Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

{{silver}}[[File:Alexandria_Ocasio-Cortez_Official_Portrait.jpg|right|thumb|165px|Ocasio-Cortez's official photo.]]{{uspolitics}}
{{Cquote|I think it’s wrong to say that what I’m proposing is polarizing the country. What we are seeing now is a ruling class of corporations and a very small elite that have captured government [...] but 70 percent of Americans believe in Medicare for all. Ninety percent of Americans believe we need to get money out of politics. Eighty-something [percent] believe that climate change is a real, systemic and urgent problem. Sixty-seven percent of Americans believe that immigrants are a positive force in the United States of America. I believe that I’m fighting for the American consensus.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-interview-797214/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wants the Country to Think Big] by Alex Morris (February 27<sup>th</sup>, 2019) ''Rolling Stone''.</ref>|||Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez}}

'''Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez''', also known by her initials '''AOC''' {{lived|1989}}, is an [[United States|American]] [[Democratic]] [[Socialism|socialist]] politician and activist who is currently a United States [[US House of Representatives|Representative]] from [[New York]]'s 14<sup>th</sup> Congressional district. She is a member of the [[Democratic Socialists of America]]<ref>[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/27/17509604/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-democratic-socialist-of-america Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Democratic Socialists of America member. Here’s what that means.] by Jennie Neufeld (June 27<sup>th</sup>, 2018) ''Vox''.</ref> and {{wpl|Justice Democrats||.}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180722230858/https://www.justicedemocrats.com/candidates/ Candidates: Justice Democrats] ''Justice Democrats'' (archived from July 22, 2018).</ref> In addition, her campaign was endorsed by [[political action committee]]s Brand New Congress and [[MoveOn.org|MoveOn]], and by the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement.<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-fights-power/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fights the Power] by Raina Lipsitz (June 22<sup>nd</sup>, 2018) ''The Nation''.</ref> It should come as no surprise then that she is a right-winger's boogeyman (or boogeylady in this case).

==Background==
Born in the Bronx, [[New York City]], Ocasio-Cortez graduated ''cum laude'' from Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in [[economics]] and [[international relations]].<ref>[http://www.nhimagazine.com/2017/12/31/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-named-2017-nhi-person-year/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez named 2017 NHI Person of the Year] (December 31<sup>st</sup>, 2018) ''NHI Magazine''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140701094238/https://www.bu.edu/commencement/files/2012/12/2011Redbook.pdf Boston University Commencement 2011] (archived from July 1, 2014).</ref>{{rp|21}} Joe Crowley was her chief rival for the Democratic primary before being defeated in June 2018 and endorsing Ocasio-Cortez's run for the House of Representatives.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-ocasio-cortez-crowley-working-families-party-20180712-story.html Ocasio-Cortez rips Crowley for not giving up Working Families Party line] by Kenneth Lovett (July 12<sup>th</sup>, 2018) ''NY Daily News''.</ref> Following the results of the 2018 midterm elections, which saw a record-breaking number of female candidates, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the House.<ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46102723 US mid-terms latest: Five key things we learned] by Anthony Zurcher & Roland Hughes (November 7, 2018) ''BBC News''.</ref> She was an aide for [[Ted Kennedy]] towards the end of his life<ref>[https://mic.com/articles/187994/meet-the-young-progressive-latina-trying-to-oust-one-of-the-most-powerful-democrats-in-the-house#.ToSjuVgTi Meet the young progressive Latina trying to oust one of the most powerful Democrats in the House] by A.P. Joyce (February 28<sup>th</sup>, 2018) ''Mic''.</ref> and worked for [[Bernie Sanders]]' [[2016 Democratic Party presidential nomination|presidential campaign in the 2016 election]].<ref name="BBC"/>

Ocasio-Cortez identifies as [[Catholic]].<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/01/Detailed-tables-NUMBER-CHECK-COMPLETE-1-3.pdf Religious affiliations of the 116th Congress] ''Pew Research Center''.</ref>

==Political positions==
Ocasio-Cortez is a self-proclaimed [[democratic socialist]],<ref>[https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/27/17509604/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-democratic-socialist-of-america Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the DSA] by Jennie Neufeld (Jun 27, 2018, 1:10pm EDT) ''Vox''.</ref> but later interviews show that what she means is [[social democracy]],<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-explains-what-democratic-socialism-means-2019-3 AOC explains what democratic socialism means to her] by Nisha Stickles & Barbara Corbellini Duarte (Mar 4, 2019, 1:16 PM) ''Business Insider''.</ref> though her rhetoric is further to the left of historical social democrats.<ref>[https://qz.com/1569538/sxsw-watch-the-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-interview/ Ocasio-Cortez explains democratic socialism] by Annalisa Merelli (Published March 9, 2019; Last updated on March 11, 2019) ''Quartz''.</ref>

[[Economics]] and [[environmental]] policy are Ocasio-Cortez's political bread and butter, and are tightly interconnected. She has described [[climate change]] as "the single biggest national security threat for the United States"<ref name=platform>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190407173339/https://ocasio2018.com/issues Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Platform] 'Ocasio 2018'' (archived from April 7, 2019).</ref> and stated that "[[List of predictions of the end of the world|The world is going to end]] in 12 years if we don't address climate change".<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/01/22/ocasio-cortez-climate-change-alarm/2642481002/ 'The world is going to end in 12 years if we don't address climate change,' Ocasio-Cortez says] by William Cummings (January 22, 2019).</ref> She proposed an environmental economic stimulus program known as the "Green New Deal" to combat climate change.<ref>[https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/08/liberals-push-for-a-green-new-deal-as-the-way-forward-on-climate-change/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leads push for Green New Deal as the way forward on climate change] by Alex Daugherty (January 8<sup>th</sup>, 2019) ''Boston Herald''.</ref> The program has been endorsed and praised by numerous members of Congress.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/cosponsors Cosponsors - H.Res.109 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.] 116th Congress (2019-2020), ''Library of Congress''.</ref>

