Introduction I want to start with an hypothesis: many activists in practice assume that it is unnecessary to engage in theory in any rigorous manner (even if they claim the contrary) since they engage in practice—they are activists. John Clarke, a former major organizer of the defunct organization Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, illustrates this hypothesis … Continue reading Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Blog of the Toronto Radical John Clarke, Part One
Tag: John Clarke
A Radical Leftist’s Exaggeration of the Ease of Characterizing the Exploitation of Workers
I waited two weeks for a response by John Clarke, a radical leftist here in Toronto, to reply to my criticism of certain aspects of his analysis of the strike of the Air Canada flight attendants' strike (see his article https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/taking-stock-of-the-air-canada-strike). He never responded, so I am copying my critique on the Canadian Dimension page. Radical … Continue reading A Radical Leftist’s Exaggeration of the Ease of Characterizing the Exploitation of Workers
Expressing Solidarity with the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants Involves More than Referring to Their Just Rewards
Introduction John Clarke, former major organizer of the defunct Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following: Solidarity with the Air Canada flight attendants and full support for their just demands. Radical leftists should certainly support the flight attendants' struggles, including being paid while working for an employer. Radical Leftists Need to Link Visible … Continue reading Expressing Solidarity with the Striking Air Canada Flight Attendants Involves More than Referring to Their Just Rewards
Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants Does Not Mean that We Should Ignore Critical Analysis
Introduction I was disappointed when seeing the following recent post by John Clarke, former major organizer for the defunct Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP): Solidarity with flight attendants! I certainly express solidarity with the flight attendants as well--but I would never simply post this without making several critical comments. Critique of Clarke's Silence Firstly, it … Continue reading Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants Does Not Mean that We Should Ignore Critical Analysis
Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Three
Introduction This is the third part of of a series of criticisms of a recently published pamphlet on climate change and class, titled Climate Change is a Class Issue (2024), written by Sarah Glynn, a radical activist and writer located in the United Kingdom, and John Clarke, a radical activist located in Toronto. The first … Continue reading Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Three
Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Two: Exploitation of Workers as Past and Not Just Present or Future, Second Section
Introduction This is the second section of the second part of a series of criticisms of a recently published pamphlet on climate change and class, titled Climate Change is a Class Issue (2024), written by Sarah Glynn, a radical activist and writer located in the United Kingdom, and John Clarke, a radical activist located in … Continue reading Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Two: Exploitation of Workers as Past and Not Just Present or Future, Second Section
Recognizing the Gains of Workers Obtained Through Struggle Is Necessary but Hardly Sufficient for Expressing Working-Class Interests
John Clarke, former major organizer for the defunct organization Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) recently posted on Facebook the following: I'm writing an article on the assault on democratic rights that is very much in evidence at the moment. Donald Trump's name will certainly come up. I use the term 'democratic rights' rather than 'democracy' … Continue reading Recognizing the Gains of Workers Obtained Through Struggle Is Necessary but Hardly Sufficient for Expressing Working-Class Interests
Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Two: Exploitation of Workers as Past and Not Just Present or Future, First Section
Introduction This is the first section of the second part of a series of criticisms of a recently published pamphlet on climate change and class, titled Climate Change is a Class Issue (2024), written by Sarah Glynn, a radical activist and writer located in the United Kingdom, and John Clarke, a radical activist located in … Continue reading Review of the Pamphlet “Climate Change is a Class Issue” by Sarah Glynn and John Clarke, Part Two: Exploitation of Workers as Past and Not Just Present or Future, First Section
Radicals Who Use Strawman Examples and Arguments Against Basic Income Do No Service to the Working Class
John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on his Facebook page: "Basic income makes capitalism inclusive.' I just saw a post on X that made this revealing claim and it expresses two fundamental illusions about basic income. Firstly, systems of income support are inadequate so as … Continue reading Radicals Who Use Strawman Examples and Arguments Against Basic Income Do No Service to the Working Class
Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society
Introduction I find it interesting how radical activists forget their own past--such as formerly expressing social-democratic or social-reformist views. John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following recently (July 09, 2024) on Facebook: Some people conclude that the insufficient level of social resistance in this society is because … Continue reading Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society
The Abolitionary 