'There's a movement bubbling up': Anti-Trump protests planned nationwide Saturday

[tmaynardr]

45. This Accomplishes Nothing!

These protests are a waste of time. It turns off the unaffiliated voters and exhausts members of the left that want to actually make a change. Sure, it makes the fired up members of the party feel good, but it does nothing to actually show what the left would do differently, or how government would be better if voters put the democrats back in office.

Furthermore, the spectacle of protest often overshadows any substantive message. Instead of focusing on the specific grievances or proposed solutions, media coverage frequently highlights disruptions, confrontations, or the most extreme elements present. This allows opponents to easily dismiss the entire movement as chaotic or unreasonable, rather than engaging with the underlying issues. Lacking clear, actionable demands that resonate beyond the activist base, these demonstrations become exercises in venting frustration rather than strategic interventions aimed at shifting political power or public opinion in a measurable way.

A more productive path involves channeling that energy into the less glamorous, but ultimately more impactful, work of political change. This means focusing on developing concrete policy proposals that address real-world problems, organizing locally to build durable coalitions, and engaging in sustained efforts to persuade undecided voters through reasoned arguments and demonstrated competence. Investing time in voter registration, supporting strong candidates in primary and general elections, and participating in local government can build the foundation for lasting change far more effectively than episodic bursts of outrage, however cathartic they may feel in the moment.