In the wake of the president’s recent fling at consorting with the “enemy,” a/k/a Democrats, there has been an upsurge of incidents of arson as disillusioned members of the current tenant in the White House’s base burn their precious and overpriced campaign paraphernalia in protest.

Burning things to make a point has an impeccable pedigree. During the Spanish Inquisition, they burned people. In my day, there were those who burned draft cards. About the same time, according to long-debunked but persistent legend, women were burning certain items of their undergarments to draw attention to their fight for equal rights.

Suffice it to say, burning things is a time-honored method of registering discontent.

Among all the scenes of fiery destruction currently available on the internet machine, one caught my attention – primarily because on the wall in the background hung an Indiana state flag. In other words, the protagonist in this mini drama is a Hoosier, just like most of my readers.

The main character looks to be a young man, perhaps in his late teens. He has apparently abandoned his parents’ basement long enough to don a quilted jacket and move to what appears to be a screened back porch.

Clutched in his hand is his red “Make America Great Again” baseball cap.

He looks petulantly into the camera (or, more likely, a cell phone) and lists his grievances: “Not doing away with DACA, staying in Afghanistan, and violating several campaign promises, leaves me no choice. You have become the swamp. Either drain the swamp or you will never make America great again.”

Whereupon, with a dramatic flourish, he lays the cap on a glass-topped patio table and sets it on fire. (The hat, not the table).

Then the young person looks meaningfully into the camera (or, more likely, a cell phone) and sends the following message to his commander-in-chief: “Your move.”

Well, actually, young man, it’s your move.

In a piece of advice as old as the Bible, we are cautioned, “Put not your faith in princes.” Psalms 146:3-5 (KJV). It is as valid today as it was when written.

There is, it seems to me, a tendency on the part of many in the president’s base to sit back and wait for him to improve their lot without a whole lot of effort on their own part. I am afraid that, for many reasons, this is an unrealistic expectation.

This president’s primary concern, as demonstrated daily since his inauguration, is his own personal record of wins and losses.

He has no ideology or loyalties except to himself. He craves adulation. He is transactional. Whatever option is most favorable to him in the short term is most likely the option to be followed. There is little in the way of consistency.

If there is any benefit to ordinary folks, that benefit is collateral to his primary purpose, which is to burnish his own image by whatever means are at hand.

Young man, you can’t afford to wait around for someone else to make America Great Again for you. You need to do something more constructive than burning a hat. You need to make America Great Again by your own efforts.

Get yourself to the nearest college or community college and work towards a degree or certification that will equip you to be the master of your own destiny.

If “book learning” isn’t your thing, use that community college to achieve skills that cannot be moved off-shore, say, welding, auto and diesel mechanics, plumbing, carpentry … the list goes on.

Put yourself in a position to act, rather than merely being acted upon.

The alternative isn’t very pretty.

Odds are, as changeable as this president is, he will do something in the future with which you will totally agree. As you rush to get back on board the train, as one wit noted on the net, they will be happy to sell you a new hat that cost five dollars to make in China, but sells for forty-five dollars or so over here.

Or worse, if this president doesn’t work out, you can sit around and wait for the next messiah to come along – or not.

And in the end, you will probably be where you are today, burning hats on the back porch.