Her economic policies include [[universal healthcare]],<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/us/politics/medicare-for-all-private-plans.html ‘Medicare for All’ Gains Favor With Democrats Looking Ahead to 2020] by Robert Pear (December 29<sup>th</sup>, 2018) ''The New York Times''.</ref> postal banking<ref group=note>{{wpl|Postal banking}} refers to allowing depositors without access to banks to save their money using post offices.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190812014939/https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1085380063112105984 Personally, I’m looking forward to digging into the student loan crisis, examining for-profit prisons/ICE detention, and exploring the development of public & postal banking. To start.] by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (7:35 PM - 15 Jan 2019) ''Twitter'' (archived from August 12, 2018).</ref> (the United States previously had a Postal Savings System from 1911<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151023144313/http://legisworks.org/sal/36/stats/STATUTE-36-Pg814.pdf Creation of the Postal Savings System under the Act of June 25, 1910] Sixty-First Congress, SESS. II. Cm. 385, 386. 1910.</ref> to 1966<ref>[https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-80/pdf/STATUTE-80-Pg92.pdf Discontinuance of Postal Savings System.] 92 Public Law 89-377-Mar. 28, 1966.</ref>), reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act,{{efn|The Glass-Steagall Act refers to the 1933 Banking Act and its four provisions that established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and separated investment banking from commercial banking, among other banking reforms.}} a Federal jobs guarantee,<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/why-democrats-should-embrace-a-federal-jobs-guarantee/ Why Democrats Should Embrace a Federal Jobs Guarantee] by Sean McElwee et al. (March 20<sup>th,</sup> 2018) ''The Nation''.</ref> [[basic income]],{{efn|Basic income boosted happiness but not employment. The economist leading the trial said this was not a surprise for economists, given that the jobless tend to lack marketable skills and have health issues or decision-making problems. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned that implementing such a scheme nationwide requires higher [[taxes]], which could upset voters, and might even increase [[poverty]].<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-finland-basic-income/finlands-basic-income-trial-boosts-happiness-but-not-employment-idUSKCN1PX0NM Finland completed its basic income trial for 2000 citizens in early 2019] by Anne Kauranen (February 8, 2019; 12:17 AM) ''Reuters''.</ref>}} tuition-free public college and trade school,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/opinion/sunday/progressive-populism-wisconsin-trump.html Progressive Populism Can Save Us From Trump] by Dan Kaufman (July 7<sup>th</sup>, 2018) ''The New York Times''.</ref> and wants to cancel all of student debt.<ref>[https://archive.is/sGp3G What would happen if we pursued Student Loan Cancellation on a Federal level? What would that look like? How do we do it? Let's talk about it. Join me tomorrow for a Digital Town Hall with rockstar economist @StephanieKelton to discuss our economic future: https://www.facebook.com/events/561865677530133/] by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (10:35 PM · May 3, 2018) ''Twitter'' (archived from 18 Jan 2022 21:18:19 UTC).</ref>

She favors reducing the military budget, and wants only Congress to have the power to declare [[war]].<ref name=platform/> Additionally, she advocates the abolition of the [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE).<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/06/27/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-abolish-ice-newsroom-sot-vpx.cnn Ocasio-Cortez wants to abolish ICE] (June 27, 2018) ''CNN''.</ref> She argues that the creation of ICE is an example of unchecked executive powers at the expense of [[civil rights]] and points to the family-separation policy of Donald Trump. She wants to provide immigrants with a clear path towards citizenship.<ref name=platform/>

She has clarified that she does not support stopping all deportations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200708034719/https://mobile.twitter.com/AOC/status/1031926879752802304 #AbolishICE means not having an agency that incarcerates children and sexually assaults women with impunity. It does not mean abolish deportation. Also, I have no problem saying white supremacy has no place in this country. It’s the GOP that struggles to say that.] by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (8:31 AM · Aug 21, 2018) ''Twitter'' (archived from July 8, 2020).</ref> This was after a bit of controversy over the deportation of a former [[Nazi]] living in New York being deported back to [[Germany]].<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2018/0821/US-deports-former-Nazi-guard-living-in-New-York-to-Germany US deports former Nazi guard living in New York to Germany] by Michael R. Sisak et al. (21 August 2018) ''Christian Science Monitor''.</ref> On [[LGBT]] issues, Ocasio-Cortez endorses the Equality Act,<ref group=note>A bill that would amend the [[Civil Rights Act]] to prohibit discrimination based on [[sexual orientation]] and gender identity.</ref> Every Child Deserves a Family Act,<ref group=note>A bill that would prohibit Federally assisted adoption or foster care placement entities from discriminating based on sexual orientation and [[gender identity]].</ref> and the Student Non-Discrimination Act.<ref group=note>A bill aiming to protect LGBT+ students from [[bullying]] and discrimination in schools.</ref><ref name=platform/>

Ocasio-Cortez supports the release of nonviolent drug offenders, banning [[Privatization#Legal system and prisons|private prisons]], the abolition of cash bail, and automatic, independent investigations for killings of individuals by law enforcement.<ref name=platform/> Furthermore, she has "advocated for the decriminalization" of [[prostitution]],<ref>Lucy Diavolo, [https://www.teenvogue.com/story/aoc-sex-work-is-work-new-york-post-hit-piece-paramedic-onlyfans AOC Said “Sex Work Is Work” in Response to New York Post Hit Piece on a Paramedic With an OnlyFans]. teenvogue.com, 16 December 2020.</ref> stating that "[s]ex work is work".<ref>[https://archive.md/FF7sq Sex work is work. The federal gov has done almost nothing to help people in months. We must pass stimulus checks, UI, small biz relief, hospital funding, etc. Keep the focus of shame there, not on marginalizing people surviving a pandemic without help.] by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (6:24 PM - 15 Dec 2020) ''Twitter'' (archived from 22 Oct 2021 15:50:49 UTC).</ref> Finally, she also supports the federal legalization of [[marijuana]] and an end to the [[War on Drugs]].<ref name=platform/>

