Tag Archives: working class

Who, What, is “Working Class?”

July 20, 2026

democracy, economy, history, politics, strategy

I wouldn’t have thought there was any confusion about the working class had it not been for a headline I saw today from the VOX news service, “Who Counts as Working Class?” You have to subscribe to read it, but just knowing that a news service has to ask tips us off about the confusion.

I also recently attended a class on “Marxism” by one of the leaders of the Democratic Socialists of America. He said “working class” is “anybody who works.” I suppose his definition was okay for his presentation, but it could lead to a lot of trouble.

For example, Donald Trump works. He has to get up in the morning, go to meetings, talk to people, practice speeches, sign stuff and all manner of “work.” But could you by any stretch of the imagination call him “working class?”

Farmers are famous for working harder than anybody. Sun to sun, they are plowing, seeding, harvesting, repairing and everything else. Under “everything else” they also administrate their farms, do accounting, banking, and supervise whatever “hired hands” or farm workers they may have at any given time of the year. Are they in the “working class?”

What about Jalen Brunson, the star basketballer of the Champion New York Knicks? I understand that he makes $37 million/year. Is he working class?

It Was a Trick Question

Brunson fits the definition of “working class” because he makes his living primarily from selling his labor power. Trump doesn’t because he piles up the money from sources other than his daily labors. (Probably not best to go into where he actually does get his money). Farmers own their farms, and that’s the main way they make their living. Some farmers and ranchers don’t work at all, they just hire a foreman or a bunch of forepersons and go live in cities.

The working class is defined by their primary source of existence — selling their labor power. The bosses get their living by owning stuff. That’s all the definitions you need, but you could split hairs all day arguing over whether lawyers, professors, small businesspersons, police, union officers, union staffers, and many others are “working class,” “capitalist class,” or just in the uncertain area of “middle class.”

I put a pretty good treatment of the theoretical side of this “class” business on line, if you really want to get into it.

Why Does It Matter?

The reason it matters is that being determines consciousness. We like to think that we’re independent examiners of everything in life and that we decide what’s “right” or “wrong” based on evidence. But it isn’t so. Our attitudes about this or that come mostly from our material situation.

For example, almost all workers are for increasing the minimum wage. Almost all bosses are against it. Almost all workers are for health care. Almost all bosses are against it. Etc.

Another good way to understand it is to look at promotions in your shop. Your good buddy who agreed with you about everything has a real change when he makes foreman. He puts on that necktie and suddenly realizes that his old friends are a bunch of lazy bums that have to be forced to do the “right thing” and work harder for the company.

Cops are another great example. Before joining the force, they related closely to their families and communities. Afterward, they have few reservations about clubbing or even shooting them.

What About the Middle Class?

In politics, the middle class barely matters. It’s just a place for leftovers who don’t fit into “bosses” or “workers.” As a group, they can’t make up their minds about anything and are liable to jump either way on any given question. Usually, they “decide” to ally with whatever class is in power.

I don’t mean to denigrate them as individuals. Some of our greatest thinkers and leaders came from the middle class. Fidel was a lawyer, so was Lincoln, and so was Lenin. W.E.B. DuBois was a professor. Trotsky came from prosperous farmers. MLK was a preacher. But it wasn’t coming from the middle class that made them great. It was their commitment, later on, to the working class.

Which Side Are You On?

The words of the great labor song explain everything and why it all matters. There are only two sides in the modern world: workers and bosses. Pick one.

–Gene Lantz

I’m on KNON.org and 89.3 FM every Saturday at noon in Dallas. I reach out everywhere possible on the internet. My background and most personal opinions are on https://lilleskole.us

ELECTION OPTIONS FOR PROGRESSIVES

July 19, 2026

democracy, elections, politics, strategy

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As the election “season” begins, activists are weighing several options:

Ignore the elections
Outreach independently
Outreach for a candidate or the Democrats
Outreach along with progressive organizations
Outreach with the labor movement

The best tactic will be the one that correctly understands the situation and anticipates what will happen.

The situation is that the Republican hold over their previous voters is slipping. Democrats are gaining slightly in the polls, but there is no clear shift in power from one party to the other. Republicans are doing everything legally possible to undermine and rig the elections. The Democratic Party’s response is to complain, but their basic strategy is the same as any other election – to get as many votes as possible.

