I doubt the continent will care. After all, on a geological timescale it's almost like you don't exist.
Geologically speaking, if you compressed the earth's history into 1 day, the entirety of the human existence is a couple of seconds. By comparison, Dinosaurs held sway for about 3 quarters of a hour. Microbes ruled for at least 2/3 of all history (it is sometimes wise to remind ourselves that we are, from the Point Of View of the microbes, an interesting experiment. There is no rule that said larger life needed to rise. We have had life on this planet for almost as long as it's been solid, but visible life remains a relatively recent addition.
As for dissent, there simply remains no real movement to change things beyond the people who already wanted to change things. The Tea party is literally a identifier and a group for raising cash, no more. The left is, doing what they usually do. The Majority remains unchanged, retaining it's velocity and momentum, in many ways untouched by the battles that occur for policy that happen. Gay marriage has been pushed by increased acceptance by the majority; the major, real progress occurring now, with, at the end of the day, policies pushed by both sides of the spectrum only slowing or speeding Policies in various areas attempting to catch up to public opinion.
Change is occurring in the small day to day things, in the small day to day battles, and the demographic shifts over time. For right now, to say anything approaching a radical shift is coming is simply untrue.