===Ocasio-nally misleading claims===
An eager political newcomer, AOC has the unfortunate tendency to speak without actually knowing the [[fact]]s. In her words, she believes it's more important to be "[[moral]]ly correct" than "factually right",<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-facts/index.html Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s very slippery slope on facts] by Chris Cillizza (January 10, 2019) ''CNN''.</ref><ref group=note>In her defense, she seems to claim that this was in the context of people being obsessively pedantic over trivial matters rather than believing that morals could ever be independent of [[reality]].</ref> She has made some blunders including the misleading claim that [[The Pentagon]] was responsible for "massive accounting fraud" worth $21 trillion from 1998 to 2015, and that money could be used to fund Medicare for All. In reality, while the Pentagon did fail an audit test, indicating a serious accounting problem that needs to be addressed, its actual combined budget during those years was $9.2 trillion, less than half the alleged fraud. The number $21 trillion came from the adjustments made to the Pentagon's financial records. Money that cannot be traced is not the same thing as money spent or wasted.<ref name="NYT-Pentagon"/>

===Amazon deal===
One of her criticisms from New Yorkers was the handling of Amazon "HQ2" deal,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/nyregion/amazon-hq2-queens.html Amazon Pulls Out of Planned New York City Headquarters] by J. David Goodman (14 February 2019) ''The New York Times''.</ref> and is not unfairly blamed for it being cancelled.<ref>[https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/23/amazon-deal-reveals-aocs-lack-of-economic-smarts/ Amazon deal reveals AOC’s lack of economic smarts] by Mark A. Thiessen (February 23, 2019 at 1:25 a.m.) ''The Washington Post'' via ''Boston Herald''.</ref> She was hardly the only politician to criticize the deal, but she was the one with the most media attention.

In short, Amazon wanted to build a new headquarters, but also wanted the various cities/states to try to outbid each other in terms of tax breaks. If corporate tax avoidance sounds bad, that's because you are not a billionaire [[asshole]]. In essence, tax breaks are a variant of the [[prisoner's dilemma]]. Whether or not the other cities and states offer tax breaks to convince companies to move in or stay, your city or state almost always benefits from offering them too, even if the overall best situation is when no one offers them at all. The obvious way to solve this problem is for all the states/cities to agree not to give them when they aren't actually needed, i.e., have the Federal government step in to prevent them. Which, as a member of Congress, it would be AOC's job to do… except she didn't. Furthermore, in the absence of a "no tax breaks allowed deal", it's actually the job of the NY representatives such as AOC to try to ''get'' those special deals in NY's favor (i.e., [[Pork#Politics|pork]]) and the job of ''other'' representatives to squash the deal or bribe New Yorkers with something else in exchange; politics is ugly like that.

The deal was estimated to bring in close to $30,000,000,000 in tax revenue over ten years, and since [[New York City]] has many advantages and amenities that other cities simply do not, NYC "only" had to offer about 10% of that in the form of tax breaks to Amazon. That is, NYC would collect $27B instead of $30B in tax revenue from Amazon, and NYC would still get the additional benefits of the extra jobs and consumer spending. AOC saw this and somehow claimed that this meant that NY was actually ''paying'' Amazon $3 billion. Furthermore, NYC has pretty much the worst levels of income inequality in the whole country as there are relatively few middle-class jobs; this deal was expected to bring in 25-40 thousand middle and upper-middle class jobs to NYC, which would have reduced the number of New Yorkers needing assistance as well. The location also had the advantage of being Queens instead of Manhattan, which would've spread the wealth around the city a bit more evenly instead of just pumping more money into the richest part of Manhattan. Even mayor Bill de Blasio, one of the more left-wing of New York's mayors, had it in for AOC over this.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2019/02/17/de-blasio-says-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-didnt-understand-amazon-deal/ De Blasio says Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn’t understand Amazon deal] by Bruce Golding (17 February 2019) ''The New York Post''.</ref>

In the end, the deal fell through, and many of her constituents were less than thrilled,<ref>[https://nypost.com/2019/04/10/aocs-own-constituents-slam-her-over-amazon-withdrawal/ AOC’s own constituents slam her over busted Amazon deal] by Carl Campanile (10 April 2019) ''The New York Post''.</ref> though not enough to nominate someone else in her place.

===Green New Deal and healthcare===
[[File:GreenNewDeal Presser 020719 (26 of 85) (46105848855).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Ocasio-Cortez at a Green New Deal press conference.]]
Her nonbinding Green New Deal resolution was undermined by a FAQ sheet posted on her website containing some of the more extreme ideas that were not included in the actual resolution itself, such as halting the construction of new [[nuclear power]] plants. (Although to be fair, these were later retracted.) Her chief of staff said that it was released prematurely, and that people should pay attention to the "big picture" instead of "little typos". In any case, this has created confusion for the tens of Democrats who voiced their support for the Green New Deal, including declared [[2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination|presidential candidates for the 2020 election]], such as [[Elizabeth Warren]], and her former boss [[Bernie Sanders]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/11/ocasio-cortez-retracts-erroneous-information-about-green-new-deal-backed-by-democratic-candidates/ Ocasio-Cortez retracts erroneous information about Green New Deal backed by 2020 Democratic candidates.] by Jeff Stein & David Weigel (February 11, 2019) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