It should be obvious to all that the Trumpsters running the Republican Party will desperately cling to power no matter what it takes, legal or extralegal. We already know that they resorted to extralegal measures in 2020, and they will of certainty do so again if they lose in 2026 – only with a lot more firepower. It is entirely possible that they will even try to cancel the elections. Certainly, they will not hesitate at overthrowing them.

THERE ARE REALLY TWO GREAT CHALLENGES

The first challenge is to beat the Trumpsters decisively on November 3. The second major challenge is to overcome the Trumpster effort to overthrow the electoral process beginning November 4.

The easy way to win on November 3 is to work hard for the Democrats. But they will be incapable of leadership during the assault on democracy beginning November 4^th.

WHICH OPTION IS BEST?

The first option listed above is ridiculous. The second one is best because it advances the possibility of winning both on November 3 AND November 4. But independent outreach work brings a risk of being isolated and could even endanger participants. It would require substantial participation.

The third option listed above works for November 3, but not for November 4. The 4^th option works for both, but its effectiveness on November 4^th depends on the strength of the organization supported.

The 5^th and final option listed above is effective for November 3 and November 4. Unions are the strongest part of the working class and will be the backbone of the fight that begins November 4. It is also the safest choice.

In summary, if the progressive movement has the substance to carry out an independent outreach program, that would be best. If not, working with labor is best.

We Have a Chance for a United Front

July 14, 2026

strategy, elections, history, civil rights, politics, chauvinism, democracy

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Three alternatives are possible when we wake up on November 4, the day after the election:

No substantial transfer of power
Trumpsters substantially win
Anti-Trumpsters substantially win

In the first scenario, we go on with the day-by-day fight to keep from sliding completely into autocracy. In the second, we’ll do the same thing, but with a tremendous handicap. In the third scenario, we can expect the electoral fight to spill over into the streets.

In other words, the Trumpsters will do everything they can to overturn elections — even to the point of overturning the system itself. As they did in 2020, they will use everything at hand — but this time they will have at hand a lot more than a bunch of lawyers and a gang of violent loonies.

In Any Scenario, We Have to Unify

We have less than four months to pull the anti-autocracy forces together. It is not just a good way to win, it is the only way.

Against our unity effort is the mighty obstacle of sectarianism. While opposing the Trumpsters is common to many organizations and ideologies, each of them exists within its silo of isolation. Hardly any of us is open to working with everybody.

The Democrats, or course, have the simplest solution: vote Democrat. But they may be the most sectarian of all. For example, look at the way they gang up against their more progressive (and amazingly successful) candidates for office!

Today’s (7/14/26) Dallas Morning News has a strong lead editorial warning against “extremists” from the Democratic Socialist camp. I wrote them a letter asking if they were comfortable in the “middle of the road” along with yellow stripes and dead armadillos. I’ve seen dozens of articles imploring the Democrats to denounce their progressives because, they say, the American people are so reactionary that denouncing progressives is the only way for Democrats to win.

Cut off your nose to spite your face!

Who’s a Sectarian?

Almost everybody in almost every organization. We were fragmented deliberately by those who rule us, whether Democrat or Republican. We remain fragmented and have never in our history overcome sectarianism completely.

Now, we must. We can because we have to. It’s the only way to win.

How Do We Overcome Our Sectarianism?

Patiently explain.

We find ways to put aside our differences for the common goal of not becoming an authoritarian state in 2026. Texans, especially Dallasites, have a tremendous opportunity for unity because the Trumpsters are planning a gigantic fund raising extravaganza at the American Airlines Center September 9-10.

As usual, of course, every organization in town is working on separate events, but I may have thought of a way to get everybody out of our silos and working together. It has to do with the President (I’m the VP) of the North Texas Area Labor Federation, Tevita Uhatafe.

Unions may not be perfectly aligned, even with one another, but they have a better understanding of winning through solidarity than anybody. Tevita, whose nickname is “Brother Solidarity,” is the most powerful, and the least sectarian, labor leader around.

Tevita has agreed to work with me on an all-encompassing, totally non-sectarian and open, approach to opposing the Trumpsters on September 9-10.

