Actor and LGBTQ activist George Takei wants to warn you about what’s happening in the US at the moment. A Twitter thread he wrote about it has gone viral.
Although perhaps prompted by the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft ruling to negate Roe v. Wade, Takei, 85, touches upon a range of points that make him fearsome for the future.
“Listen up, friends. I’ve lived a long time in this country. I’ve experienced a lot. And I know, and have a deep sense, when things are beginning to spiral,” he began.
“We are at that point. We’ve been approaching it for some time, but the warning signs were in smaller, discrete pieces.”
Listen up, friends. I’ve lived a long time in this country. I’ve experienced a lot. And I know, and have a deep sense, when things are beginning to spiral.
We are at that point. We’ve been approaching it for some time, but the warning signs were in smaller, discrete pieces. /1
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 3, 2022
“The problems are systemic,” he continued. “Gerrymandered maps keep extremists in statehouses and Congress. A rigged Senate with an archaic filibuster rule blocks needed reform. Seats on the Supreme Court are stolen through cynical ploys. Money pours in to those who enable the corruption.
“Then the attacks begin. Voting rights are denied to minorities in red states in the name of ‘election security,’ with the Big Lie powering the bills. LGBTQ+ kids and families are targeted as scapegoats. And now even a woman’s right to choose is on the chopping block.
“We cannot remain complacent. Sure, the economy remains uncertain due to global inflation, a lingering covid pandemic, and a war by Russia in Ukraine. But that does not mean we take our eyes off the ball. The GOP is exploiting and exacerbating all this for political gain.
“If we do not vote in November, if we do not HOLD THE LINE NOW, then the spiral of chaos will continue. The Republicans are under the spell of misinformation. They believe an entirely different reality, just as the Russian people do over Ukraine. They can be led to do anything.
“And so we must resist, we must defend our democracy and the Republic from those who would take us to a dark place of autocracy, demagoguery, and repression. The stakes are too high, the cost too great. We must mobilize, and we must defeat this scourge. NOW. #Register #Vote.”
Related: If Roe vs Wade is overturned, LGBTQ rights could be next
Takei was born in California in 1937. He and his Japanese-American parents were sent to live in an internment camp in during World War II. He lost some relatives in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He grew up gay at a time when to be publicly out was not possible for the vast majority of LGBTQ people.
His initial tweet has had over 86,000 likes at the time of writing and prompted thousands of comments. Many shared Takei’s fear over what is going on at the moment.
I was raised in a country where military coups and autocrats/dictators were common. Let me tell you that the first clue that tells you something very bad is about to happen is when the Judicial system crumbles. That’s the beggining of the end.
— Monica (@MariaMonicaR) May 3, 2022
Yesterday’s unprecedented, unauthorized leak of the SCOTUS ruling, first reported by Politico, has sent shockwaves across the political divide. Pro-choice campaigners are planning protests across the nation.
The official SCOTUS ruling is not due until at least June, but the court has confirmed the leaked draft document is authentic.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, President Joe Biden said, ”It concerns me a great deal that, after 50 years, we’re going to decide that a woman doesn’t have the right to choose. But even more equally profound is the rationale used — and it would mean that every other decision relating to the notion of privacy is thrown into question.”
He added it could set a precedent over, “who you marry, whether or not you decide to conceive a child or not, whether or not you can have a abortion, a range of other decisions.”
In an official statement, he said his administration would seek to codify abortion laws. However, given the way the Senate is split politically, that looks challenging.
My statement on the reported Supreme Court decision draft. pic.twitter.com/Kt3bP0kzqU
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 3, 2022
Other Democrats were blunter. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “If the report is accurate, the supreme court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past 50 years – not just on women but on all Americans.
“The Republican-appointed justices’ reported votes to overturn Roe v Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren called the decision “extremist”, adding, “It’s time for the millions who support the constitution and abortion rights to stand up and make their voices heard. We’re not going back – not ever.”
Related: JD Vance blames his age for saying “stupid” things dissing Trump
Hours after Takei’s warning, confirmation of the far-right’s hold over the Republican party arrived from Ohio. Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance, after being endorsed recently by former President Donald Trump, achieved victory in the GOP Senate Primary.
Vance, a newcomer to politics, began the race as an outsider and trailed in early Republican opinion polls. However, a late endorsement by Trump (whom Vance strongly criticized in 2016 before doing a U-turn and becoming a MAGA devotee), saw him secure a winning boost at the polls. Vance will go up against Rep. Tim Ryan (D) in the November general election to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R).
Mister P
We have been warned. Take heed.