In February 2019, Ocasio-Cortez asserted in an [[MSNBC]] interview that "70% of Americans believe in improved and expanded Medicare for All". This is regarded as a half-truth by [[PolitiFact]], noting that she got this figure from a Reuters poll.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-progressives/ Inside the progressive movement roiling the Democratic Party] by Letitia Stein et al.(Aug. 23, 2018, 1 p.m. GMT) ''Reuters''.</ref><ref>[https://www.politifact.com/new-york/statements/2019/feb/06/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/ocasio-cortez-70-support-medicare-all/ POcasio-Cortez says there is 70% support for Medicare for All] by Jon Greenberg (February 6, 2019) ''Politifact''.</ref>

A poll conducted by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation (a foundation started by the ''healthcare consortium'' Kaiser Permanente) in January 2019 found that while yes, 71% of Americans do in fact agree that healthcare should be a [[Human rights|human right]], support for Medicare for All drops to 37% if it means higher taxes, and even further down to 26% if it leads to longer wait times. One sees that political discourse on this proposal remains in its infancy; public opinion is not yet stable. Estimates for the cost of the plan varies from $25 trillion to $35 trillion over a ten year period, according to various independent studies.<ref name="AP-fluct">[https://www.apnews.com/4516833e7fb644c9aa8bcc11048b2169 Poll: Support for 'Medicare-for-all' fluctuates with details] by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar (January 23, 2019) ''Associated Press''.</ref> A study by a [[libertarian]] [[think tank]] suggested that Medicare for All could cost $32.6 trillion over ten years.<ref name="NYT-Pentagon">[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/us/politics/fact-check-pentagon-medicare-alexandria-ocasio-cortez.html The Misleading Claim That $21 Trillion in Misspent Pentagon Funds Could Pay for ‘Medicare for All’] by Linda Qiu (December 3, 2018) ''The New York Times''.</ref><ref>[https://www.mercatus.org/publications/government-spending/costs-national-single-payer-healthcare-system?utm_source=bridge&utm_medium=bridgepost&utm_campaign=medicareforall The Costs of a National Single-Payer Healthcare System] by Charles Blahous et al. (July 30, 2018) ''Mercatus Center, George Mason University''.</ref> By 2019, Medicare for All has become a major political issue for Democrats in Congress, as well as in state and local governments. Many tried to control costs and expand coverage, including for [[Illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]].<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/democrat-led-cities-and-states-move-toward-universal-health-care-on-their-own-terms Democrat-led cities and states move toward universal health care on their own terms] by Sarah Varney (February 13, 2019) ''PBS NewsHour''.</ref>

===Economics===
{{main|Economics}}
[[File:Sanders rally Council Bluffs IMG 4022 (49035917128).jpg|thumb|right|300px|With Candidate Sanders in 2019.]]
In a 2018 interview on [[PBS]], Ocasio-Cortez claimed that, "Unemployment is low because everyone has two jobs. Unemployment is low because people are working 60, 70, 80 hours a week and can barely feed their family."<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/video/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-barhhq/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] (07/13/2018) ''Firing Line, PBS'' (at about 5:50m).</ref> This statement about US unemployment is misleading on several counts. First, obviously, when the unemployment rate is computed, a person is counted as employed if they have at least one job. They do not get counted multiple times if they have more jobs. So multiple job holding and long hours do not affect the unemployment rate. Second, people who might be working 70 or 80 hours a week amount to a tiny percentage — 310,000 people at most in a pool of employed Americans totaling more than 150 million. Also, on average, Americans are not working more today than they have been in the recent past, they're working around 40 and a half hours a week.<ref name="cnbchoursworked">[https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/03/how-the-8-hour-workday-changed-how-americans-work.html A brief history of the 8-hour workday, which changed how Americans work] by Marguerite Ward (3 May 2017) ''CNBC''.</ref> According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, only 4.9% of people in the workforce had multiple jobs in 2017.<ref>[https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/4-point-9-percent-of-workers-held-more-than-one-job-at-the-same-time-in-2017.htm Worker Stats for Multiple Jobs in 2017] (July 19, 2018) ''U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics''.</ref> That figure was never been higher than 6.5% over the previous 24 years.<ref>[https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/jul/18/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-wrong-several-counts-abou/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrong on several counts about unemployment] by Louis Jacobson (July 18, 2018) ''Politifact''.</ref>

Ocasio-Cortez wants a 70% marginal income tax on people whose annual earnings exceed $10 million, arguing that her tax scheme is hardly unprecedented. Such a high top rate has sparked a debate even within her own party, where people tend to be open to the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy. Suggested alternatives include eliminating past [[tax cut]]s for the rich and taxing foreign revenues of multinational corporations.<ref>[https://thehill.com/policy/finance/425008-ocasio-cortez-sparks-debate-with-talk-of-70-percent-marginal-rate Ocasio-Cortez sparks debate with talk of 70 percent marginal rate] by Naomi Jagoda & Juliegrace Brufke (January 12, 2019) ''The Hill''.</ref> However, experts warned that this is a most inappropriate time for letting the deficit grow, given a recent massive tax cut.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/06/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-budget-1143084 Ocasio-Cortez boosts progressive theory that deficits aren’t so scary] by Victoria Guida (February 6, 2019) ''Politico''.</ref> In 2019, the U.S. national debt topped $22 trillion thanks to a mismatch between government spending and revenue.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/12/national-debt-tops-22-trillion-first-time-ever/2849978002/ National debt tops $22 trillion for the first time as experts warn of ripple effects] by Michael Collins (February 12, 2019) ''USA Today''.</ref>{{efn|U.S. GDP in 2018 was approximately $20.9 trillion. Therefore, the debt-to-GDP ratio is about 105%.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180725152724/http://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html US Debt Clock] (archived from July 25, 2018).</ref>}} While public support for higher taxes has fallen from 77% in 1992 down to 62% in 2018, according to a Gallup poll, there is rising support for tax hikes on the wealthy among liberal voters, with Democrats being twice as likely to support higher taxes on the wealthy. In contrast, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is favored by only 8% of Democrats but about three-quarters of Republicans and one-third of independents. Meanwhile, an NPR/PBS/Marist poll showed that although only 11% of voters in the 2018 midterm elections considered tax cuts to be an important issue, 60% wanted to reverse the tax cuts in order to fund Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/why-2020-democratic-candidates-are-pushing-more-progressive-tax-proposals Why 2020 Democratic candidates are pushing more progressive tax proposals] by Gretchen Frazee (February 19, 2019) ''PBS NewsHour''.</ref>

