Angry protesters from New York to Alaska assail Trump and Musk in ‘Hands Off!’ rallies.

Thousands of protesters in cities dotting the nation from Midtown Manhattan to Anchorage, Alaska, including at multiple state capitols, assailed Trump and billionaire Elon Musk ‘s actions on government downsizing, immigration and human rights.

Are these people nuts? The nation is in debt, government agencies are badly run and robbing American taxpayers. Should these protesters be rounded up by Homeland Security and thrown out of the country?

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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

Should these protesters be rounded up by Homeland Security and thrown out of the country?

I don't think peaceful protest is (yet) illegal in Trumpland. Violent protest is definitely not illegal, as we all know 🙃

There is a budget deficit. Government agencies are not "robbing" the taxpayer.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl

There is a budget deficit. Government agencies are not "robbing" the taxpayer.

If government agencies are not robbing the taxpayer, how come there is a budget deficit? Taxpayers pay in to the public account. Government agencies take all the money out and put IOU's in the public account. Is this not robbery?

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sree251 How come there is a budget deficit? Because demand for government services outstrips supply, plain and simple. Why should this be the case? Because the private sector increasingly fails to supply the needs of the whole nation.

nudistsueaz · 61-69, F

@SunshineGirl Because not all the demands are real.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl

How come there is a budget deficit? Because demand for government services outstrips supply, plain and simple. Why should this be the case? Because the private sector increasingly fails to supply the needs of the whole nation.

DOGE found the cause of budget deficit. It is waste, fraud and corruption in every government agency. Your explanation has no basis in fact.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@nudistsueaz

Because not all the demands are real.

They are real but ridiculous and wasteful.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sree251 OK, so there is no poverty or need in America? Everyone who uses social security is a fraudster?

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl

OK, so there is no poverty or need in America? Everyone who uses social security is a fraudster?

There is poverty in America. The poor get food stamps and other assistance. DOGE discovered government programs feeding non-existent people. Nobody got fed. The public funds siphoned off by this fraudulent programs went to politicians and government bureaucrats.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sree251 If there is genuine evidence of fraud, this needs to be tested in public in the courts, not in the murky recesses of X.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl

If there is genuine evidence of fraud, this needs to be tested in public in the courts, not in the murky recesses of X.

You make a fair comment. DOGE said that there are 200 year olds drawing social security. There has been no denial from the Commissioner of the SSA. Why isn't he taken to court? He did not commit a crime. He could be fired. He would be if he was in the private sector. To be fair, it was not his fault because he cannot be held responsible for a dead system that has a life of its own. Can DODGE revamp the system? No. DOGE can only point to evidence of system failure and recommend change. It would be like plotting a difference course for a giant tanker. It's too hard; especially, people like you are not supportive and protest against change.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sree251 Yep, well this is not the private sector, this is the real world in which the rule of law applies and pesky little things like burden of evidence prevent the rich and powerful from doing whatever they like.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@SunshineGirl

Yep, well this is not the private sector, this is the real world in which the rule of law applies and pesky little things like burden of evidence prevent the rich and powerful from doing whatever they like.

You are a fine example of a person with low expectations.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@sree251 On the contrary, I have very high expectations, which is why I resist transitory politicians attempting to sell off our futures to a handful of billionaires.