How?

We’re going to do it on-line.

With a lot of technical help from Travis Cantwell, who joined me to put on a successful “Labor Day Breakfast” during the pandemic, we’re planning to stream anti-autocracy speakers and Q&A sessions all the way through the Trumpster extravaganza. They are charging $5,000-$20,000 for a ticket. We’re charging nothing. Talk about democracy!

We will also post every speech on YouTube so people can watch them later.

Newspersons will be the first people invited. Next, we’ll invite spokespersons from every anti-Trumpster organization that has a following.

Who?

Why not get the most outstanding anti-Trumpster speakers? Since it’s on-line and free, we should be able to get Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York. We should be able to get dynamic labor leaders like Randi Weingarten of the AFT or Shawn Fain of the UAW.

We should be able to get the most critical candidates, but we shouldn’t stop at electoral politics. Let’s also invite the Palestinians, the peace movement, the communists, the retirees, the feminists, the gays, the church leaders — any single spokesperson for any single organization with a following against the Trumpsters.

That’s the way to unity! That’s the way to win!

–Gene Lantz

I’m on KNON.org radio 89.3FM at 9AM every Saturday. I post all over the internet. My personal web site is https://lilleskole.us.

Don’t Bother Arguing

June 25, 2026

democracy, history, politics, strategy

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You may have recently seen a long CPUSA response to criticisms from a person or organization named “Geese.” You may have also seen even longer criticisms and responses that were apparently generated when “Geese” seized on a resignation letter from someone quitting the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Anybody could have demolished the Geese criticisms in a few paragraphs. By writing a long theoretical defense, they gave “Geese” a lot more credibility than they deserved. All of these criticisms and responses are, at best, unlikely attempts to convince readers. At worst, they are wasting time and resources that could be used in building the working class.

CPUSA has always had a number of anti-communist critics pretending to be “more left” or “more pure.” Nearly all of these groups can trace their origins back to CPUSA, even though their reasons for splitting may have waned over time. Gus Hall spurned them as the “Phoney Left.”

WELCOME THEM

I think we should be more welcoming toward the young people just discovering political action. Most of the errors that these come-and-go revolutionaries make are just because they are new. A lot of us, when we were new, had delusions of “unity of the left,” electoral sectarianism, armed struggle and other shortcuts. Those of us who are serious about a better world got through our immaturity.

OUR SITUATION AND THEIRS

Nearly all of the young insurrectionists today owe their newfound consciousness to the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign of 2016. After that election, they went their different ways. Some remained devoted to electoral work alone. Others joined groups that they considered to be “more revolutionary.”

All of them, and all of us for that matter, are struggling to understand a fast-changing political landscape that is almost entirely new to us. The best example is Democratic Socialists of America, the organization that benefitted most from Sanders’ campaign.

It is entirely natural that newly-conscious activists gravitate toward DSA. Hardly any of them are even aware of its historical commitment to reformism and are working, day by day, to change it into a vehicle that coincides with their hopes. DSA doesn’t have a political platform. It isn’t even a political party. It is a relatively large group of mostly young activists who are seeking their way.

PERSUADE, DON’T ARGUE

Arguing with so-called “leftists” is not a good use of our time and resources. If they are sincere and honest, and don’t give up, we’ll be able to have reasonable discussions with them sooner or later. Until then, let’s be the adults.

–Gene Lantz

Shoulders to the Wheel

June 1, 2026

civil rights, democracy, elections, politics, strategy

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We have until November before a systemic crisis hits.

Five months.

Currently, the billionaire autocracy is doing everything possible to rig the November elections. If they are not confident of substantially winning, they may try to end elections entirely. Trump has already floated the idea without success. If the elections are carried out, they will contest every election that they lose.

That they will use every possible means – legal/illegal, moral/immoral – to contest election outcomes is a certainty. It is proven without possible argument by the precedent they set in 2020.

In 2020, the billionaire autocracy had at their disposal only a ragtag group of fanatics. In 2026, they have nominal control over most of the coercive forces, including police, sheriffs, border patrols, ICE, the National Guard, the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, and the Space Force.

The working class will resist. Will we be prepared to win by November?