While Ocasio-Cortez correctly pointed out that [[income inequality]] is a serious problem facing the United States today, she is often careless about the accuracy of her specific statements, which undermines her message. For example, she said that the "vast majority" of Americans do not make a living wage. But according to an expert in economic geography and regional planning consulted by ''[[The Washington Post]]'', that actual number is below 40%, which is still large, but does not justify the phrase "vast majority". This is also found in 2016 wage statistics hosted by the Social Security Administration.<ref>[https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year=2016 Wage Statistics for 2016] ''Social Security Administration''.</ref> However, 27.3 million Americans work part-time and 19.2 million are between the ages of 16 and 24,<ref>[https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat08.htm Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey] ''Bureau of Labor Statistics''.</ref> which may help to explain why the number of workers not earning a living wage is so high.

She was, however, correct when she claimed that minimum wage workers may have to work for more than 100 hours a week to support their children.<ref group=note>The same expert calculated that a single parent with two children earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has to work a staggering 135 hours a week.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/24/ocasio-cortezs-misfired-facts-living-wage-minimum-wage/ Ocasio-Cortez's misfired facts on living wage and minimum wage] by Glenn Kessler (January 24, 2019) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> A 2023 study found that American laborers work more hours on average than workers from "Australia, the U.K., Sweden, Belgium, France and Germany."<ref>[https://money.com/americans-work-hours-vs-europe-china/ "Americans Work Hundreds of Hours More a Year Than Europeans: Report"] - from Money.com. Written by Peter Grieve and edited by Brad Tuttle. Published on January 6th, 2023.</ref>{{efn|Though, granted, they also earn much more, and the US has the second highest median income in the world.<ref>{{wpa|Median income}}</ref>}} 

The US Census found that in 2021 low-income renters spent more of their income on rent than in previous years.<ref name="census">{{cws|https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/03/low-income-renters-spent-larger-share-of-income-on-rent.html|Low-Income Renters Spent Larger Share of Income on Rent in 2021|US Census Bureau}}</ref> The Census also found that the income of renters overall was lower than that of homeowners.<ref name="census"/> The Census found, furthermore, that renter households of all income quintiles were more likely to be cost-burdened than in prior years, although the effects were proportionate to income quintile.<ref name="census"/>

In a survey conducted in 2023, it was found that 39% of Americans skipped meals to pay their rent, and 61% of Americans reported finances as a stressor in their lives.<ref name="passy">{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/39-of-americans-say-theyve-skipped-meals-to-make-housing-payments-report-e4769c9f|title=39% of Americans say they’ve skipped meals to make housing payments|last=Passy|first=Charles|date=April 11, 2023|publisher=Market Watch}}</ref> This percentage is higher than those who've cited both physical and mental health as the chief stressors in their lives.<ref name="passy"/> As of 2022, over half of bankruptcies in the United States are caused by medical debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-planning/risks/medical-bankruptcy-statistics/|title=49+ US Medical Bankruptcy Statistics for 2023|last=Turner|first=Terry|date=August 30, 2022|publisher=RetireGuide}}</ref>

Conversely, the prices of goods have since decreased, and as of 2024 inflation is expected to "fade."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-10/us-inflation-is-set-to-fade-in-2024-as-goods-prices-keep-falling|title=US Inflation Is Set to Fade in 2024 as Goods Prices Keep Falling|last=Boesler|first=Matthew|date=January 10, 2024|publisher=''Bloomberg''}}</ref>

===Energy===
{{main|Energy}}
[[File:SolarGIS-Solar-map-USA-en.png|thumb|right|300px|Solar irradiation of the U.S. mainland (2014) in kWh/m².]]
Her plan is to have United States run on 100% [[renewable energy]] within ten years of the passage of her nonbinding Green New Deal. In fact, she wants the U.S. to be a world leader in the field of renewable energy,<ref name="NPR-cortez-ambitious"/> even though [[fossil fuels]] amounted to 80% of the U.S. energy market in 2018.<ref>[https://apnews.com/491888c04e3244d4a4e473e7978f47cc Energy secretary: US aims to making fossil fuels cleaner] by Brady McCombs (May 30, 2019) ''Associated Press''.</ref> Furthermore, she wants massive investments in emissions-free vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure.{{efn|Notably, she made no mention of hydropower, from which came 7.5% of U.S. electricity in 2017. Although typically classified as renewable energy, hydropower is ecologically disruptive. Nor does she provide a lot of specifics.}}

