We Can’t “Onboard” The Working Class

DSA didn’t grow because of better onboarding pipelines or smarter retention tactics—it grew when it fought. In a sharp critique of the GDC’s State of DSA 2024–25 report, Gigi G. argues that the data itself refutes the premise that “internal power” drives growth. From Bernie to George Floyd to Mamdani, every surge came from political struggle, not logistics. The lesson is simple: we can’t “onboard” the working class. We have to fight with it.