Certainly, more people have hit the streets than at any time in history. Certainly, consciousness is at an all-time historical high. Certainly, the progressive forces are better organized than ever before. Even unions have begun to wake up. Certainly, the advanced part of the working class has brought the entire movement forward. Will it be enough?

Between now and the certain crisis, our movement must carry out two main strategies:

1) Mobilize the largest vote for progressive candidates and ideas

2) Organize the working class to fight beyond the electoral arena

CONFLICTING IDEOLOGIES

In the flurry of new consciousness, several different philosophies have emerged and begun to be put into practice.

Armed struggle is the least intelligent idea, but a few groups and individuals have already begun to advocate it. Where they tried to implement, they played precisely into the hands of the autocracy. Under current conditions the most likely initiators of any such policy are government provocateurs.

Getting everybody into trade unions is a charming idea. The Industrial Workers of the World tried it and made a good showing in the early part of the 20th century. But it didn’t work then and won’t work now. However, there are emerging organizations working with but not under the trade unions that are very promising.

Overcoming our enemies by winning elections within the only system available is the most popular idea, but this shopworn process is easily discredited, as it should be. American voters reject both capitalist parties.

The New York Times ran a headline on May 29: “In latest sign of discontent, 43% of voters are dissatisfied with both parties.”

Thirty percent of those polled “liked” the Republicans and didn’t like the Democrats. Twenty-three percent liked the Democrats and didn’t like the Republicans. The total number satisfied with both capitalist parties was four percent! The article asserted, “Eighty percent of dissatisfied voters said the economic and political system needed major changes or to be torn down entirely…”

The working class is learning class struggle politics. The alternative to the discredited two-capitalist-party political system is exactly that — class struggle politics.

ORGANIZING BEYOND ELECTIONS IS VITAL

Getting more workers to join progressive organizations, particularly those close to labor and civil rights organizations, is positive action. Many of them have already begun to search for ways to fight the autocracy.

We need political guidance to a viable path. That path is to organize the working class for full democracy.

As we study and practice, we move ourselves upward toward cadre status. As we take our place in working class organizations, we improve our options. Raising money is vital.

Shoulders to the wheel, comrades. We are running out of time!

–genelantz19@gmail.com

What We’re Talking About

May 23, 2026

civil rights, democracy, economy, elections, politics, strategy, unions

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We’re on KNON radio every Saturday at 9AM central time. They keep the recordings on KNON.org for 2 weeks, so you can still listen to “Gene Lantz” or “Workers Beat.” They put my weekly podcasts on Soundcloud under “Workers Beat Extra.”

On May 23, the first caller spoke about the odd proposal to tear down our Dallas City Hall. Apparently, Mrs Adelson, the big Trump sponsor, wants to build an arena there for her Dallas Mavericks basketball team. The caller said the only problem was a leak in the basement, and that they need to get a better plumber. Bonnie, my Co-Host, said they need a union plumber.

I had a newspaper article on the topic: “A group of businessmen and architects propose 47 acres of city-owned land for the Mavericks. Their opposition wants to tear down City Hall and says the building is ‘unpopular.’ ” Dallas Morning News

During the next lull, I got to talk about something I’ve been wanting to say for weeks: the reason that Trump wants lower interest rates even as inflation rises. Normally, the Federal Reserve raises interest rates as monetary policy to fight inflation, but Trump wants the reverse — lower interest rates despite inflation.

Fiscal policy — government expenditures — are also fanning the fires of inflation. During the past week, I had accumulated several examples:

“Trump wants $1.2T to put weapons in space. $1.5T for miliary budget. $350B for present war.” New York Times

White House Approves $9 Billion for Spy Agencies to Catch Up on A.I.