While she does not explicitly rule out [[nuclear power]]<ref group=note>Especially [[Nuclear power#Generation&nbsp;IV reactors|Generation IV reactors]].</ref> and [[Carbon sequestering|carbon-capturing]] technology,<ref name="PFact-GND">[https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/feb/12/seven-questions-about-green-new-deal/ 7 questions about the Green New Deal] by Louis Jacobson (February 12, 2019) ''PolitiFact''.</ref> she is incredibly inconsistent with the former. In the FAQ about the Green New Deal, it wrote, "A Green New Deal is a massive investment in renewable energy production and would not include creating new nuclear plants."<ref name="FAQ">[https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=5729035-Green-New-Deal-FAQ Green New Deal FAQ] (February 7, 2019) via ''NPR''.</ref> Nuclear power is a zero-carbon-emission energy source. Moreover, it says "the plan is to transition off of all nuclear and all fossil fuels as soon as possible." However, the resolution states that the plan is to meet "100 percent of the power demand in the United States through, clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources".<ref name=Cortez-GND>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190207231748/https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/sites/ocasio-cortez.house.gov/files/Resolution%20on%20a%20Green%20New%20Deal.pdf Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.] by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (7 February 2019) ''United States Congress'' (archived from February 7, 2019).</ref>

A point of confusion was over carbon emissions. Ocasio-Cortez wants the United States to achieve ''net-zero'' emissions, not zero emissions, which would be technologically impossible, given the necessary changes to American infrastructure and manufacturing.<ref name="WP-GND"/> She makes this clear in the FAQ, saying, "We set a goal to get to net-zero, rather than zero, in 10 years because we aren’t sure that we’ll be able to fully get rid of [[fart]]ing cows and [[Aircraft|airplanes]] that fast".<ref name="FAQ"/>

===Transportation===
{{hatnote|See also [[Infrastructure policy of Donald Trump]]}}
[[File:Diagrama_das_linhas_de_alta_velocidade_projectadas_nos_EUA.png|thumb|right|275px|Proposed high-speed rail corridors in the U.S. with connections to Canada (2001, Department of Transportation).]]
Ocasio-Cortez wants to improve the resiliency of U.S. infrastructure, to maximize the [[energy]], and [[water]] efficiency of buildings, and to upgrade to energy-efficient "smart grids". She supports more investments in public transit, and [[high-speed rail]]. She seeks to stimulate the growth of green manufacturing in the United States, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, and to provide "universal access to clean [[water]]".<ref name="Cortez-GND"/>

At one point, her FAQ sheet called for the construction of "[[High speed rail|high-speed rail]] at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary." This is not in the final draft of the Green New Deal resolution.<ref name="WP-GND"/> High-speed rail is only about as time-efficient as air travel for distances of around 400 miles (640 km) or less.<ref>[https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/8-benefits-high-speed-trains4.htm 8 Benefits of High-speed Trains - Number 4] by Derek Markham (August 29, 2012) ''How Stuff Works''.</ref> Therefore, it makes sense to build a high-speed railway connecting New York City and Boston, which are 215 miles (344 km) apart,<ref group=note>Such a line already exists and is part of [[Amtrak]]'s Northeast Corridor.</ref> but not New York City and Los Angeles, separated by a distance of 2790 miles (4464 km). High-speed rail is expensive, but could be feasible depending on the region. For example, the annual ridership of {{wpl|Lincoln Service||,}} Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis corridor, within the last decade or so has been well over half a million and its average travel time was five and a half hours in 2017. A study conducted by the University of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Transportation estimated that if a high-speed rail service of 220 mph (352 km/h) was provided, ridership would increase to somewhere between eight and fifteen million while travel time could drop to just about two hours.<ref>[https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131002/NEWS02/131009941/high-speed-can-succeed-study-says-bullet-trains-in-illinois-costly-but-feasible High-speed can succeed: Study says bullet trains in Illinois costly but feasible] by Paul Merrion (October 2, 2013) ''Crain's Chicago Business''.</ref>

==Congressional career==
[[File:116th United States Congress H. Res.0109 (1st session) - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal.pdf|thumb|right|185px|Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal resolution.]]
Before she was sworn in the 116<sup>th</sup> Congress, Ocasio-Cortez participated in an orientation for new members in November 2018 where she exposed the influence of [[lobbyist]]s on Capitol Hill.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-and-house-freshmen-are-protesting-orientation-harvard-2018-12 Ocasio-Cortez and House freshmen protest orientation] by Eliza Relman (Dec 6, 2018, 1:06 PM) ''Business Insider''.</ref> She went on [[Twitter]] to expose the specific lobbyists leading the orientation: "Lobbyists are here. Goldman Sachs is here. Where's labor? Activists? Frontline community leaders?"<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-lobbyists-congress-harvard-rashida-tlaib-1248959 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Blasts 'Bipartisan' Congressional Orientation: 'Lobbyists are here…Where's Labor?'] by Katherine Hignett (2/7/18 at 7:02 AM EST) ''Newsweek''.</ref>

In fact, AOC has the unique trait of having a massive media presence for someone who's not a [[celebrity]] and was virtually unknown before winning her primary. In November 2018, two months before she was sworn in, she had 1.4 million Twitter followers<ref>[https://www.axios.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-twitter-followers-house-democrats-d7818025-a1a5-444d-a598-b5983021e92b.html AOC twitter followers November] by Alexi McCammond (Nov 28, 2018) ''Axios''.</ref> and by July 2019 that number grew to almost 4.8 million<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190713103252/https://www.socialbakers.com/statistics/twitter/profiles/detail/138203134-aoc Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) Twitter Statistics] ''Social Bakers'' (archived from July 13, 2019).</ref> She has generated as much social media attention as the Democratic presidential candidates for 2020,<ref>[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not the ‘second most talked-about politician in America’] by Philip Bump (March 21, 2019) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> though some of this media attention is due to [[alt-right]] [[troll]]s and [[Donald Trump]] trying to turn her into the "face" of the Democratic Party, thinking the ideas she represents would harm the Democrats.<ref>[https://apnews.com/1e006443442a465fa4e2b38acab5e29c Stats show how AOC dominating social media attention] by David Bauder (July 17, 2019) ''Associated Press''.</ref>