Stefano
Yes, you are. You were warned and you did nothing. Maybe it’s time to get rid of these two old political parties? It seems to me that in a country like yours, there should be more than two options? The right-left dichotomy is completely outdated…it’s time to get into the 21 st century, isn’t it?
Chrisk
Stefano
I dunno but it seems that it’s just one party that’s driving all this and has gone full Fascist. Not to mention they only represent a minority in this country.
Cam
@Stefano
What a shock, the same old right wing troll comes onto this site trying to get people to vote 3rd party.
As always, your troll game is sad and weak.
Polaro
Republicans are evil. Democrats are incompetent. We are screwed.
Bosch
@Cam you’ve got the wrong guy, Stefano isn’t a right winger, let alone a troll.
He’s not suggesting to cast a useless vote for a third party. He’s suggesting that the two party system is flawed and guarantees polarisation.
In most other western countries, the government is made up of many small parties instead of two huge ones. Liberal parties, conservative parties, socialist parties, religious parties, a party for the elderly, a party for animals, etc.
This kind of system encourages cooperation instead of competition. No party can usurp all the power, the way the republicans are always trying to do.
This system would keep America from sliding backwards 50 years every time the undemocratic election system puts bad people in high places.
Stefano
@Bosch : Finally someone who understands! You are so obsessed with war that you can’t even understand that your political system needs renewal. Aren’t you tired of seeing the same old senile people in power? And the same political parties with the same ways of doing things that don’t interest anyone anymore? Why do you think that the voting rate decreases with each election? People, especially young people, do not recognize themselves in these old archaic political parties anymore.
Kangol2
Stefano, you make some good points but you are also misguided with facts. The last election saw a rise in people voting, to 66%, up from 55.7% in 2016. Also, the US experienced the largest vote total in its history, and Biden won by more than 7 million votes but both he (81 million votes) and Don the Con got over 70 million (74 million) votes, a record!
Cam
@Bosch
Stefano has been right wing trolling for a while, and he is playing the Jill Stein game. “Gee, the two party system is bad, so hey, you liberals, why not vote for a third party”
Meanwhile Republicans win and appoint even more people to the Supreme Court.
Bosch
@Cam but he didn’t even acknowledge a third party. He’s saying that a two-party system is bad. Voting for an insignificant third party does nothing to change the two-party system.
His opinion about the two-party system is an opinion that every Western European has about American politics. When an American party is in power, they have ALL the power. And that’s bad when the party is evil.
And I have never seen Stefano say anything remotely right-wing; instead I’ve seen him argue with the right-wingers.
Bosch
America isn’t even a two-party system. Its a two-party election for a one-party system. Even when the democrats are in the White House, the republicans continue to wreak havoc.
Stefano
@Kangol2 : It is good if there is an increase in the percentage of people who vote! But it doesn’t change the essence of the problem. And all I’m saying is that your political system may need to be rethought. I understand that for you, it is difficult to make a regime change because it would imply that the current political parties get along…and seeing the fierce war between democrats and republicans, it is not won (and the word is weak). @cam: you’d be surprised how left-leaning I am if you and I were to compare ourselves. And by the way, I still wonder why Donald Trump is still not behind bars. I’m sure there are many people outside of the United States who are asking the same question as I am.
IJelly
The US is not a parliamentary democracy, it is Republic based on separation of powers, all that means that multiple smaller parties are not viable under this system. You can certainly argue that that’s a bad thing, but unless you rewrite the constitution, which isn’t going to happen, then you’ve got to work with what you have.
The US is sliding toward totalitarianism, if you look at the political and social situations that lead up to the rise of the Nazis and the Bolshevik Revolution, they are shockingly similar to how things are going in the US. Totalitarian systems need scapegoats and I’m afraid my fellow queers that we are going to be one of those scapegoats.
ZzBomb
The independence and integrity of the supreme court is forever compromised. Trump and the Republicans did that and all b/c they couldn’t move on and just let people be. It’s going to take years to undo the damage they have done to our Republic.
Kangol2
Actually this was clear in the 5-4 Bush v. Gore decision, when the conservative justices shut down the vote count in Florida, which Al Gore would have won (he also won the popular vote, which is not in dispute). As a result we ended up with that war-mongering disaster George W. Bush, who blew through a surplus, allowed 9/11 to happen, supported anti-gay marriage laws and DADT, launched two unwinnable wars (one completely through lies), allowed New Orleans to wither after Hurricane Katrina, blew massive holes in the deficit and debt, and capped it all off by pushing policies that resulted in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. (Don the Con topped this last record in 2020, though!) The Supreme Court’s right-wing activists have made clear their intentions for a while, and if you think it’s bad now, it’ll only get worse if people keep electing the conspiracy-ridden fascist party known as the GQP/RepubliQans!
