Radical Digressions

Ulli’s Attic

All articles on this site were written in English. Translations of some articles are available in French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Response to criticisms of Dances with Guilt

A critique of Dances with Guilt said comments and attitudes are forms of ‘violence’ comparable to, or worse than, physical violence. This response argues that while verbal and emotional abuse can be very hurtful, beating someone up is qualitatively different from verbal aggression, and we should not say they are the same.

Green Municipalism

A green municipalist analysis offers valuable perspectives but can become a straightjacket if it is seen as ‘the’ answer.

What’s Wrong with Front Yard Parking?

The negative effects of front yard parking are significant, and affect us all. The benefits are small, and go only to a few.

War in the Gulf

Written upon the outbreak of the 1991 Iraq War.

Free Trade Debate: Look at the Contents, Not Just the Label

A response to criticisms of ‘What Do We Do Now? Building a social movement in the aftermath of Free Trade’.

Looking for Democracy

The revolutionary upheavals in Eastern Europe are an inspiration for everyone working for social change and show us that even the most seemingly entrenched system of control can be overthrown by popular movements.

The Capital Punishment Debate

The cold-blooded killing of a human being is horrifying. The existence of capital punishment make us all complicit in killing, and degrades us as a society. .

Progressives shouldn't be begging the police to take more power

The last thing we need is to hand the police even more power to decide what we are allowed to see or read.

Chemicals in your water: A little is too much

The irresponsible dumping of chemicals in and near water endangers us all.

Soil removal a possibility

The soil around houses in South Riverdale is so contaminated with lead that it may have to be removed.

150 Years of Dirty Water

Toronto’s water has been polluted pretty much since the beginning. That doesn’t mean we should put up with it.

Teaching adults how to read

Learning to read means gaining more control over one’s life.

Marguerite has come a long way

Literacy student writes the story of her life.

Constructive criticism can be a good thing

It’s counterproductive to say that for the sake of “unity” we shouldn’t criticize others in the environmental movement. Principled debate and critcism when it is called for helps us clarify issues and move forward.

The Bomb won't go away on its own

Our task is to break out of this closed self-justifying system by depriving governments of the passive populations they need, by refusing to accept the choices we are offered and instead becoming active participants pressuring them to accept our proposals.

The police vs. the law

In a democracy the police have to obey the law. In a police state, they don't.

Toronto's finest

Too many cops seem to enjoy intimidating people and smashing things.

The Canada Metals Story: A chronology

The ongoing struggle against lead pollution in South Riverdale.

Preface to Martin Glaberman’s Four Essays on the Working Class

Glaberman insists that the working class is not merely a victim of capitalism — working people are active participants in creating their own consciousness, their methods of struggle and their own history.

Radical Newspapers

A radical newspaper succeeds to the extent that in engages in dialogue with its readers and community, rather than it preaching to them.

Some of my best comrades are friends

The left's sloppy use of language indicates sloppy thinking.

This book explains why things don’t work (book review)

There are lots of guides explaining how things work. This one explains how they don’t -- and why they don’t.

Anarchism vs. Marxism

Anarchist critiques of Marxism typically reveal a lack of knowledge of what Karl Marx actually wrote, resulting in sterile denunciations of a straw-man opponent..

Bakunin vs. Marx

The anarchist-Marxist split started with Bakunin, who systematically misrepresented Marx’s positions..

Obscenity Exposed

The police definition of ‘obscenity’ gets right to the crux of the question.

What is Libertarian Socialism?

Revolution is a collective process of self-liberation: people and societies are transformed through their struggles for freedom and for a better world..

Bain Co-op meets Wages for Housework

The story of the struggle that gave birth to a housing co-operative and destroyed the credibility of the ‘Wages for Housework’ sect.

He who pays the piper

Community groups have become dependent on government money resulting in an erosion of their community base and their independence.

How they shot those campus bums

The Truth About Kent State (review).

Hungary 1956: A workers’ revolt crushed by the “workers’ state”

The Hungarian revolution, brief though it was, did as much as a century of socialist theorizing to show what a united and determined people could do to transform their society.

Karl Heinz Diemer 1920 - 2006

Book Reviews & Practical Stuff

Book and other reviews. See also A-Z List of titles.

Selected Letters

Letters to the Editor

Connexions

Connexions is an online library/archive of articles and documents about social change. My contributions include the subject index for the library, the page of resources on Israel and Palestine, and the page of radical manifestos and poltical visions.

Seven News

Contributions to a community newspaper published in Toronto.

The Red Menace

Contributions to a libertarian socialist newsletter.

Varsity Articles

Articles written for The Varsity.

Gros Morne photos

Gros Morne, Newfoundland.

Royal Moments in Broadcasting

 

Articles A-Z

Alphabetical list of articles, reviews & letters. Some articles are also available in French, Spanish, German and other languages.

Subject Index

Index of topics.

Bon mots

Words of wisdom.

Favourite Links

Selected websites.