Ocasio-Cortez wants to use her newfound fame and power to realize a vision for an America that is diametrically opposed to that of then-President Trump.<ref name="NPR-cortez-ambitious">[https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/692259103/ocasio-cortez-to-unveil-ambitious-plan-to-combat-climate-change Ocasio-Cortez To Unveil Ambitious Plan To Combat Climate Change] by Steve Inskeep (February 7, 2019) ''NPR''.</ref> Shortly after being elected to Congress, she proposed the highly ambitious, but nonbinding resolution, the '''Green New Deal''', whose name came from the [[New Deal]], the package of socioeconomic programs from President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] aimed at combating the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="Hill-GND">[https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/417843-five-things-to-know-about-ocasio-cortezs-green-new-deal Five things to know about Ocasio-Cortez’s 'Green New Deal'] by Timothy Cama (11/24/18 10:07 AM EST) ''The Hill''.</ref> Experts such as Ernest Moniz, a nuclear [[physicist]] who worked under the [[Obama]] administration, and Ken Caldeira, an atmospheric researcher at the Carnegie Institution for Science, have expressed doubts about the feasibility of this proposal, given that she wants the goals met within ten years.<ref name="WP-GND">{{wpa|Green New Deal}}</ref>

In an act that Democrats in Congress called a stunt,<ref>[https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/03/26/green-new-fail-as-dems-shun-gop-forced-vote-on-climate-bill/ Democrats shun GOP-forced vote on Green New Deal] by Joe Battenfeld (Published: March 26, 2019 at 8:22 p.m. | Updated: August 19, 2019 at 2:55 p.m.) ''Boston Herald''.</ref> Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] leader stated that he wanted the Senate to vote on the Green New Deal should it reach the Senate to put Democrats on record for supporting it. Unlike the many bills that McConnell has stifled, he probably thinks that there is no political loss in allowing a vote on it, since it wasn't going to pass a [[Republican]]-controlled Senate, it would have put Democratic Senators on record for supporting it (which could have been useful for Republican election campaigning), and even if it did pass, it would have had no effect because it's nonbinding.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2019/02/12/694060405/mcconnell-plans-to-bring-green-new-deal-to-senate-vote McConnell Plans To Bring Green New Deal To Senate Vote] by Danielle Kurtzleben (February 12, 20195:43 PM ET) ''NPR''.</ref>

Her fame continued well after she was sworn in; in her first speech in the House, Ocasio-Cortez slammed the Trump administration over the partial government shutdown. In spite of the speech being barely four minutes long, the C-SPAN tweet containing her speech garnered a record setting 1.16 million views.<ref>[https://time.com/5506749/alexandria-ocasio-cortezs-house-speech-cspan-record/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's First House Speech Broke a C-SPAN Record. Here's What She Said] by Mahita Gajanan (January 18, 2019) ''TIME''.</ref> In February, a political video posted on Twitter garnered 37.5 million views<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/14/campaign-finance-but-make-it-viral-alexandria-ocasio-cortezs-unlikely-video-hit AOC's remarks about dark money goes viral] by Sam Wolfson (14 Feb 2019 07.00 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref> in which AOC exposes the influence of dark money in the government.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-speech-campaign-finance-corruption-election-aoc-a8769381.html Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers devastating analysis about dark money's influence] by Tim Wyatt (08 February 2019 11:57) ''The Independent''.</ref>

Other actions she has taken include sharply questioning Trump's then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen before the Oversight Commission<ref>[https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2019/02/27/seven-big-moments-from-cohen-testimony-far/XAoycU0SwdZeNwzHGgZIYN/story.html 10 big moments from Michael Cohen's hearing] by James Pindell (February 27, 2019, 5:04 p.m.) ''The Boston Globe''.</ref> and tearing [[Mark Zuckerberg]] apart for allowing [[fake news]] to proliferate in [[Facebook]], for which she received praise.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/10/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-house-testimony-aoc "So you won't take down fake news?": AOC Blasts Mark Zuckerberg in Testy House Hearing] by Alison Durkee (October 23, 2019) ''Vanity Fair''.</ref><ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/shields-and-brooks-on-cohen-testimony-north-korea-summit Shields and Brooks on Cohen testimony, North Korean summit] (Mar 1, 2019 6:35 PM EST) ''PBS News Hour''.</ref>

In spite of her allegedly staunch environmental stance, she voted alongside the rest of the Democratic House caucus for a bill that allocated $580 million in federal funding over two years to public and private energy development in [[Europe]] and Eurasia, including natural gas and [[fracking]]. The bill was pushed as a policy to counter Russia's energy dominance.<ref>[https://www.pastemagazine.com/politics/fossil-fuels/house-democrats-voted-for-a-natural-gas-and-fracki/ House Democrats voted for a natural gas future and nobody noticed] by Walker Bragman (April 4, 2019; 3:05pm) ''Paste''.</ref>

===Pelosi insider trading===
AOC, along with [[Elizabeth Warren]], got into a fight with [[Nancy Pelosi]] over application of the "Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge" or "STOCK" Act. Pelosi's husband has made a number of suspiciously prescient stock and derivatives trades, increasing their net worth well into the 8 figure range.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/ocasio-cortez-pelosi-no-reason-members-congress-trade-individual-stock-2021-12 AOC pushed back on Nancy Pelosi's stance against banning congressional stock-trading: 'We write major policy and have access to sensitive information'] by Bryan Metzger (Dec 18, 2021, 9:55 AM) ''Business Insider''.</ref> These trades have attracted a bit of attention and accusations of political corruption. Even in the event that Nancy Pelosi isn't sharing inside information with her husband nor is he sharing information about their finances with her and thus potentially influencing her decisions within the House, the mere ''appearance'' of such a conflict of interest inevitably erodes public confidence in Congress's ability to act in the public's best interest.

