in Particular
Author: The abolitionist
I come from a working-class background. My lost paid job was a teacher, substituting for a number of years before obtaining a permanent position. I obtained my doctorate in 2009. I am an unapologetic critic of capitalism and the way in which various institutions and ideologies reinforce it.
Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-One: The Reproduction of the Intellectual/Manual Division of Labour in the School Curriculum
This is a continuation of a series of posts on summaries of articles, mainly on education. When I was a French teacher at Ashern Central School, in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, I started to place critiques, mainly (although not entirely) of the current school system. At first, I merely printed off the articles, but then I … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-One: The Reproduction of the Intellectual/Manual Division of Labour in the School Curriculum
The UPS Strike That Was Not To Be
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke We are seeing huge attacks on working class living standards and a rising mood of militancy arising from this. In this context, union structures wedded to rituals of class compromise are an impediment. When, inevitably, … Continue reading The UPS Strike That Was Not To Be
The Need to Push Beyond Social Democratic or Social Reformist Limits
John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following recently on Facebook: John Clarke A strike wave of major proportions is developing in Canada. Tellingly, we are seeing workers reject deals and press for more in some instances. The present period is marked by an employer/state drive to ensure … Continue reading The Need to Push Beyond Social Democratic or Social Reformist Limits
Being an Employee Often Involves Lying
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke osSeprdotna050m719i69htf6g96tm3lm058h01h386681mil2uicf74mgat · I was sitting in a Wendy's one day and the manager was interviewing a young man who had applied for a job. She asked him, "What special qualities do you have that would make you … Continue reading Being an Employee Often Involves Lying
Is the Criticism of Social-reformist or Social-democratic Leaders a Tactical or Strategic Issue?
On a Marxist listserve, one Marxist stated: Actually I don't think you have a accurate understanding of critical support. Critical support is not about trying to maintain an ideological purity-- it's a tactic designed to expose the reformists as being incapable of defending the workers; of advancing the struggle for workers power. In response, a supposed … Continue reading Is the Criticism of Social-reformist or Social-democratic Leaders a Tactical or Strategic Issue?
Does Being a Militant Union Leader Justify the Silence of the So-called Radical Left?
On a Marxist listserve, a writer posted with the subject reading "Workers know what it means to be in the working class." These are his short statements: This is Mick Lynch of the Railway Unionists (The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers - RTU) of the UK - who were in bitter strike … Continue reading Does Being a Militant Union Leader Justify the Silence of the So-called Radical Left?
The Need for the Left to Become More Radical–To Correspond to the Increasing Anger of the Working Class
John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted on Facebook the following: John Clarke “You’re seeing growing anger and radicalization on the left as well.” Futile liberal bleating notwithstanding, making sure the right has no monopoly on bold and radical action should be a major priority. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/25/us-political-crisis-radicalizing-republicans-democrats-alike?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR35owqn5_PuN_wVstO0DpOZjC3qON9PJGiZzpvvKGAXs9OPwPBWt5EZ8Pk The … Continue reading The Need for the Left to Become More Radical–To Correspond to the Increasing Anger of the Working Class
The So-called Progressive Left As Social-Reformists: Class Harmony and the United Way as Telltale Signs
A quote from Olivia Chow in an article critical of Olivia Chow (https://www.thegrindmag.ca/july-2023-olivia-chows-troubling-start) is indicative of what the so-called progressive left here in Toronto actually means: "Even with all the challenges we face, we can’t forget all the wonderful things already happening. Recently, I met with people involved in the community-focused development model in Scarborough’s … Continue reading The So-called Progressive Left As Social-Reformists: Class Harmony and the United Way as Telltale Signs
Liberals as Social Democrats, or Social Democrats as Liberals
John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke 14h · Dear Capitalists: Your pursuit of vast profits is causing appalling working conditions, poverty, hunger, extreme inequality, the threat of war and environmental destruction. I and many other like minded people are asking you to … Continue reading Liberals as Social Democrats, or Social Democrats as Liberals
The Abolitionary 