As I explained in my last journal, I don't think it's going to be as bad as some people seem to think. I just don't think he's going to ruin the country. Still, I'm not expecting him to be one of our better presidents. I could be wrong, but it's a little early to say.

But a lot of people are darn near panicking over Trump's coming presidency. Heck, some people I know are panicking, with no "darn near" about it. So I started wondering, if he really does turn out to be not just bad but despotic, what can we do?

Not a whole lot, actually. Not legally.

We can protest, of course. But that just serves to notify those in charge that we are unhappy with the state of affairs. It's pretty safe to say Trump knows some people aren't pleased at his election. He's not about to step down. So what else can we do?

Um... write our congressmen? Because they are the ones with the power to hold Trump's policies back. Remember that term, "checks and balances"? The people don't impeach a president, Congress does. But with Republicans in control of both houses, it's not exactly likely. He'd have to really step over the line before they do that. It can happen, especially if Trump gets too reactionary too fast, rather than little by little with every step explained and excused away. But, again, I don't expect it.

Maybe you can write your state legislature. If states can defy federal edicts on marijuanna, then they can at least try to do so on other things. Of course, if that happens too much, we no longer have a United States.

I can't think of much else a general civilian can do without stepping outside the law. Way, way outside the law.

Since there's not much that can be done about it - by me, at least - and since I'm less than perfectly convinced he's going to be the disaster some people think he will, I'm not going to panic. And I suggest you do the same.

And I suggest you also stop protesting. We get the point, already.