Do they do any good? The rallies, the protests, the signs?

Driving through North Conway, New Hampshire, I noted a demonstration against ICE (that’s  US Immigration and Customs Enforcement), probably a protest over the recent shooting of an immigrant. Not the first time ICE has killed someone who had committed no crime.

i thought about stopping to take a picture, but that is probably a good way to get shot. Someone would probably have taken me for a government agent looking to add photos to the enemies file. The political climate in America these days is that volatile.

As I drove by, I wondered how effective such protests are. Does anyone in government, anywhere, pay attention to protestors? Or are they so certain of the righteousness of their actions that protesting is just noise from idiots who don’t understand?

Walking through Old Orchard Beach, Maine, I saw these signs in a house window. And I wondered again how much impact they have on changing the minds of passersby. (How seriously should I take someone who can’t use proper spelling in their sign?)

Americans don’t seem to understand that in their polarized country words are meaningless. The president (who seems to be the only person who matters these days) has consistently shown his contempt for anyone, domestic or foreign, who doesn’t share his views. He doesn’t care about your words – unless you hurt his feelings. Then he might send the FBI after you.

To my American friends- if you don’t use it you will lose it. As Benjamin Franklin famously said when asked about what form of government America’s founders had decided upon, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

It’s increasingly looking like Americans don’t want to keep it. A country built on a system of checks and balances to restrain the abuse of power by any level of government seems to have tossed the guardrails aside.

There will still be protests. There will still be signs in windows. The “no kings” movement will continue, distracting people from the issue.

Pete Townshend was wrong. Apparently we will get fooled again.