peNdantry
George Takei 
🏳️🌈🖖🏽If you ever think your vote doesn’t matter, take a look at what happened in MN. 321 votes was the difference between nothing moving forward and a progressive triumph this session.
Hugh Jazz Alt@georgetakei so true
Devin Canterberry@georgetakei Can you really call it a success when half of all votes cast are effectively the same outcome as not voting at all? All of those people now have a candidate representing them that they did not vote for and may not even approve of.
Yes, voting matters, but in the current system, when you lose it doesn't feel empowering -- it feels disenfranchising, like the system didn't work. It's no surprise, then, that so many people either don't vote at all, or actively criticize elections.
MaryPotAnd over half actually have the candidate they wanted. The majority have what they wanted.
All votes are not this close, but NOT voting makes sure "your" candidate is more likely to lose.
Also - my take is that if you didn't vote at all - you have NO right to complain about the result or anything the winning candidate does. You didn't help either way.
@MaryPot @georgetakei I wouldn't say not voting at all diminishes your right to complain at all. For example, if I am politically neither Democrat nor Republican, or a Democrat living in a majority Republican region, then my vote truly does not carry a meaningful amount of weight. Our current system completely lacks *proportionality*.
Why should only the majority's voice be heard and represented?
Honestly? You don't get that the majority should decide??? 😮
The party system there is really messed up. There are only 2 opinions one can have???
Mind you - even I (a European who has never been to USA) know that there is such a thing as Independents.
If you can't agree with any of the candidates - vote for the one you disagree the least with.
Sitting back in your easy chair in front of the TV on election day is NOT taking part in a democracy.
Adrienne LaCava@canterberry @georgetakei But you’re suggesting that both parties govern like Republicans, iow they do not care about Democratic constituents, they don’t even care what their Republican constituents want. They are there grubbing for power and nothing else, and offer zero legislative solutions. Republicans govern for corporations and the donor class. Democrats govern for the people. Historical data proves that distinction.
Roel@adriennelacava @canterberry @georgetakei If you had a system of proportional representation you would had a lot more political parties that where succesful. The country would also be a lot less polarised and some more modest conservative party would gain a lot more votes.
@RoelRoel @canterberry @georgetakei I agree 💯! But we are a duopoly and need to stand up for the party that governs for the people. Ranked Choice Voting (or something like it) would resolve many problems with our system and it would give other parties a real chance. Today it’s a state level decision and I wish I lived where it’s used exclusively. 🤓 https://www.yeson2rcv.com/where-used/
Grassroots Joe@canterberry @georgetakei
This is some really shoddy logic.
Here's the bottom, bottom line, of you don't vote you give your political power to those who do.
Whether or not that power will result in policy changes is tied up in a myriad of factors, the majority out of your control. None of those factors changes the fundamental fact that your vote is your political voice. Use it or lose it.
It's our job as activists to persuade every eligible voter to shout.
Michigan Newsfeed@georgetakei Michigan is doing the same. The midwest states have diaspora in Texas and Florida.
Belafon@georgetakei In McClendon-Chisholm, a vote for $2Billion worth of bonds for road and water improvements passed 1-0. And people complained afterwards on NextDoor.com.
Kerri Levine
Aaron In Minnesota@georgetakei but an altogether better voting SYSTEM wouldn't have this sort of precarious outcome.
So yeah, vote, encourage voting, but make sure not to forget about all the ways that voters are made to feel powerless ON PURPOSE!
We mustn't shame non voters but find ways to fix why they fail to vote
I am amazed that a country that calls itself a democracy requires people who have the right to vote to register! They should be getting all their voting info in the mail automatically! AND the voting system should be set up so that people who work can vote without having to take time off from work.
And then there's this thing called gerrymandering - which is legal???
Holger Fiallo@georgetakei Those who do not vote insult the legacy we were giving by those who fought for the US. Liberty is about voting to keep it save for the future. The Republic need people to vote to save it.
JC_Mehner@georgetakei - hopefully something Texas voters remember in 2024. But I’m not holding my breath.
Mike@georgetakei I agree 100%, but you realize it is also the argument being used for voter suppression 😠
But your point is still a good one, make your voice heard!
