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.

Left Libertarians Versus Socialists

John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following on Facebook recently: John Clarke 22h ·  The problem with ideas like this is that they fail to acknowledge the realities of a capitalist society or the balance of class forces within it. The contradictions and crises of this society and … Continue reading Left Libertarians Versus Socialists →

The Police and Racism in France (and Undoutedly Elsewhere), Part Three: Police Unions as Pseudo-Unions

John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke A very interesting article but two things to point out. Firstly, we really shouldn't accept that the bodies that represent the interests of those in the ranks of the police are unions in any meaningful sense. … Continue reading The Police and Racism in France (and Undoutedly Elsewhere), Part Three: Police Unions as Pseudo-Unions →

The Police and Racism in France (and Undoutedly Elsewhere), Part One: Tactics

John Clarke, former organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke   ·  If a riot is the language of the unheard what do we make of the words that are ringing out on the streets in France at the moment? To the racist cops immediately responsible for … Continue reading The Police and Racism in France (and Undoutedly Elsewhere), Part One: Tactics →

Review of Thier’s Book “A People’s Guide to Capitalism,” Part Four

I  participated in a group called No One Is Illegal here in Toronto last year. The group decided to provide a zoom reading meeting every week to discuss the book A People's Guide to Capitalism, by Hadas Thier, with many participants not belonging to the group but interested in understanding more about capitalism. We read … Continue reading Review of Thier’s Book “A People’s Guide to Capitalism,” Part Four →

Realistic Expectations from Social Democrats or Social Reformers Elected to Political Positions: The Need to Organize and Provide Pressure from Below

John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP, posted this recently on Facebook: John Clark I think back many years to the night that the Bob Rae NDP government was elected in Ontario in the early 90s. I went to one of the victory parties and the sense of joy and … Continue reading Realistic Expectations from Social Democrats or Social Reformers Elected to Political Positions: The Need to Organize and Provide Pressure from Below →

The Vote Yesterday Resulted in an Election of a Social-Reformist Olivia Chow for Mayor of Toronto, the Largest City in Canada: A Microcosm of the Illusions of the Left

John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, posted this recently on Facebook: One of the problems with a focus on electoral politics is the almost hypnotic effect it has on those caught up in it. The Toronto mayoral race is almost over and a significant section of leftists are backing the … Continue reading The Vote Yesterday Resulted in an Election of a Social-Reformist Olivia Chow for Mayor of Toronto, the Largest City in Canada: A Microcosm of the Illusions of the Left →

A Case of Silent Indoctrination: The Death of Refugees off the Greek Coast vs. the Death of Rich People on the Titan Submersible

John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), wrote the following concerning the issue. ohn Clarke  ·    In Chomsky and Herman's 'Manufacturing Consent,' the way the capitalist media controls the flow of information and massively influences opinion is charted. The comparison to recent tragedies at sea involving refugees and billionaires … Continue reading A Case of Silent Indoctrination: The Death of Refugees off the Greek Coast vs. the Death of Rich People on the Titan Submersible →

The Police and Welfare Bureaucracies both Have Served to Oppress Working-Class Communities

John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP, posted the following a couple of days ago on Facebook. There were also some comments, which I include. John Clarke   ·    London's Metropolitan Police Service was set up in 1829, while the New Poor Law for England and Wales emerged in 1834. … Continue reading The Police and Welfare Bureaucracies both Have Served to Oppress Working-Class Communities →