A few months back, I wrote about the apparently undefeated 3.5% theory of crowds and administration survival rates. I said big rallies were fine but I thought general strikes were counterproductive and played into the hands of anyone looking for an excuse to implement a crackdown or emergency agenda.

If we’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that Trump’s definition of “emergency” is anything that contradicts the notion that if the president does it, it’s not illegal. He’s itching for an excuse so bad that he’s putting National Guard members into cities across state lines as Constitutional provocateurs, actual human bait for good Americans who might be driven to potentially bad choices.

As far as good John Lennon lines go, I’m less sure of the accuracy of “All You Need Is Love” than I am of, “The establishment will irritate you….to make you fight. Because once they’ve got you violent, they know how to handle you. They don’t know how to handle non-violence and humor.” Even if the former has the better melody.

But I digress. Truth is, I still think general strikes are a bad idea. But the latest No Kings rallies opened my eyes to the value of those gatherings in a way that was new. They taught me that these events are about more than what specific outcome they can force. Unlike the Laffer Curve, high-profile demonstrations can have a real trickle-down effect, and you probably saw evidence around social media. This value includes:

Rally as progress report. How big were the last rallies, and how big were these? Everyone can see the growth. This is a progress report not only for pro-rally interests, but for leadership in terms of how well they are doing at not only implementing their agenda but defeating and deflating the opposition. They can poo-poo the images all they want, but the embarrassment is inescapable.

People living under a constantly gaslighting leadership coming together to see that there are (many!) others who have not lost their damn mind. Removing inner second-guessing and clearing the way for more confidence and hope? Priceless.

Is this a good time to mention yet again that the average voter in the 2024 presidential election did not vote for Donald Trump?

Another way to describe that progress report aspect: You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. This applies not only to the leadership and its opposition, but also to the pundit class. And more importantly, to the hidden next wave of impact players: the next 50,000 protestors who were on the fence or couldn’t make it, or the next wave of potential candidates deciding whether to run or how outspoken they can afford to be. Or the benefactors who take those same measurements and fund campaigns that can make a difference.

No, of course I wouldn’t use the weatherman line without posting this. Dylan’s still cool.

Anyway, those are some of the ripples that everyday Americans set into motion when they showed up in red, blue, and purple states last weekend. As a bonus, many of them decided that it’s time to take back the red, white, and blue, too. I’m not a kid, and the flag has been hijacked Sinclair Lewis-style by the GOP for my entire adult life. There are entire generations of citizens paying attention now that weren’t here back then, though, and it’s time we put an end to that crap.

Here’s a last word for everyone who showed up.