Saw this article on Politico today and thought it would be good to share and get everybody's thoughts. I'll admit, I have not followed AOCs tenure as a congresswoman, so I am behind a ton of the discussion on her. However, for those of you that have been following her political career up to this point, how do you all feel about what is written in this article? Is it correct to state that she is changing her tune? I read through the last two pages of this thread and it seems that up till January of this year, she was still stating some controversial things (i.e. billionaires are evil). https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/30/new-aoc-divides-the-left-150767 Anyways, it would be nice if she is turning over a new leaf, that she is able to make her followers understand that compromise is actually pretty important in being able to get **** done and hopefully be elected to the highest office of the US. Look at Bernie, someone that is known not willing to negotiate and have a hard stance, he is having a hell of a time getting people outside of the progressive circle to seriously give him a good look. Could it be that AOC is seeing this and maybe wants to do something different?
People really beat up a strawman that Bernie and his movement believe that "billionares are evil". The actual belief is that the vast majority of humans are self serving and selfish and that most humans want to accumulate wealth at almost any cost even towards the detriment of other humans or society in general. Basically, you and I would do similar actions to wealth horders if we got a taste of the power and lifestyle that being that wealthy brings forth. What Bernie believes along with the vast majority of people who support him is that we have a system in place that rewards hording of wealth at absurd levels.
Alright, now that you got that our of your system, can you shift back to the question regarding AOC? If no, okay. My quick comment is that Bernie may not call out billionaires as evil nor is that his underlying intention when presenting his arguments for the working class, however, that's exactly what it sounds like when he talks about it. He makes it sounds as if being rich is a crime and is evil. I get it, more to it than that, just giving you the perspective of what I've heard many non-Bernie supporters say (and yes I know, it doesn't make right, but obviously he isn't winning any support presenting it in such a way). Anyways, would love input on the article I posted. I won't comment on this anymore for now.
Bernie is hilarious... he used to go against millionaires until he became one. Then magically it became billionaires. Hey where are the Bernie Babies? We should make a list of all the people on here I can laugh at when he loses the Primary. Honestly I am hoping Biden gets metoo'ed out so I can watch Bernie lose on the national stage and really make it clear to the lunatics that people don't like socialism/communism.
Get it out of my system? Why can't we just have a cordial debate? I can't control how other people consume media. If they believe that Bernie believes that all wealthy people are inherently evil, that is their problem and the media's problem. You blame propaganda and dumb Americans for the conditions that allow people to worship and praise Trump but ignore the signifcant toll that multiple decades of Red Scare tactics have done to boomers and Gen X where they can form irrational takes on the progressive "democratic socialist" movement. My point is ANY politican regardless of how charismatic and "compromising" they are not going to be respected by their politcal peers if they ask for systemic changes in corporate lobbying, campaign financing and a complete overall of our predatory health insurance system. It's time to admit that the reason "Bernie couldn't make so many political friends in high places" is because those very same people who he has to compromise with benefit from the corporate lobbying revolving door status quo system. Look at Pelosi as a prime example of someone who has gained wealth from the status quo poltical system. Of course someone like her isn't going to appreciate the proggesive movement because that movement cuts from her wealth making mechanisms.
Que? He had prescribed the exact same prescriptions for our overall systemic issues for decades now with little no change in rhetoric. Bernie is almost 80 and has had a 200 grand salary for decades of his life as a legislator. A lot of Americans who don't horde wealth who just earn an income through salary become millionaires by the time their 80 especially if they are responsible with their retirement fund. His wealth didn't come from insider trading like someone like Pelosi.
So how did he become rich? By preaching against rich people. Isn't it beautiful? Hey go buy his books. I am a waste of your time man. Or donate to his campaign. I really think he needs more money. I want him to lose on the national stage so badly. I want to see a complete rebuke of his piss poor economics policy and watch the nation overwhelmingly dismiss socialism and communist philosophies. This would absolutely make my year.
I think she's realized that it's a long game to rise to power in this country and that if she wants to continue to be in congress and have any power, she has to play the game. Compromise isn't bad, and it's almost necessary to be successful in politics...even Bernie had to compromise at times when he voted for gun bills that contained amendments that he strongly supported. That's the way it's supposed to be...give and take...not one party running roughshod over the other. This isn't a competition, we all have to live with one another whether we want to or not. I also think that expecting everyone to travel the Bernie path up the ladder is one that is probably filled with failure. Considering he's basically been 1 of very few independents to get elected and probably the only that has publicly declared himself a socialist. Part of that is the state he's from (Vermont seems a little more open to the idea) and part of it was the timeframe during his rise to power. Cortez doesn't necessarily have that same path at the moment and probably realizes, like most sane people, that removing Trump and his enablers is the big goal at the moment. Once that stain is removed, hopefully, business can start getting back to normal and she can continue to be an asset for the Democratic party. After some time, she'll have the experience and following to become a power player in the Dem party...just needs to bide her time. Basically, it doesn't do any good for her career if she loses the next election...and she doesn't want to upset the party leads that would make it tough on her. She's a smart cookie...we'll see if she's patient as well.