Mister P
ChrisK you are right. I never thought there was really Antifa. I always thought it was just the right lying again.
I now say we need to counter fascism.
white-queer-african
From 1948 to 1994 we had apartheid in South Africa. 46 dreadful years. Democrazy for 28 years AND still our country is a total mess. Fascism is worse then apartheid and must be fought and defeated in the US.
Polaro
Damage is already done. Too late. The question is where will they stop. Gay marriage will go too based on how they destroyed Roe v Wade. They just need a case. Queue the case they have waiting in the wings… Republican leaders are super smart – don’t let their mouth breathing base fool you.
The republican plan to take over the court was obvious for years. I believe it is the bargain McConnel made with Satan for his soul and chin. Republicans are completely transparent. You could see McConnell’s drool when he realized he could stack the court by playing hardball against pansies. He looks like a wimp and punches like a thug.
First thing Trump did was to cut taxes on the richest people. VERY FIRST THING HE DID – ONLY THING HE ACTUALLY WANTED. The second was to pack the court after McConnell stopped democrats from filling Scalia’s seat. The rest of what he did was white noise to distract the liberal cats who can’t focus for more than 3 seconds. Democrats whined and took it like the losers they are. Did they make a coherent argument about the court, no. The court was in play when leftist refused to vote for Hillary – we all knew it. Democrats couldn’t focus on the right-wing plot, they instead worried about canceling anyone accused of anything regardless of proof or cause. Salem witch trials back from the dead. Damned the second you are accused. They took out people like Al Franken, one of the few clear voices we had that did not drive people crazy like AOC. Did they block Trump’s appointments until they got even over Merrick Garland? No. They focused on bathrooms, which while valid, is a distraction.
What are they going to do now? Have some protests and then lose the upcoming mid-term elections is best I can tell. Will people actually bother to vote and stop the predicted slaughter in November? Maybe. Will this huge, glorious win for the republicans bring out the right wing votes? You bet = they’re giddy. Even if this stirs up lazy liberals this cycle, they will forget in a year, like they did in 2020. Guaranteed.
Whining on Queerty and being nasty to people who do not agree with your woke nonsense doe not result in votes. Flame on, losers. I want new teammates. Tired of losing.
IvanPH
I am glad that even the woke crowd is saying that abortion is a WOMEN’S rights issue and not birthing people’s right issue. Only women can get pregnant so let’s stop erasing women.
Polaro
If the left could only wrap their pointy heads around how their behavior is poisonous at the polls. They are now trying to change mother’s day because not everyone has a living mother in their life. I give up.
kish
I wish there was such a thing as a time-travel abortion. I’m over the transphobia.
BDAguy
SCOTUS is using the guise or pretense of abortion being a legislative matter at the state level versus a judicial/legal matter at the federal constitutional level. Beware of that trope because it can just as easily be applied to same-sex marriage or adoption or any other issue the seven Catholic justices find morally or socially at odds with their personal beliefs and/or convictions. Several polls show that approximately 60% of Americans support a woman’s right to a safe abortion, but notwithstanding popular support SCOTUS will impose its much more narrow view on the nation. In 2021 a Gallup poll found 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage but SCOTUS can easily dismiss that as well if a challenge reaches the court. Roe v Wade could be a one-off (probably not) but it could also be the harbinger of a far more right-wing swing to force the nation into a deeply conservative mold.
Kangol2
The architect of destroying Roe v. Wade in Texas has already set his sights on eliminating same-sex marriage. This is a harbinger of far worse, as are the lies about the 2020 election, the attempted coup on January 6, 2021, the rampant voter suppression, the gerrymandering especially to prevent Black and Latino voters from voting, the “Don’t Say Gay” laws, the laws banning non-existent Critical Race Theory (i.e. any discussion of the US’s long problematic history on race), the anti-immigrant hysteria, and on and on. Warning bells are going off all over. People really should wake up; the far-right fanatics have a Hungary-style Christo-fascist state or worse (think Putin, etc.) as their aim!
cuteguy
We are all seriously in trouble
Georgeiv2
I feel embarrassed for the Americans who believe they live in a democracy where only 30 plus percent the country impose their beliefs on the rest ! The reason France was able to say no to Le Pen was that its a secular country and sanity rules ! and I would hasten to add its a damn sight more “Christian” in its day to day life . You will stand by and watch your rights be stripped away one by one as the far right and their evangelical brothers gain more and more power You need to stop it now !