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Unity Isn’t Easy Nor Simple

March 20, 2025
democracy, politics, strategy
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You are witnessing an unprecedented national upsurge against outrageous and illegal actions by the Musk/Trump cabal. But protests are not unified. To be ultimately effective, it must become so.

To obtain the necessary unity, it would help to examine the real obstacles to unity. They may not be reasonable, but they are real.

What Is Used to Keep Us Apart?

The first and most important chasm between us is racism. That is the tool that our enemies have always exploited best. Male chauvinism and homophobia are used similarly.

Our enemies are also expert at manipulating us against one another with nationalism. International Workers Day, May 1, may be our best opportunity to overcome it. In Texas, International Workers Day celebrations usually compete with Cinco de Mayo events; but they should obviously be together.

Religion, sectarianism, and anticommunism are always handy tools for the enemies of unity. Another one is called ultraleftism. There are progressive groups that do not want to be “tainted” by unions nor the Democratic Party.

What Will Bring Us Together?

Our own collective intellect is bringing us together. More and more protesters, no matter what they have protested, are beginning to realize the need for unity.

Some of the issues are sure to be more effective than others. In my opinion, sharply increasing food prices will pull us together more than any other single issue. A close second might be retiree rights and benefits, since everybody hopes to have a good retirement eventually.

Organizationally, it would help for our protesters to learn how to create separate contingents in marches and rallies. It is a simple manner of gathering forces behind a single banner instead of marching as a mob, but we haven’t learned it yet.

Most important is leadership. We do not have to agree with one another to recognize our common enemy and work together for our common good. Leaders of progressive organizations, especially the unions where the most power resides, need to consult.

In the meantime, resisting the Musk/Trump cabal in every way possible is the necessary road.

–GeneLantz19@gmail.com, texasaflcio.org/dallas, texasretiredamericans.org, https://lilleskole.us

Why Confusion Reigns

February 5, 2019
politics, strategy
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Our masters rule us because we are confused. They want it that way. That’s the main reason for it.





What is your aim?

The process of improving our human condition, the only process worth living for, benefits as confusion diminishes. But how can we diminish it?

We often find ourselves unable to distinguish between the many choices offered. This may particularly be felt during elections when we are trying to choose candidates. But it also true, more generally, when we try to distinguish between organizations that seem progressive. Which of them will actually set things right?

There are no good answers to the question, but that is not a reflection on the possible answers. It’s the question that was wrong.

Ask the right question

If our goal is to improve the human condition, then it should be obvious that none of the candidates in an election will be able to bring about a great transformation. It should also be obvious, in a more general sense, that none of the various organizations seeking our time and money can, by themselves, create a better world.

Great changes come about because of great mass movements. The biggest lie repeated on the internet, and repeated so often that people think it is true, is that individuals or small groups cause historical changes.

When we ask which candidate to work for or which organization should get our donations, we should be asking how they will affect that great mass movement of working families that will, eventually, bring the change we want.

Demagogues and sectarian organizations will end up on the bottom of our list. Those who promote progress and working class unity will rise to the top.

–Gene Lantz

I’m on KNON’s “Workers Beat” program at 9 AM Central Time every Saturday. They podcast it on Itunes. If you are curious about what I really think, check out my personal web site