==Wingnut obsession and conspiracy mongering==
[[File:AOC-Doomsday-Machine-Ben-Garrison.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Ben Garrison]] cartoon deriding Ocasio-Cortez and [[Climate change denial|denying climate change.]]]]
Being an educated, left-wing, [[Hispanic]], and attractive young woman makes AOC an obvious target for [[wingnuts]]. [[Conservative]] men have an extremely unhealthy ''obsession'' with her,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/31/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-republicans-trump 'AOC TMZ': why Republicans obsess over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] by David Smith (31 Mar 2019 01.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> and she's a big target of [[hoax]] claims and false accusations.<ref>[https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/mar/27/no-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-probably-didnt-say/ No, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez probably didn't say that] by Ciara O'Rourke (27 March 2019) ''Politifact''.</ref>

Some of the notable nuttery includes:
*She's an actress paid to pretend to be a Congresswoman.<ref>Dan Evon, [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-actress-playing-lawmaker/ Is U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez an Actress Playing a Congresswoman?] Snopes, 15 March 2019.</ref> This one comes from a misunderstanding of what a political action committee is.

*A [[manufactroversy]] over Trump's violent rhetoric<ref>[https://www.dailywire.com/news/ocasio-cortez-promotes-unsubstantiated-conspiracy-ryan-saavedra Ocasio-Cortez Promotes Unsubstantiated Conspiracy Theory About Trump] by Ryan Saavedra (22 July 2019) ''Daily Wire''.</ref>

*Another manufactorversy over Ocasio-Cortez ([[political spectrum|correctly]]) calling the Democratic Party a "center-conservative" party with a progressive wing<ref>[https://thefederalist.com/2020/01/20/ocasio-cortez-calls-the-democratic-party-center-conservative/ Ocasio-Cortez Calls The Democratic Party ‘Center-Conservative’] by Chrissy Clark (20 January 2020) ''The Federalist''.</ref>

*During one of her town hall meetings, a woman stood up and started yelling that to [[concern troll|deal with climate change]] we should start eating babies.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/04/conservatives-attacked-ocasio-cortez-over-bizarre-town-hall-speaker-now-pro-trump-fringe-group-says-they-planned-stunt/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's town hall was interrupted by a stunt planned by a pro-Trump fringe group] by Allyson Chiu (4 October 2019) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

*Being accused of fake crying at an immigrant camp,<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-empty-parking-lot/ Does an Image Show Ocasio-Cortez Fake-Crying at a Migrant Camp?] by Bethania Palma (27 June 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref> suspiciously reminiscent of when President Obama was accused of fake crying about [[gun]] violence<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2016/1/7/10731894/daily-show-trevor-noah-fox-news-guns-obama The Daily Show rips Fox News for accusing Obama of fake-crying about gun violence] by German Lopez (7 January 2016) ''Vox''.</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-we-are-here-prevent-next-mass-shooting-n490566 Obama: We Are Here to Prevent the Next Mass Shooting] by Corky Siemaszko (5 January 2016) ''NBC News''.</ref>

*Calling for a ban on [[9/11]] images<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-911-public-see-photos/ Did AOC Say the Public Shouldn’t See 9/11 Photos Because They’re ‘Triggering’?] by Bethania Palma (13 September 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*A fake tweet about the difficulty of refueling gasoline-powered cars during [[hurricane]]s<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ocasio-cortez-cars-hurricanes/ Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tweet About Electric Cars in Hurricanes?] by David Mikkelson (30 August 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*[[Memes]] containing [[Quote mining|out-of-context]] or even fabricated quotes<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/radio-interview-ocasio-cortez/ Is This a Transcript from a Radio Interview with U.S. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez?] by David Mikkelson (19 July 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fichera|first=Angelo|url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-435403595562|title=Posts attribute fabricated quote about truckers to Ocasio-Cortez|publisher=Associated Press|date=8 February 2022|accessdate=28 December 2022}}</reF>

*Wanting to ban [[Gun control|open carry]]<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-open-carry-bill-ban/ Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Submit a Bill that Bans Open Carrying of Guns?] (21 October 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*Saying that [[Christianity]] should be ignored for being a [[superstition]]<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-christianity-superstitious/ Did AOC Say Christianity Should Be Ignored as ‘Superstitious Nonsense’?] (6 January 2020) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*Claiming that US soldiers are overpaid<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-pay-soldiers-much/ Did U.S. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Say ‘We Pay Soldiers Too Much’?] by Dan Macguill (22 July 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*Calling the US garbage when she was actually criticizing both parties for abandoning the [[working class]]<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/aoc-us-people-garbage-quote/ Did AOC Refer to the U.S. and Its People as ‘Garbage’?] by Bethania Palma (22 July 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

*She was fired from a hot dog firm for incompetence<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-hot-dog-on-stick/ Was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Once Fired from Hot Dog on a Stick?] by Dan Evon (14 February 2019) ''Snopes''.</ref>

==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Democratic Socialists of America]]
* [[Bernie Sanders]]
* [[Ilhan Omar]]
* [[Modern Monetary Theory]]
* [[Renewable energy]]
* [[Universal healthcare]]
{{div col end}}

==External links==
* [https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's official House website.]
* [https://twitter.com/AOC Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter]
* [http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/trump-makes-137bn-lis7t-emerg7ency-infrastru7cture/ Donald Trump's infrastructure priorities]. Global Construction Review. January 30, 2017.
* Diamond, Peter, and Emmanuel Saez. "[https://eml.berkeley.edu/~saez/diamond-saezJEP11opttax.pdf The Case for a Progressive Tax: From Basic Research to Policy Recommendations]." ''The Journal of Economic Perspectives''. vol. 25, no. 4, 2011, pp. 165–190.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbcHMOwobg Why is GERMANY such an industrial leader?] VisualPolitik EN. September 11, 2017. Pay particular attention to German vocational training and German trade unions.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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