“The times they are a changing” sang Bob Dylan in 1964 and indeed, they were.

And indeed, they are changing again. We will see if it is in another profound way.

I have attended all the recent public demonstrations and meetings related to fears that our democracy is being eroded. The meetings continue to be heavily attended. I attend because I share the concern. My answer is the same as the one I received when I asked random attendees why they came to the meeting or demonstration.

“I have to do something.”

We and especially those in government decision-making positions better take notice of the demonstrations which are being held nationwide. The degree of general discontent with the way things are going in our government and how it relates to our daily lives is impressively notable.

Call for action

The discomfort and discontent present in the general populace is not a good sign for the people in charge of government regardless of party affiliation or whether elected. It is a call for action.

There is heightened concern over what could be perceived as the dismantling of long-standing government departments that more than not provide a service to the public such as applying for and receiving social security benefits or tracking down missed social security checks.

Anyone flying our airlines today has to be concerned about the potential absence of sufficient staff, especially experienced staff in essential services, such as air traffic controllers.

Why would we think our president would hire someone to do wholesale firings to reduce cost at the expense of public safety or getting social security checks out on time or at all? Because that is what they are doing at this writing.

The dismantling of services is reported as occurring as mass layoffs including the most knowledgeable and/or experienced persons and closing of offices across the nation. All of which translates into reduced access to government services along with reduced cost.

Workers are receiving letters of immediate dismissal “for work performance.” The bogus claim, which is in the letter everyone receives, is devoid of any caring or regard for the person receiving the letter.

Yes, lawsuits are being brought by some of those fired against such blatant misrepresentation, but lawsuits take years to resolve. The public relations optics are terrible. Most Americans do not think workers should be treated worse than excess inventory.

You OK, President Trump?

I am known to be critical of Trump and I am. I cannot explain why I am strangely saddened for him that he relinquished his authority as an executive to Elon Musk.

I have heard pundits say he did it so Musk would take the blame, not him. I do not believe it of the “businessman” who knows where the buck stops.

I think Trump may have lost part of his edge which as it erodes will bring up issues when he claims he is eligible for a third term.

Still, aging takes its toll on all of us to one degree or another. On the day of this writing, his White House physicians reported Trump had a physical and mental exam which they said showed he was “excellent.”

“Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.” These are the words from Trump’s first reported cognitive test which are curious given they are memorably related. The words were not as connected when my husband took the same test.

Regardless, Trump passed the test and boasted something to the effect they had not seen anyone so good as he. We know this because he was proud that he could still remember the words. Many of us remembered the words because he kept saying them as if he got extra genius points.

I do not want to poke the anecdote much because it is part of my sadness. I know as many readers know that mental decline is sad business no matter who it is.

What does matter is the health and financial well-being of Americans under his leadership. People are telling him through demonstrations that his presidency is not working for them. The few people I surveyed felt that he would not care, and their discontent would mean nothing to him.

None of it is a good sign for Trump, our country or us.

There are many in the opposition who think the discontent or demonstrations will run their course. They are mistaken.

The signs are it is only getting bigger.

Think of tariffs as retribution.

“The times they are a changing.”

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Bertha Cooper, an award-winning featured columnist with the Sequim Gazette, spent her career years in health care and is the author of the award-winning “Women, We’re Only Old Once.” Cooper and her husband lived in Sequim for 26 years. Now widowed, Cooper continues to live in the area she has grown to love. Reach her at columnists@sequimgazette.com.