Whole hoards of folks visiting Ausitn for SXSW lined the walls to see New York Democratic Socialist Representative Alexadria Ocasio Cortez (AOC). She had a candid talk about herself and the new left, touching on her Green New Deal and her beliefs concerning Democratic Socialism.
The progressive firebrand stumped for her deal and started off by calling FDR’s New Deal during the great depression, racist. “[The New Deal] allowed white Americans to have access to home loans that black and brown Americans did not have access to.” She says this left out whole segments of society of the greatest access to generational wealth, real estate.
She says that’s why in her Green New Deal thinking so big is so important. She said one of the ways Americans can do that is by fixing the pipes in Flint Michigan, clean the air in the Bronx, rebuild Porto Rico’s electrical system andfully fund the coal miners pensions in West Virgina, all at the same time.
AOC’ also took the time to call for the abolishment of ICE and explained she found the agency “unredeemable,” believing it has systemic and historic problems with human rights violations. She lumped the concept of Capitalism into the same boat as she professed the ideals of her chosen politic, Democratic Socialism. To her Capitalism means, “that we seek and prioritize profit and the accumulation of money. And we seek it at any human and environmental cost. That ideology is not sustainable and cannot be redeemed.”
Cortez then leapt to the defense of Democratic socialism, saying it prioritizes democracy and society. “It doesn’t mean you put anything last. It doesn’t mean that the actual concept of a capitalist society should be abolished.” In the end, she explained, its a question of priorities.
Bill Nye the Science guy made a surprise SXSW appearance during AOC’s talk. He asked if she has a plan to address fears on the right when it comes to climate change. She says part of dismantling the fear is by doing away with a zero sum mentality, and encouraged voters not just to get more involved with elections but to also regularly start green conversations with those in power.
(Photo:Shutterstock/By Katherine Welles)