NYT

$1.7 billion contract awarded “for border wall in Big Bend” amid public confusion over construction plans. TX Tribune

“Trump is setting up a $1.8B “weaponization fund.” “The massive fund would give Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump a mechanism to seek taxpayer payouts for their claims of government overreach.” NBC News

Justice Department gifts Trump with slush fund Salon

“Trump Officials Decline to Rule Out DOJ Payouts to Jan. 6 Rioters Who Assaulted Police.” Time

“There has never been an example of presidential corruption like this.” NYT editors

“Never in 250 years has America witnessed a sitting president shield himself and his family from tax scrutiny, after leveraging policies that benefit his own businesses and personal portfolios, as Donald J. Trump has done… In doing so, he has set a precedent — once so unfathomable as to be laughable — that it’s OK for presidents and family members to make billions off deals affected by government decisions, then use the Justice Department to secure lifetime protection from scrutiny of their past tax returns.” AXIOS

After a couple more callers, I was finally able to give my take on why Trump keeps driving up inflation and demands lower interest rates: he wants to continue “borrowing” taxpayer money and driving up national debt in order to fund his plans for military and internal coercive forces, especially ICE. In other words, he doesn’t care about his sagging popularity. He intends to take what he wants, internationally and domestically, BY FORCE!

Dallas political analyist Carolyn King Arnold called, as she often does, to urge everybody to vote. She said that voting is “the only way” that people can change anything. After she finished, I disagreed.

Voting is important, but hardly the “only way.” People need to organize. Bonnie and I agreed that the best organizations are those closest to the union movement. Unions are the largest and best organized part of the progressive movement. I also recommended NAACP as a good organization to join.

Another caller reviewed his own article in PeoplesWorld.org. It was about an important voters’ event held last week in Friendship West megachurch. They set a goal of 75% turnout for Black voters. And they will do the work! He recommended working with Dr Frederick Haynes. I do, too.

With the subject of voting on hand, Bonnie and I could hardly resist talking about Trump’s seemingly insane endorsement of Ken Paxton to head the Republican ticket in Texas as the nominee for U.S. Senate. The caller who brought it up said that Republican voters “must be crazy.” I disagreed again.

I had two reasons. Firstly, even though Trump’s endorsement is winning Republican primaries all over the country, I don’t think that all rank-and-file Republican voters are nuts enough to elect Paxton on our May 26 runoff election day. There was a letter-to-editor in the Dallas newspaper demonstrating my point:

This article was also in today’s paper: “After Trump endorsed Paxton, Republican turnout in early voting dropped.” DMN //it proves that Republicans are not necessarily crazy//

And from last week, “Paxton and Cornyn race gets uglier and uglier.” DMN

My second argument goes beyond whether or not Trump is crazy or otherwise incompetent. I think that the billionaires behind Trump have a plan that largely disregards the question of winning elections. I think they intend to try to overthrow any election they don’t win, and Ken Paxton, famous for oceans of frivolous lawsuits, is just the kind of lawyer they need to help overthrow elections. His opponent, John Cornyn, may still believe in the Constitution.

My friend Arash called to talk about a mural unveiling for ICE victims and other civil rights issues. I wished we had more time to talk about civil rights and the current and next Trump wars, but it’s just a talk show and it’s just an hour. I was loaded up with recent articles on those subjects.

Civil Rights Being Decimated

“Thousands rallied in Montgomery for voting rights. ” Ap in dmn

“NAACP calls for boycott of Southern college sports programs over voting rights” Courier Texas

“Texas is the death penalty capital and Tarrant is the capital of that. 92% of death penalty cases are against people of color. ” Jane.harper@dallasnews.com

“Texas executed a man with a tested IQ of 70. ” Jamie.landers@dallasnews.com

“Justice Dept. Accuses U.C.L.A. Medical School of Bias Against White and Asian Applicants.” nyt

“Trump’s border wall is desecrating Native American site.” Ap in dmn

Trump’s Wars Worsen

New York Times ran a poll asking how many people support Trump’s war in Iran. 30% do, but it’s 70% for Republicans and 5% for Democrats.

“Israelis bomb Lebanon during truce.” NYT

Trump says “It looks like I’ll be the one that does it,” about invading Cuba. AP in dmn

And Everything Else

I had dozens of articles and opinions about this perilous economy and, especially, about artificial intelligence. But we get only an hour.

–Gene Lantz

We’re on KNON.org every Saturday at 9AM and they keep the recordings on for 2 weeks afterward. My podcasts are under “Workers Beat Extra” on Soundcloud and my personal web site is http://lilleskole.us.

Just Look At What We Have Done!

May 18, 2026

civil rights, democracy, economy, elections, history, politics, strategy, unions

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If everything looks bad, it’s only because our enemies are flooding the world with lies. In truth, they are cornered rats. I’m not saying that cornered rats are not dangerous, but they can be stomped!

