> it's the only form of protest I can think of that might actually affect things

Wait, that's apathy. Don't you think being selective about where you contribute is the right way to go? (I understand the idea of avoiding the "intelligence in the service of madness" trap but there's still a lot of good in the world.)

Why not figure out how to become a valuable enough person that you can leave, if you think the USA sucks? Eg; with a degree and a few years experience in software and learning french, you should qualify for Canada. Start looking at jobs in Britain and see what you'd need to get hired by someone who'd get you a working visa, like Google.