The Basic Functions of the Capitalist State

The capitalist state often combines the appearance of fairness while applying threats and force. The radical left needs to expose this fact whenever possible. John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following: John Clarke Based on decades of dealing with elected institutions, administrative bureaucracies and repressive bodies, … Continue reading The Basic Functions of the Capitalist State

Oppressive Capitalist State Apparatus: Accidental or Necessary?

John Clarke, former major organizer of Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: John Clarke 2h ·    Within 50 years of the arrival of Columbus in the 'New World,' the Catholic Church conducted a debate on whether or not Indigenous people of the Americas had immortal souls. Under the dominant belief … Continue reading Oppressive Capitalist State Apparatus: Accidental or Necessary?

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

The Capitalist State: Reform (Transform) or Abolish?

John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, recently posted on Facebook the following: John Clarke I was asked to use my column for Canadian Dimension this month to take up the question of whether the capitalist state can be transformed and used to build socialism.https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-socialist-register-on-the-state-and-the-transition-to-socialism?fbclid=IwAR0p4ES0KpiaGo272qHnbosQ2rbg5XGZFcemSg2h6D3ZFtMgL8rzvF6gAqk The issue is relevant for the … Continue reading The Capitalist State: Reform (Transform) or Abolish?

A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Twelve

This final post in this series has to do with a long psychological vocational assessment performed by Jeffrey Karp on May 30, 2014. It is 15 pages long. I choose only to select the last few pages since they illustrate the oppressive nature of such assessments. On page 13, Mr. Karp wrote the following: Mr. … Continue reading A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Twelve

A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Eleven, Or: How Psychologists Cannot Deal with the Oppressive Experiences of the Working Class

Introduction This is a continuation of previous posts. I went on sick leave in February 2012 after having been a French teacher for Lakeshore School Division in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, for three and a half years. (For details of my decision to go on sick leave, see A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State … Continue reading A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Eleven, Or: How Psychologists Cannot Deal with the Oppressive Experiences of the Working Class

The Illusions of Radical Social Democrats or Social Reformers about the Extent of the Impact of the Current Educational Workers Strike Wave in Ontario

Educational workers in Ontario were set to strike on Friday November 4, 2022. Premier Doug Ford not only passed legislation that makes the strike illegal but used the "notwithstanding clause" in the Constitution to prevent legal challenges to such legislation for five years. This measure has indeed galvanized the workers' movement, to a certain extent. … Continue reading The Illusions of Radical Social Democrats or Social Reformers about the Extent of the Impact of the Current Educational Workers Strike Wave in Ontario

A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Ten

Introduction This is a continuation of previous posts. I went on sick leave in February 2012 after having been a French teacher for Lakeshore School Division in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, for three and a half years. (For details of my decision to go on sick leave, see A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State … Continue reading A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Ten

A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Nine

Introduction This is a continuation of a previous post that illustrates how politically biased the capitalist government or state and its representatives (such as social-democratic social workers) are when it comes to determining real situations--especially when a person self-declares as a Marxist. Just a recap (more details can be found in earlier posts in this … Continue reading A Worker’s Resistance to the Capitalist Government or State and Its Representatives, Part Nine

Another Personal Example of the Oppressive Nature of  Public Welfare Services

Recently, I experienced a less oppressive form of "service" by the Ontario Ministry of Health--but an oppressive form of service nonetheless. Having turned 65 on December 30, 2021, I retired. Earlier, I had been receiving disability benefits from Manitoba Teachers' Society and the Canadian Pension Plan (I will be outlining, in future posts my experiences … Continue reading Another Personal Example of the Oppressive Nature of  Public Welfare Services