Bear with me for a second. I know many OpsLens readers tend to fall on the more conservative end of the spectrum and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lands firmly at the opposite end. You don’t have to agree with her politics. Even if you despise her policy goals —namely free college, universal healthcare, and ensuring that the working class is taken care of— you can still appreciate how refreshing it is to have someone “real” in Congress.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it, the United States is a plutocracy ruled by a cabal of elites. The Clintons, the Bushes, etc. Even “populist” President Donald Trump is a billionaire, which certainly qualifies him for “elite” status. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with being a high-achieving individual, but someone like President Trump or Hillary Clinton will struggle to understand the challenges faced every day by the average American.
Remember when Hillary Clinton mentioned that she hadn’t driven a car in years because she had drivers? Trump has probably gone just as long without driving. Certainly, the president hasn’t lost a lot of sleep in recent years wondering if he could put food on the table or pay his personal electricity bills.
I won’t lambaste Trump or Clinton for being successful. And yet at the same time, it’s good for the average American to have people in the U.S. Congress who go through many of the same struggles. It’s important that the people crafting our policies understand our perspective and the challenges we go through on a daily basis.
Ocasio-Cortez has caught a lot of flak for not being able to sign up for a rental in D.C. owing to the deposits and what not. Supposedly, this is a sign that she’s not qualified enough for office. But how many Americans are wrapping up November, wondering how they’re going to pay their mortgage or rent at the end of the month?
I’ve had some months myself where I wondered if I’d be able to make my payments. I always did and I’m not ashamed that I’ve cut it close a few times in the past. For the average American, making rent, paying down student loans, paying for car insurance, you name it, these are real experiences and everyday struggles.
When it comes to policy makers, it’s not simply about empathy. Think back to the 2008 housing market meltdown. Our dear leaders were quick to bailout banks and lenders. They understood what it’d mean if the financial system collapsed. They saw the point of view and cared about the hedge fund managers, bank CEOs, etc. For many members of congress, those people are their peers.
How many members of Congress cared about the people who lost their homes? How much sympathy did they show for the people, including veterans, who were targeted by predatory lenders? Judging by the bank bailout focused policies drawn by the House of Representatives, I’d wager many members of Congress didn’t really give a damn, or at least not enough of a damn to do anything about it.
Indeed, our current secretary of the treasury has been accused of overseeing a predator lender during the crisis. Meanwhile, the lady in charge of our public schools came from a wealthy family and never had to rely on public schools for education. It should come as no surprise that many of her efforts have been to dismantle public schooling. What would she personally have to lose if schools were shut down?
This is a problem, and electing people like Ocasio-Cortez will help address it. Don’t agree with her policies or political views? Fair enough. Promoting everyday Conservative, moderate Democrats, and common people of every political stripe will help break up the plutocracy.
