AOC says 'DON'T go back to work just to put food on your table...'

[jmg257]

"When we talk about this idea of 'reopening society' you know, only in America, does the President, when the President tweets about liberation, does he mean go back to work," the Congresswoman said. "When we have this discussion about going back or reopening, I think a lot people should just say 'no,' we’re not going back to that. We’re not going back to working 70 hour weeks just so that we can put food on the table and not even feel any sort of semblance of security in our lives."

I wonder if paying the mortgage, buying clothes, having a car, sending the kids to college, etc. etc. are worth it?


https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/04/22/alexandria_ocasio-cortez_americans_should_just_say_no_to_going_back_to_work_after_reopening_society.html


Of course eating will become important too, if there is no more UI because you chose not to go back to work.

[DFW]

1. While she absolutely has a point about not feeling any security in our lives

The number of people who are cool with watching their children starve can't be too large. It's a cruel choice that it absolutely sucks to make, but there's the preaching podium, and then there's reality. Not everyone has the luxury of guaranteed food just for preaching from the podium.

[Victor_c3]

2. I think she's saying we should expect more

Working 70 hour work weeks at a non-living wage isn’t acceptable. There is plenty of money at the top, it’s time the bottom finally gets its fair share for the labor and wealth it provides society.

[jmg257]

3. I do kind of see that, but I like eating too - as do my kids.

Staying home unemployed is NOT an option.

[DeminPennswoods]

12. Exactly

her point.

[Skittles]

4. that isn't what she said at all

she was commenting on the extreme economic insecurity people face even when working their asses off - the unfairness of it all

[Celerity]

11. +100000, Real Clear Politics has a deep RW agenda, this is a disingenuous smear job via the lede

and look at the videos in their queue right after this one

Rump ass-kissing and RW shenanigans

[OneBro]

5. I and most people will likely agree with her.

No one should have to work 70 hours a week just to put food on the table yet still be left with no semblance of security.

[qazplm135]

6. I mean I find AOC

to be way overexposed and pushed, but good lord I think this is a pretty uncharitable reading of the point she's trying to make here.

[jmg257]

7. Yeah you're probably right. I guess we will all get to decide (I hope!). nt

[Caliman73]

8. Did she really say "Don't go back to work just to put food on your table"?

You linked to the article which is good, although Real Clear Politics has a Right leaning bias

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/real-clear-politics/

She is clearly not saying we should not go back to work "just to put food on the table". She is saying that we should not be exploited just to put food on the table. Working 70 hours just to put food on the table is exploitation.

This virus has laid out in clear relief, how we rely on low paid workers for our daily lives and how they have had to put their lives on the line to keep things running. They deserve more. We all deserve more.

Trump and his GOP idiots are talking about "reopening the economy" like they give a shit about the actual people who make the economy run. They care about the corporate owners who get most of the benefit from the economy that the majority of the people make possible. That is what she is saying. We need to stop buying into the framing by the right wingers on this issue. They are telling people to go out and possibly get sick and die so that Trump can claim a good economy and so that rich people can start getting paid again. Our prize for risking our lives is to go back to our jobs that pay us JUST ENOUGH to put food on the table, and hope we don't get sick and die.

[Marrah_Goodman]

9. I find her a breath of fresh air.

[HotTeaBag]

10. Happily, she is in no danger of losing her $174,000 per year salary regardless of

whether she is able to go to work or not.

Easy to throw stones from glass houses/ivory towers...or something.