Phil Thane ✅@georgetakei We have a FPTP electoral system in the UK too but almost all seats are 'safe' ie the boundaries drawn do that one side is almost sure to win but a huge margin. I've lived and voted in 7 such areas. Voting is a waste of time but I do it any way just to feel virtuous. BTW, the system is set up to favour the conservative party. It takes many more votes to elect a labour MP than a Tory, and as for minority parties, they have no chance.
MyOpinion@georgetakei We need to make progress. We can't allow the GOP to produce a time warp where we return back to 1938 where child labor is not protected!
Southern Leftist@georgetakei
MN is the proof that leftism works in government. Progress.
We need to bring MN to the national scale, if they're improving the state for all minorities, commoners, and people who suffered under GOP conservatism and cuts to programs/rights under their regime.
Normal Guy
@ lrkelber@georgetakei I strongly agree that voting makes a huge difference/impact. But as a Democrat in #mn I’m disappointed by the overreach of the #DFL in the budget that just passed. Gov. Walz actually vetoed one bill. I think a one seat majority is a poor reason to abandon bipartisanship. It’s not what MN is about! #politics
.@georgetakei this is a pretty good roundup of the legislation the #DFL passed. #politics #mn #budget https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/the-minnesota-miracle 🗳️
Roadskater, Ph.D.@georgetakei Back in 1984 in my congressional district, the Democrat won the seat by 170 votes.
SammyGalen@georgetakei In 2000, exit polling showed Al Gore winning Florida (which had never been wrong before). Thanks to the #Rethuglican controlled government that outlawed VWB (Voting While Brown), George Bush ended up losing it by any counting means, but the #Rethuglican controlled Government made him the winner.
We can't just say 'You Need To Vote', we have to make sure ALL votes are counted. We need to use the 24th amendment to make sure ALL votes are counted!
We can't just say 'You Need To Vote', we have to make sure ALL votes are counted. We need to use the 24th amendment to make sure ALL votes are counted!
@georgetakei 134 gop members of congress are still plotting to subvert the next election. They are traitors and have violated their oath of office and the Constitution. They have betrayed America.
Litzz11@georgetakei If voting didn't threaten Republican power, the GOP wouldn't be trying so hard to keep people from doing it.
janetate@georgetakei let’s hope the democrat winner stays democrat.
@martlund 🌲🐶🇸🇪🇨🇱🌈@georgetakei with #tRUMP still controlling GOP after ALL of his crimes, seems a vote just isn't enough. LOCK HIM UP
Martin RundkvistIt's the voters. They're the real problem.
@georgetakei How can someone people vote for GOP? What is wrong with these people? This means you have almost 50% extremists 😵💫
axolotl solidario@georgetakei any progress we may have garnered is thanks to social movements. Electoral politics only serve to disarticulate and divide those movements.
I'd love to boost this, but the image doesn't have alt-text.
Kickstink@georgetakei VOTE, even if you need to hold your nose at how bad the two options are.
Problems with our system are real and need to be addressed, but the “they’re both the same, voting makes no difference” argument gets appropriated by the far-right tactically to persuade you not to vote against them. Far-right lunatics sure as hell will vote, while they still need to. Muddying belief in the decent parts of democracy is a major objective for them, turn it around against them.
BronMason For Kamala 2024@georgetakei
I cannot fathom how the above election (or any recently) could’ve been so close!! Yet it’s never occurred to me to not vote—no matter how much of a lost cause it’s seemed at times.
I cannot fathom how the above election (or any recently) could’ve been so close!! Yet it’s never occurred to me to not vote—no matter how much of a lost cause it’s seemed at times.
harryprayiv@georgetakei You’re about as leftist as Bob Dole.
@georgetakei We saw an opening and pounced!
ttk (DO1TTK) 
@georgetakei @TheConstructor
> Democrats
> Progressive Triumph
Good one :D
TheConstructor (he/him)@ttk neither Trump nor De Santos are progressive. If you have to decide between those two parties, Democrats are they way better option.
@TheConstructor "The other alternative isnt progressive, therefore this one _has_ to be it". Yep, sounds absolutely reasonable
@ttk 1% beats 0% every day. I am not going to rate how progressive the Democrats are, but boy aren't the Republicans progressive right now.
@TheConstructor Sure that. But 1% is far from "progressive triumph" which was what Takei wrote.
Miakoda 
@georgetakei
Mr. Takei, can you start putting image descriptions on these? Pretty please, with glitter on top?
Mr. Takei, can you start putting image descriptions on these? Pretty please, with glitter on top?