Take a look at what we have already accomplished in 2026:

Crowds at No Kings events have surpassed all previous American protests!

Our labor movement broke 70 years of precedent by condemning Trump’s wars

Our labor movement broke even longer precedent by promoting May 1, International Workers Day

The Alliance for Retired Americans, which has never gone beyond immediate retiree issues, unanimously passed a hot resolution against the war in Iran. It’s a very long and detailed resolution. You can read it on http://retiredamericans.org. Here’s just one paragraph:

”Whereas the price of oil has already risen dramatically and will lead to sharp increases in the prices of many products that are daily necessities for American families, and the cost of this war will fall squarely on the working people of our country, and on our military service members who are being asked to wage a war and sacrifice their well-being, perhaps their lives, with no clear reason or end plan.”

Let me mention a few other items from today’s news:

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and 28 co-sponsors introduced the Fair Trade for Working Families Resolution, which outlines new principles for international trade that would prioritize the interests of working people over the profits of multinational corporations.… The resolution is endorsed by the United Steelworkers (USW), United Auto Workers (UAW), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists (IAM), Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC), Rethink Trade, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the National Family Farm Coalition, and BlueGreen Alliance.

This seems like a good time to note that critical alliances are being formed in the progressive movement!

Here’s more from today’s news:

NYT asked “Do you think Donald Trumps decision to go to war with Iran was the right decision or the wrong decision?” Democrats said yes by 5%, Republians by 22%. And the general population by 30%.

Thousands rallied in Montgomery for voting rights. Ap in Dallas newspaper. It’s important to show that the fight goes on.

The Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine says he wants to change the system. NYT

Editors who usually choose to endorse candidates on the basis that they are probably going to win have chosen labor-endorsed Colin Allred on CD33, Venton Jones on TX100 and Nathan Johnson for Attorney General. Texas primary runoffs are May 26.

Mexican Government Reaffirms Support for Michelle Bachelet’s UN Secretary-General Candidacy Telesur This one is important because we might get a very progressive Secretary-General, but it also matters considerably that the President of Mexico does not cringe before Trump!

Unions are winning some big victories:

United Airlines Flight Attendants have new contract: The five-year contract includes a 31% base pay rate increase this summer; boarding pay (which averages an 7% to 8% increase to compensation); $741 million in retroactive pay; expanded job security; restrictions on red-eye flying; sit pay for scheduled and rescheduled sits over 2.5 hours; per diem and 401(k) contribution increases; 10 weeks’ paid maternity and two weeks’ paid parental and adoption leaves; elimination of 24 hour on-call reserve and more. Aflcio

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Texas workers at George R. Brown Convention Center and Houston Entertainment Center just won massive 46% raises! TX AFL-CIO

I’m not positive how to evaluate this, but I think it’s big news:

Trump went to China, but came back empty handed. One interpretation of Trump’s war in Iran is that it was caused by the undermining of the “petrodollar” by the BRICS countries. Brazil, Russia, India, China and their 25 or so new partners have been trading for everything, including oil, in their own currencies instead of bowing to the United States and using dollars. If this is the reason for the war, and I think it is, then don’t expect it to be over soon. I’ll go so far as to say that the war in Iran will not really be over before the end of November.

–Gene Lantz. I’m on KNON radio at 9AM every Saturday. They podcast it on knon.org. They podcast my “Workers Beat Extra” podcasts on Soundcloud. I podcast them on Spotify under my own name. If you were curious about what I really think, you might look at https://lilleskole.us.

YOU must take leadership!

December 30, 2025

strategy

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We cannot afford to take idle time in the situation we’re in today. If the working families of America ever needed leadership? We need it now. Everyone has leadership quality.

That’s why I’m looking at you. We need leadership, you got it. Everyone has leadership quality, but most of us don’t use it. None of us can afford any further Indulgence.

I guess I should ask if you care. That would be the only. Screen that I would make. If you don’t care, then you probably need to reevaluate that, because everybody cares about everybody else.

So, I’m wanting you to take on leadership because it has to be done in the crisis that we’re in. I don’t think I need to go over the crisis, but just today we found out that the war effort that Trump is making in the Caribbean has gone so far that they are now attacking installations on the mainland.

