I can only look over my own lifetime, Bigly . There was no internet during the Viet Nam and Civil Rights years and protests were organized and carried out. Word of mouth, newspapers, and telephones may have meant that it took longer to organize them, but they still happened. And massive changes happened, too. Watergate happened before the internet, and the resulting information and public outcry brought down a President.
What was the common denominator? A free and uncensored press. There were no cries back then of 'Fake News' and 'the Lying Media'. If the newspaper printed it, if it was on the 5 o'clock news, people believed it, or believed it enough to do their own research. And the politicians may have tried to weasel or spin their way out, but they didn't call the press liars or try to bring the wrath of the public down on them. But because they do that now, I'm glad we do have the internet because it can all be found there, in all its glory. IF we can just get rid of the apathy, the 'us vs them' that the GOP has instilled, and the 'I'm alright, Jack' attitude so many people have. We need the bellies full of anger of the Viet Nam era, the righteous indignation of the Civil rights era, even the fearful anger of the Cold War era. I just don't know what it will take to do that.
Dum, but many don't feel they are being affected by it. They have roofs over their heads, paychecks coming in, food in their bellies, and their children sleep safe at night. And they don't really give a damn if anyone else has those things. In fact, some of them think that certain 'others' probably shouldn't or that those 'others' are going to take 'theirs'.
But it's midnight here, and I'm exhausted. Hopefully when I get up I'll be able to have a little more faith in mankind than I do now. Except you Vipers. I have extreeeemmee faith in you. G'night.