It's good to see protests, but I wonder if the pro-democracy, anti-billionaire framing is right for this moment [View all]

[EarlG]

I'm glad to see people out there organizing peaceful protests. It's imperative that we can show a groundswell of public dissatisfaction with Trump's policies.

However, I wonder if we're using the right framing. There's certainly nothing wrong with protesting in favor of democracy or against billionaires. The problem I see with this framing though is that a lot of people actually seem to like billionaires. And clearly a lot of people voted on purpose for the shitstorm we're now seeing. In fact, we just ran an entire pro-democracy campaign which was defeated at the polls.

So while I believe that Elon Musk's presence in government is indeed a political weak point in the Trump administration which can be exploited, and while I believe that OBVIOUSLY being pro-democracy is the way to go, maybe we shouldn't be framing these as pro-democracy protests in opposition to billionaire oligarchs. We already ran that campaign and lost. Because after all, America is the land of opportunity, and the myth of the American dream is that anyone who works hard enough can become Elon Musk. We know that is not true, of course, but the myth persists.

So while Musk is running roughshod over the federal government, perhaps we should be EXPLICITLY framing these protests as "pro-Constitution." Because while it's not too difficult to argue against anti-billionaire protests (see: "Why are you so jealous of rich people?") it is much harder -- if not impossible -- to argue against the Constitution. Because the Constitution IS America, and without it, there is no America. And you can't have an American dream without an America.

People who serve this country, all the way up to the president, swear oaths to the Constitution. Now, Trump and Musk are moving to undermine people's belief that the Constitution is a valid document. So I say, well then just come right out and say that. If you don't believe in the Constitution -- if you don't believe in co-equal branches of government, checks and balances, and the rule of law -- then just come right out and say it. Stop using weasel words and say it to our faces.

For decades Republicans all across this land have managed to get people to believe that they -- not Democrats -- are the true guardians of the Constitution. Their actions are now wildly disproving that claim, and they are giving us a massive political opportunity.

We are now the defenders of the Constitution -- against enemies foreign and domestic -- and we should be inviting Republicans to join our peaceful pro-Constitution protests, and stand up for the Constitution. If and when they decline to join, press them on it. Do you still believe that the Constitution is valid? Why won't you stand up and defend the Constitution? If they are office holders, ask them if they disagree with their own oaths of office.

Imagine a massive pro-Constitution march on Washington. It wouldn't have to be overtly politically partisan. It wouldn't even have to mention Trump. The purpose would be to show that hundreds of thousands of people from all across the country are willing to march in support of the nation's founding document. And if you want to attempt to argue against and/or demean that, then please proceed I guess.

If we demonstrate clear support for the Constitution, then it throws a much bigger spotlight onto the clearly anti-Constitutional and un-American actions of Musk and Trump. Bringing the Constitution to the forefront would remind people that without the nation's founding framework, this isn't America any more. It's just a nation of lawlessness and chaos.