Like any other politician, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said both brilliant and brilliantly ridiculous things, which will no doubt stay with her for as long as she lives. Still, as a young woman who has managed to find her way into the male dominated world of US politics, her comments on certain matters are worth hearing.
- Change takes courage.
It sounds like something a philosopher from the 18th century would say. However, it holds true as much now as it would back then. Ocasio-Cortez believes this to be true, and we’re sure that many people out there would agree unanimously. It is difficult pulling one’s roots out and trying to forge a new, completely different path. New beginnings are scary, but in the end, always worth it.
- It’s time we acknowledge that not all Democrats are the same. That a Democrat who takes corporate money, profits off foreclosure, doesn’t live here, doesn’t send his kids to our schools, doesn’t drink our water or breathe our air cannot possibly represent us.
Her message here is clear. We all want to be represented by someone who leads the same kind of life as we do, which in her quote is explained by the simplest of terms: drinks the same water, breathes the same air. We trust those who are like us, while we tend to be suspicious and distrustful of those who claim to know us and what we need, but lead a completely different kind of life.
- Healthcare as a human right, it means that every child, no matter where you are born, should have access to a college or trade-school education if they so choose it, and I think no person should be homeless if we can have public structures and public policy to allow for people to have homes and food and lead a dignified life in the United States.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knows what the most important things are and she isn’t afraid to talk about them, to urge for them. Healthcare is one of the most important things for anyone, as is education.
- We have to stick to the message: What are we proposing to the American people? Not, ‘What are we fighting against?’
This is exactly the right question to ask. This isn’t a war. We aren’t fighting against one another. On the contrary, we are all on the same side here. There is no common enemy. All the people running for government should be asking this, with the public’s best interest in mind.
- I think – I do think that we have to have a secure border. We need to make sure that people are, in fact, documented. But that doesn’t mean that we threaten people’s lives.
The issue of the wall will always be a burning one. In many respects, Ocasio-Cortez is right on this one. The issue is not the immigrants. It’s documenting them, and lowering the number of illegal immigrants in the country.
- The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them to vote.
During any election in any country, there are always a number of people who don’t vote. Their reasoning is usually the same: they don’t care. So, any time someone changes their mind and makes them go out and give their vote is a small victory for that candidate. That is truly when real change starts to happen.
- I felt like the only way to effectively run for office is if you had access to a lot of wealth, high social influence, a lot of dynastic power, and I knew that I didn’t have any of those things.
Here, she states how she felt when she was starting out. We can all understand that. The feeling of fear, inadequacy with the task at hand. In a way, she’s right in claiming this. Things seem to be motioned only when there’s cold, hard cash involved, and she had none of it. At least, not enough to make a significant change. But, she kept on pushing and finally achieved her goal.
- Women like me aren’t supposed to run for office.
In many ways, people claim she isn’t suitable for the position she holds. She is young, she is a female, she is of Puerto Rican descent. Still, she kept on going, despite everything around her telling her that she isn’t good enough. What we can all learn from her is that believing something makes it so eventually.
- We know enough to reject the stereotype that people in the Midwest do not care about their brothers and sisters.
Here, she is touching upon the subject of family. In a way, all Americans are brothers and sisters, and we need to stick together for the common goal.
- There is no such thing as talking about class without there being implications of the racial history of the United States. You just can’t do it.
We are all aware of our racial history. It’s still a question that needs answers, still a topic as hot as burning coal, especially nowadays. What matters is that we all remember that we are all the same, we are all brothers and sisters. Different, but the same.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues to do her work, and doesn’t show any signs of stopping in the near future. We look forward to reading more of her comments and quotes, and seeing what she can do to bring forth a positive change.
