“In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.”

But being serious: AOC and politicians like her ARE us “doing it for ourselves.” For a very long time, the vast majority of politicians elected in the US have gotten there by getting the backing of wealthy capitalists. They don’t say “common sense things” because those things aren’t good for the people who helped them get elected. If they did say those things, those capitalists would not only stop funding them, but fund their opposition more. The result is a government comprised of politicians who very rationally don’t represent us. (That’s not to say some of them aren’t crazy on their own, but them being there is a rational outcome of self-interested actors.)

In order to get a politician who does and says things that are good for people, you need an absolutely massive grass roots effort to win an election against the might of rich donors. AOC was one of the notable times when we managed to do that. But this shows the limitations of that strategy within our current electoral system. For every AOC, Illhan Omar, or Mamdani, there are literally hundreds of more races which are still dominated by big money. It took not only a massive on the ground organizing effort locally, but also a lot of support from engaged people across the nation. And it’s way more costly for the average person to contribute to a campaign than it is for a billionaire. So even if a lot of us want this, it’s going to be really difficult to get a critical mass of wins to actually make an impact.

So that’s why they’re a big deal. They might be basic social democrats in some less corrupt countries, but here they are the few who are unbought. What they say is less relevant than the fact that they are able to say it at all.

There’s no such thing as common sense.

Because shes a populist who seems to fight for the things she preaches so people have built their hopes around her.

If you go to a bar and drink to much the bar tender is likely to cut you off, because you are clearly an alcoholic. If you go to a casino, count cards and constantly win, the Casino will kick you out then ban you from ever coming back. If you use exploits in a MMOG, you’ll get banned. (then hopefully the deves patch the exploit)

Notice a pattern?..

Greed is a drug. The stock market is gambling. And Inflation is caused by an infinite money glitch only the uber rich can use. I think I know EXACTLY what needs to be done and you do too, even if you don’t like it.

yes

Look up the “overton window”

People want to hear politicians repeat what they think

Disinformation is so widespread, largely because of O&G marketing firms, that speaking common sense has become a big deal.

Must be a blissful experience not observing any official political discourse at all. It’s all disingenuous rhetoricizing because the ‘conservative’ right only has a policy of extraction and enriching the insanely affluent, and they know that’s not popular, so they simply force the conversation away from practical topics of governing, often with distractions and moarlizing non-issues. The liberal ‘left’ are happy to descend to that arena because they’re also funded by the same insanely rich, and their alleged beliefs and goals conflict with those interests. So it is currently unusual when a politician sidesteps that whole dynamic and just addresses the actual issues living perople everywhere on the political spectrum can identify with in their lived experience. AOC is a pretty good example of someone who is consistently trying to drag the conversation into the practical realm, which the establishment hates because it draws attention to the fact that they have nothing to offer of value to better the lives of the majority of their constituents, and no intention to do so, in fact.

So yes, as crazy as it is, we are just so far off the rails that simple and practical reform and adressing obvious problems seems outlandish and impossible, but that’s not an accident; It’s what the donor class has paid both sides for. It is a good sign that more political actors are wading into that conversation, and an indicator of the eventual expiry date on corrupting the body politics with bribes.

yes. anyone who’s 35+ years of age should notice this.

while shitty things used to happen or fly under the radar, mass media used to act as cultural checks and balances to keep the insanity at arms length. but it’s all been monopolized–it’s all controlled by the crazy people. you have independent journalism but few americans read it, and most online magazines are read by out-of-touch, overeducated yuppies and aren’t nearly as biting as they used to be or should be.

but this bullshit should be obvious to anyone because the rest of culture needs to adjust to the insanity, to normalize it. how hard is it to differentiate between parody/satire and reality these days?

it’s impossible IMO. when i watch most newer films i assume they’re parody because they’re so fucking stupid.

We absolutely do, it’s just that none of us ever seem to get elected to the US Congress, so when someone does, yeah, it is kind of a big deal.

speaks common sense and calls out absurdity

Yes, the bar is that low.

yes

I guess OP asked a stupid question.

Anyway, she’s also kind of an ass about things and she’s attractive so most people want to do sex with her.

Like it or not, people need political leaders to follow.

Also, AOC has the advantage of representing a district in New York City, the media capital of the world. She probably wouldn’t be as well known if she was the Congressmember from Topeka