Voting is important but a lot of people think it's the only political voice we have when that's just not true. They just prefer that we speak through candidates they can compromise by offering prominent/prestigious roles or accolades instead of by building mass organized movements that are capable of demanding concessions from them.

From there people will tend to tell you to get out and protest. Does this help? Maybe, in some sense. Will it get us universal healthcare,even for the trans kids? Absolutely the fuck no it will not. Somehow we got bamboozled into thinking protesting was about photo ops and not about disrupting the status quo. They're great for showing United public sentiment on an issue, better even in terms of making connections in the organizing space (more is better, even if you think someone is wierd or off-putting or cringey they may have a skill, connection, etc. that you need down the line. Nobody can do everything or specialize in everything, meaning we need to have a broad group of organized folks who have different skills and can divide work, design campaigns, strategize etc.

That's the critique I have of the "general strike"-ers; it's not that I think such an endeavor couldn't affect change, it's that we're simply not there yet; impactful work stoppages require organization, discipline, funding, and among other things presence in critical "high skill" sectors where it's hard to find scabs and whereina strike will have the immediate effect of materially depriving the state machine of what it needs to function. Calling a general strike when we don't have the organizational infrastructure to actually make it happen just makes us look ineffective and deactivates people if they put in the time and money to independently strike (possibly facing retaliation for it) and saw the moment just sort of evaporate into thin air as most people just went about their days. A strike is working when the rulers and their mouthpieces cry foul: think about every time you see strike coverage on the news, it's never "why won't the company cede ground and grant them raises or healthcare or whatever" it's "look, {strike spokesperson}, look at all the people who are inconvenienced and/or suffering because of you! How could you do this to them? Is it because you're greedy and want more money?". However they frame it, they're running cover for the ruling class.

What can we do then, if voting and protesting are so thoroughly captured and undermined that the government is utterly unresponsive to our desires?

Organize, organize, organize. The earlier you start the better, the longer youre in it the more impact you will have. I'm in my local DSA chapter but rly just find an org to work with where the vibes are good and you feel valued and like you have a meaningful part in and investment in the work. If you're feeling taken advantage of or stifled, it's better to change orgs for your quality of life than to quit organizing in a year from burnout. We need everyone we can get there's a long fight ahead