John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: When we think of the class struggle, we usually focus on major strikes, social upsurges or big attacks from employers or the state. However, it's important to note that the cut and thrust of the struggle is … Continue reading Exaggeration of the Socialist Tendencies of Resitance Against Exploitation and Oppression
Category: Socialist Strategy
Direct action confronts Canada-Israel arms trade–but the Idealization of International Law Limits Its Effectiveness
The above title is taken from the following article published in the Canadian social-democratic magazine Canadian Dimension ( https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/direct-action-confronts-canada-israel-arms-trade ). Although its tactics of direct action against arms manufacturers that produce arms for Israel is, in general, a better tactic than merely protesting against the genocide occurring in Gaza and the West Bank, it, like much … Continue reading Direct action confronts Canada-Israel arms trade–but the Idealization of International Law Limits Its Effectiveness
Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Eight: The Reduction of Human Beings to Their Brains
This is a continuation of earlier posts. 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 started to provide a summary of the article along … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Eight: The Reduction of Human Beings to Their Brains
To Attend or Not Attend Adolph Reed Jr.’s Talk on the Fascist Threat and What It Means for Working-Class Politics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I debated whether to attend personally the talk by the alleged Marxist Adolph Reed Jr's talk on the fascist threat and its implications for working-class politics. I suspected that it would be posted online on YouTube--and I was right (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2LonZNB1c0&list=LL&index=12&t=2458s). I did not attend. I had heard of Reed from Sam Gindin, a so-called … Continue reading To Attend or Not Attend Adolph Reed Jr.’s Talk on the Fascist Threat and What It Means for Working-Class Politics in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Need to Develop Connections Between the Critique of Daily Life and International Affairs, Part One
Perhaps I am reading too much into the following, but I find it interesting the lack of response to my last intervention. Julius Arscott, union executive for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and member of Socialist Action, recently posted the following on Facebook: Julius Arscott tordseonpSl2fym0tf25it7:uru7fF5188M4r2hm0ueu8fabP17a48ua · The following motion was passed at … Continue reading The Need to Develop Connections Between the Critique of Daily Life and International Affairs, Part One
The Police Arrest a Union Leader
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coaliton Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following on Facebook recently without comment despite the evident reformist rhetoric of union leaders: “The Ottawa Police Service are using intimidation tactics, plain and simple. And that’s meant to demoralize and discourage striking workers.” From Press Progress. The arrest of a … Continue reading The Police Arrest a Union Leader
Socialists Need to Be Realists and Not Underestimate the Tasks Required–or Overestimate Their Own Efficacy
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: As the old three score and ten mark approaches rapidly, I find I get lots of people wanting me to offer appraisals and advice that are based on my experiences in the class struggle. I always warn … Continue reading Socialists Need to Be Realists and Not Underestimate the Tasks Required–or Overestimate Their Own Efficacy
Radical Efforts Are Indeed Required to Create a Society without the Class Power of Employers–But We Need to Be More Definite About How to Do So
John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on Facebook: When Macron weathered massive protests and strikes to proceed with an attack on the French pension system, it was clear that mass action that would have forced a retreat by those in power was coming up against … Continue reading Radical Efforts Are Indeed Required to Create a Society without the Class Power of Employers–But We Need to Be More Definite About How to Do So
Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Twenty-Seven: Homelessness and the Working Class
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-Seven: Homelessness and the Working Class
The Idealization of International Law by the Social-Democratic or Social-Reformist Left: The Case of the Genocide of the Palestinians by the Israeli Government, Part Two
Julius Arscott, union executive for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and member of Socialist Action, recently posted part of a blurb for support for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling concerning Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank from The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the second largest … Continue reading The Idealization of International Law by the Social-Democratic or Social-Reformist Left: The Case of the Genocide of the Palestinians by the Israeli Government, Part Two
The Abolitionary 