Mastodawn

@RocketBoy Then why pay attention at all?

Between college football, random shit on streaming, or going on a walk, it's not like you were obligated to pay attention.

This country was founded on protest, and protest is constitutionally protected activity. That ain't changing anytime soon.

So, how did #NoKings impact your Saturday?

Were people knocking on your door and bothering you? Did you have to see a protest sign you didn't like? Did you read a post or watch the news and get upset? Were you delayed at a traffic light?

Or, per your meme, were you bothered with an unsolicited conversation at a men's urinal?

I'm not asking to be an asshole - I'm genuinely curious as to why you feel this way.

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RocketBoy Oct 19

@michael I should apologize. It’s a meme. It’s meant to be a troll on No Kings protesters.

I have an older sister and one of my nephews participating elsewhere. My feelings are these seem to be a waste of time for a couple of reasons. Maybe it’s making people feel better. I’m not against that.

I’m not a MAGA or a Trump supporter. I think the time would better spent doing some hiking or beatification projects would have more impact.

You could accuse me of gaslighting, but I believe that is what the No Kings movement and media are doing. Yelling and telling everyone there is a problem where there is none.

I wish our citizens would be more concerned with the Federal Government’s overspending and the National Debt. That is what is going to sink us and bring on anarchy or an authoritarian government.

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Michael H

@RocketBoy I appreciate your thoughtful response.

History has shown, time and time again, that when a complacent populace acquises to the demands of dicators and tyrants, the story for that society never ends well.

You note that "there is a problem where there is none."

In my 43 years on this planet, living with Presidents I both admired and despised, until Trump II, I never doubted that elections were the primary means of changing the policy direction of 🇺🇸

Our problem, our crisis, is that the current political leadership is actively destroying that mechanism. That's the problem.

If Trump and friends weren't trying to denounce elections and gerrymander a permanent majority, the #NoKings folks would be campaigning for candidates instead.

But, we are marching because many of us aren't even sure there will be fair elections, or candidates that represent our communities.

Marching creates conflict, and inconvenience, and friction - and the louder and more numerous the protest, the more difficult it is to look away. That's literally the point.

In other countries, folks don't protest because they'll get arrested, tortured, or worse.

However, this is the USA, and it is our sacred right to protest and petition our government for grievances - and many of us have some serious fucking grievances right now.