Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/tom-oconnell/)
On May 25th, 1934, Minnesota’s charismatic Farmer-Labor governor, Floyd Olson delivered a fiery speech to the delegates assembled at the Farmer-Labor Party’s state convention in St. Paul. Olson had reason to be fiery. After signs of recovery in 1933, the cold grip of the Depression tightened once again. Olson concluded his speech with fighting words that delighted his audience. “I am what I want to be… I am a radical.” Continue Reading
The BP oil spill has galvanized much of the nation. Concern about its human and environmental impact combines almost seamlessly with speculation on the political and policy effects of the cataclysm.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Jane Addam’s masterpiece, Twenty Years at Hull House. The book, never out of print, has achieved a kind of iconic status in American letters, perhaps more celebrated than understood. Until the past decade or so, the same could be said about Jane Addams. Continue Reading
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Tom O’Connell teaches at Metropolitan State University and has been a long-time activist for social justice.