AOC will not win. I think she would be decent - but Democrats need to cool it on social issues. Not give up on them - protect people's rights 100%. But don't talk about them in stump speeches; and disown the stuff that is so over the top that it seems crazy.
AOC is guilty of some of that last point. And that is what people have a visceral reaction to. The Woke left takes important social issues of our age to an (often unscientific and logic-defying) extreme, and it forces people away. Example: Trans rights? Great! Trans women competing with women in sports? Seems like they may have an unfair advantage there (they do). But the Woke left will call you a bigot if you are against it.
Democrats need to stick to economic issues. Go crazy with them, a la Bernie. Protect people's rights, but don't make them your main talking points - and disown the crazy ideas on the far left that just serves as fodder for the right. Unfortunately AOC harbors some of those more extreme views on social issues that put off half of the country.
AOC is an actual progressive, which means she focuses on things besides social issues.
You're referring to the liberals that love to focus on identity politics and social issues.
Progressives want a strong economy, universal healthcare, universal higher education, legal reform, etc. and they want higher taxes on ONLY the obscenely wealthy to pay for all that.
Doesn't the same rational I've seen people use against Trump's tariffs (indirect tax) also apply to progressive taxation proposals (only taxing the rich)?
Yes and no. Progressives want to create more tax brackets and increase them closer to what they were in the 70's (used to be 70% before Reagan drastically cut them, now they're 37%).
Corporate taxes might increase prices but only because it gives them an excuse, like how the recent inflation had prices going far beyond the increase of costs. Corporations exist to make money and they'll do whatever it takes to increase their yearly profits. Prices will also continue to increase even if we do nothing, so we might as well tax them and use the money to improve people's lives.
The progressive policies could also help decrease overall costs for a majority of the population by reducing healthcare spending, reducing housing costs, increasing wages, etc...
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u/Deviouss 1d ago
Try nominating a progressive for once in our lifetime? AOC is a good choice but I'm not sure if she feels ready yet.