On leadership, what is it? Well, the easy definition is just to say a leader has followers. Well, it’s obviously true. But it doesn’t really tell you much. In my studies of leadership, I learned a very valuable lesson when I was a elementary school teacher. Because some of the kids are leaders.

You do something called a sociogram, and you can find out which ones are. The kids are leaders, because in a sociogram, the children say who they look up to, or who they would like to spend time with, that sort of thing. And it turns out to be only a few of the people in the classroom.

A leader is someone who knows what to do next.

I guess you could refine that and say a leader is someone who is able to convince others that they know what to do next. But the trick is to actually know what to do next. Now, that might imply some study. Some of it is in books or stories. But a lot of study is just talking to other people and getting ideas.

You have to work within the framework that you have. But don’t start with the obstacles. You can get to the obstacles later and the problems and why it all won’t work or why it’s no use trying. You can get to that later. At this point, you’re just doing some studying and asking others and figuring things out.

Then. You have to analyze what’s possible. What framework are you working in? And you can look at the obstacles I guess at that time. The whole end of the process is that you come up with some options.

And this is where it gets interesting. This is where, for the first time,
what I’m asking you to do may seem a little hard. It’s not going to require any natural abilities, it’s just going to take a little bit of your courage.

The next step is for you to try something. If it doesn’t work. try something else. But by all means, try something. And finally. Never give up! As long as the need continues to exist. And it is impossible to deny. That’s a need for your leadership exists. Right now.

Understanding Where We are Grows From Where We’ve Been

December 26, 2025

art, history, strategy

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By Gene Lantz

Dallas activists had spoonfuls of ice cream and local history on December 21. A group of us gathered at a Dairy Queen just 2 miles uphill and west from downtown Dallas. At that site in 1854, socialists from Europe established their communal farm and changed North Texas forever. We talked about them and then walked together to see a stone monument nearby.

A French socialist named Victor Considerant rented horses in St Louis in 1850 or so. Then he rode to an open hillside outside the grubby little town of Dallas. The town was established only a couple of years earlier and was just beginning its first main industry, tanning stinky buffalo hides.

Considerant thought the area looked like his homeland and should, he figured, be good land for grapevines and a wine industry. Back in Europe, he was able to raise money for a stock corporation to start sending European socialists to Texas. They named their commune “La Reunion.”

They were literate people. Unlike the rough-hewn Scots-Irish frontiersmen tanning hides nearby, they were cultured, artistic, musical, and far-thinking people. Like the other socialist settlements in Texas from the time, they were “freethinkers” on religious questions and had no churches. What really set them apart was that they didn’t enslave other human beings.

“History Is Bunk”

The official story of Dallas, told in almost all the books, is that the only reason it became a great city and cultural center was because of the genius and foresight of the early capitalists who created it “out of nothing.” In truth, it was a crossroads long before the first trading post was set up. It was a shallow place in the Trinity river where natives and early Spanish explorers could cross.

Dallas was also a crossroad when the first transcontinental highway went through the middle of town and then came out toward Fort Worth on the very street that now passes in front of our Dairy Queen. The Dixie Overland Highway ran from Savannah Georgia to San Diego California.

The genius capitalists didn’t make Dallas a cultural center either. It was the socialists from La Reunion. The official story about all the socialist communards in Texas is that they failed because they weren’t good farmers and socialism just doesn’t work. But that doesn’t explain why they all went out of business at practically the same time, in 1860.

When the Confederacy established its wartime draft, soldiers went after the free thinking socialist communities. One of them, Comfort, near San Antonio, tried to send its menfolk to the Mexican border, but they were hunted down and massacred. At La Reunion, a shootout with the Confederates was their last page in history as a communal farm.

But it wasn’t their last contribution to Dallas and North Texas. The population of Dallas was about 1,000. There were 500 or so communards. Most of them moved to the eastern part of town and established East Dallas, where their descendants still hold La Reunion celebrations. They contributed to the arts and even in politics. One of them became Mayor of Dallas and has a park, Reverchon, named after him today. They were the people who made grubby little Dallas a cultural center.

You can learn a lot at the Dairy Queen.