What wrong with having had a menial job at some point? A lot of very successful people worked jobs like this in school or post-college. I am not sure why people shame others for the work they did to pay the rent.
I guess you can't account for the fact that he changed his speaking. You just excuse him for being a 1%er by saying some people manage their retirement accounts. That excuse couldn't try any harder lol.
Cuomo dismisses AOC’s claims about NYC crime uptick and rent struggles: ‘It is factually impossible’: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...s-factually-impossible/ar-BB16GWDk?li=BBnbcA1
"AOC’s proposed billionaires tax would spur exodus of wealthy from New York, report says" and Cuomo agrees: https://nypost.com/2020/07/17/aocs-billionaires-tax-would-spur-wealthy-exodus-from-ny-report/ Boosting taxes on the rich to aid illegal immigrants and other New York residents excluded from coronavirus emergency federal assistance would cause an exodus of the state’s wealthiest residents, who also generate a huge chunk of the city and state’s tax base, a top business advocacy group says. The warning shot from the Partnership for New York City comes a day after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a coalition of progressive groups launched a campaign to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature for a billionaires tax they say would generate $5.5 billion. “Stabilization of the tax revenue base to avoid further losses should be the first objective in a recovery plan … The idea of raising tax rates on the highest earners could have the effect of creating further losses. “The top 1 percent of earners who currently account for almost 40 percent of state tax revenues are highly mobile,” the Partnership said in a report that includes recommendations on how to recover from the COVID-19 recession. “Many relocated to other locations during the pandemic and, after five months working remotely, some may consider permanent residence outside the city or state,” the report said. The study noted that the coronavirus outbreak caused a temporary exodus of about 5 percent of mostly wealthy city residents who decamped to second homes outside New York. “If this pattern holds, the tax losses facing the state and city will be extended,” the business group said. On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said in a video, “Governor Cuomo, we need you to pass a billionaire’s tax, in order to make sure that we’re providing for our working families. It’s time to stop protecting billionaires, and it’s time to start working for working families.” New York’s 118 billionaires have increased their net worth by $44.9 billion during the pandemic, a reported cited by the Fund Excluded Workers Coalition said. But Cuomo on Thursday rejected the tax-the-rich proposal, agreeing with the claim from businesses advocates that it would encourage flight from New York. “If they want a tax increase, don’t make New York alone do a tax increase, then they just have the people move to Connecticut. Let the federal government pass a tax increase. And let them apply it all across the country, so you don’t hurt any one state. Because if you take people who are highly mobile, and you tax them, well then they’ll just move next door where the tax treatment is simpler. It has to be done on a federal level,” Cuomo said on a conference call with reporters. “I’d like to see those officials demanding that Washington do what it needs to do to help New York and the other states.” The Partnership report found that reliance on the personal income tax in the New York Metro-Region accounted for 59 percent of all revenues — compared to 38 percent nationally, 47 percent in Connecticut and 41 percent in New Jersey. The group instead suggested consumption and sales taxes were a more worthy target for hikes — noting New York received a lower share of revenues from those levies than other states. But liberal critics have long complained that sales and consumption taxes are regressive measures that hurt lower-income residents who must purchase essentials such as clothes.
Tensions flared on Capitol Hill this week when a Republican lawmaker challenged Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on issues of crime and policing in an unusual — and decidedly personal — confrontation on the Capitol steps. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) was coming down the steps on the east side of the Capitol on Monday, having just voted, when he approached Ocasio-Cortez, who was ascending into the building to cast a vote of her own. In a brief but heated exchange, which was overheard by a reporter, Yoho told Ocasio-Cortez she was "disgusting" for recently suggesting that poverty and unemployment are driving a spike in crime in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic. "You are out of your freaking mind," Yoho told her. Ocasio-Cortez shot back, telling Yoho he was being "rude." The two then parted ways. Ocasio-Cortez headed into the building, while Yoho, joined by Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), began descending toward the House office buildings. A few steps down, Yoho offered a parting thought to no one in particular. "****ing b****," he said.