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The last few weeks have seen a number of huge protests across America. People are upset with Donald Trump and his MAGA followers regarding mass arrests of thousands and deportations to an El Salvadoran prison without due process. They are upset with Trump’s position on tariffs and the impact on both the domestic and global economy, and they are upset with a non-elected individual, Elon Musk, and how his DOGE has gutted government departments while illegally acquiring Americans’ personal information. The protestors are making a strong point. They are upset, and rightly so, and I have absolutely no sympathy for any of them.
I have just two questions for each one of the demonstrators. Where were you in November? Did you vote? If not, shut up. I firmly believe that if you do not vote, you do not have the right to complain. Secondly, if you did vote and you voted for Trump, own it. You voted for this, and you deserve this. If you honestly thought Trump and his administration would not be doing these things, you are not paying attention. The man is a convicted felon. He openly expresses his admiration for autocrats and dictators. In the 2020 election he is on tape with Georgia’s election official telling him to “find” 11 thousand votes to turn Georgia in his favour. This goes on in Banana Republics. Stop me if I have said anything factually incorrect. The man does not respect democracy or the rule of law and this surprises you? You had four years of his nonsense, and this comes as a surprise? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Lastly, if you did vote and you did not vote for Trump, did you do everything in your power to help the Harris campaign? If the protestors took all that energy from marching, making posters and chanting slogans and funnelled that energy into the campaign, it is quite possible the election could have had a different result. You would not impact the red states, but your voices certainly would be heard in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and that is a truly a game changer as to who occupies the Oval Office.
Protesting, while it is a democratic right (for now), does not give you political power, elections do. Democracy matters. Elections matter. Putting all your passion, energy, and enthusiasm into demonstrations after the fact is misguided energy. It is too little too late. You have closed the barn door after the horse has gone.
The protestors’ message is absolutely right. People scooped up by a quasi-police force without due process is undemocratic. Tariffs are counter productive according to every reputable economics professor and there is something fundamentally wrong when the top financial campaign contributor is allowed carte blanche to slash government department on a whim.
Marching, carrying signs and chanting slogans does not dictate public policy. Marking your “X” every four years does. The people get the government they deserve. After all, they voted for this. You voted for this America, live with it.