Huge crowds gather in 'Hands Off' rallies nationwide in protest of Trump administration
Huge crowds gather in 'Hands Off' rallies nationwide in protest of Trump administration
I wish I could still pretend that any of these protests mattered. At the end of the day everyone's going to vote Democrat and Republican again and none of it will matter, because both parties are beholden to the ultra-wealthy and rule as conservatives.
You gain absolutely nothing by being correct about this.
Making an effort anyway at least gives you a chance at improving your life.
I am fully aware I'm shouting into the void.
Why not shout into the void with a few thousand like minded shouters, then?
If I felt like it would change anything, I'd do just that.
You gain nothing by refusing to try.
The protests matter.
History shows us how and why. It also shows us that thinking they don't matter is pretty common. If even 10% of Americans showed up to protest you would see instant, dramatic changes the next day. And it tends to snowball. Americans are not as powerless between elections as they have convinced themselves they are.
I think that deep down they know all this, but it's easier to claim it won't matter.
To better protect myself from cognitive biases I try to put my faith in the consensus of the experts. Otherwise we all just waste time cycling through old, ego-fueled debates that have been fully explored before we were even born.
In the case of protesting: the overwhelming consensus is that protests matter. If you don't have the time/inclanation to defend a disertation as to why they don't: you should listen to those that have. Unfortunately the experts don't have the resources to play whack-a-mole with every objection any person can claim on any platform. If you want that you need to go to school. Until then trust and protest. The longer you wait the harder it will be.
Back in the 60's perhaps.
They certainly accomplish nothing now apart from compelling social media content and making it easier for ICE to nab targets. That's why I mentioned the Women's March specifically (I realize now that was another thread, but I think it's a good example.), because everyone and their mother spent a week talking about the massive turnout, and then abortion was criminalized. You protested for George Floyd, which only resulted in property damage and electing a president who mocked your movement to your faces on national television before his brain melted.
Don't get me wrong. I want it to work. I really do, but protest doesn't matter when you don't care about the quality of the people you're electing to rule, and 99% of voters don't. (As evidenced by our presidential race featuring two octogenarians with publicly-known cognitive deficiencies.)
They certainly accomplish nothing
Desperate. Every one of your comments is defeatist and counterproductive.
The block button is there if you don't like what I post. Cheers.
Why not keep your defeatism to yourself? Be part of the solution or stfu.
Because my parents are literally one flat tire away from homelessness, and the same people out here pretending to oppose oligarchy were perfectly content to have this country be pillaged when a Democrat was doing it.
But, fair enough. I'll leave my objections where they are and let you have your moment.
pillaged when a Democrat
You think at this point you'd know what that actually looks like. There's a difference between "overly respected the Constitution and separation of powers instead of just recess appointing a Supreme Court justice" and putting tariffs on all of our allies and serving Russia.
Do you want to contribute to solutions, or are you just here to cry and whine?
Fighting for your rights is sadly a constant battle. While these protests may not have an immediate impact, they show Trump and Republicans that there is growing discontent/anger.
There are already articles of RFJ Jr arguing Doge cut too many jobs, there are many Republicans afraid of the tariffs, Republicans are avoiding town halls, etc.
All of this is about public sentiment. While we may not all agree on everything, if enough of us agree Republicans are fucking up, they'll notice.
Wow, pretty desperate.
That'll happen when you live in a country like this. Everyone's desperate.
Mostly your comment.
I wish I were just being dramatic.
My eighty year-old parents are driving for DoorDash, and if they don't, no one in this government will lift a finger to help them. Tens of millions of Americans can't absorb a $400 expense without going further into debt. Most Americans don't see much wrong with the fact that people are working 2-3 jobs at upwards of 100 hours a week and all their labor buys them is a roach-infested studio.
Respectfully, me and most Americans have every right to be angry, and it shouldn't have taken the onset of fascism to make you partisans actually see how negative your politics are, because this severe impoverishment is now in its ninth year, and all we heard from Democrats were excuses.
Well maybe if people don't vote (or vote third party, same thing), that'll help. Or at least that's what you're strongly implying.
Yeah, we're all angry. But when two parties control 98% of the government, you have to be a little more discerning than "they're all bad". Particularly so when one side is fucking Nazis and the other side ranges from Bernie to Pelosi. And I don't give a shit how much you hate Pelosi, she's not a fucking Nazi. Even Pelosi is still better than the best federally elected Republican who has retained their office. When things are so clear between the parties, it's a moral crime to be so lazy as to say they're both the same. They're not.
You don't have to get on board with every Democrat. But if you're not on board with Bernie and AOC, I don't know what the fuck you expect to get done. And Bernie and AOC are largely supportive of the Democratic party. When they're not, they're very precise and directed about it. They never imply "they're all the same", and we shouldn't be that lazy either.
Well maybe if people don’t vote (or vote third party, same thing), that’ll help.
After the last eight years, neither of these two parties is appealing, and the people who don't vote saw both parties do nothing about their impoverishment for the last eight years. Blaming them is like punching someone in the face and then complaining to them that you broke your hand. It was particularly disgusting watching Kamala Harris tell poor people that she'd do nothing about it for three months AND that they should just "be joyful".
you have to be a little more discerning than “they’re all bad”.
We're way past that. Unless you're willing to commit an act of terrorism or vigilantism or have a billion dollars, you have zero power now. Same as the rest of us.
But if you’re not on board with Bernie and AOC,
They're powerless too, mostly. Dems invented superdelegates in order to subvert their own primary rules and force Bernie out. I will give Bernie some credit as his use of the bully pulpit has created positive change. Remember when he gave speeches on Disney's and Amazon's labor practices and ended up winning living wages for a quarter of a million people? I sure do.
neither of these two parties is appealing
Lazy, damaging, useless shit.
