JT going over the fine details on why Capitalism isn’t going to make climate change better, even green capitalism (like anyone here really needed to know)
Our reception by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was radically different from that I received from her predecessor, Joe Crowley. When, in 2004, I requested a meeting on behalf of the Queens Antiwar Coalition, we were granted prompt and respectful access to the Congressman. We did not have high hopes of changing his vote on the Iraq, but we felt it was important that he hear from his constituents.
So, apparently, did he. We were greeted warmly in his rather funky local office – a striking contrast with AOC’s soulless corporate-style digs, where underlings refer to her as “the Boss” – and were encouraged to speak our piece. Crowley never pretended to be an opponent of US imperialism, but he gave us a respectful hearing, stated his position, and engaged in what felt like meaningful discussion of the war. At a minimum, as Twitter’s bluecheck pundits would say, we felt “seen.”
AOC, by contrast, has no time for people who cannot help her to burnish her brand as she prepares to run for higher office. As a local staffer (who declined to introduce himself) proudly informed us: “She refuses 99 percent of meeting requests from constituents.”
I get the frustration and annoyance over a candidate refusing to personally meet with constituents. I’ve been to a few Dan Crenshaw events where I raised a question and got heckled by a bunch of out of town fanbois, and that man’s consistent services were non-fucking-existent.
The Celebrity Congressperson really puts a stake through the idea of democratic representation.
At the same time… I have no idea how you influence any of these assholes to do anything anymore. If Crowley were still in office, does anyone think he’d be shy about glad handing some mooks from Bolivia over their coup? Does anyone think the coup would have failed sooner based on the actions of a coalition of Queens anti-war activists’ attentive congressman?
The love letter to Crowley for just kinda shaking their hands is what’s really off-putting about this article. You don’t change anything. You just got to “feel seen”. If AOC had shaken your hand, what then? Would you be writing a love letter to her as well?
