Last night Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) attended the Met Gala and caused a stir on the red carpet with a dress that boldly stated: "Tax the Rich."
She nutted up instead of shutting up & I love her for it. If "the rich" feel the sting of
the words on the back of her gown, then they SHOULD be nervous. Someday really young people will run the show & I for one sincerely hope they do it better than it's been done recently.
Thanks for opportunity to share thoughts on the matter.
I don’t think the rich who were at the gala gave a tinker’s damn about her and felt no sting at all at her display. She was invited it was a 25,000$ invite and I am truly not sure if she helped her designer or not by bringing her along.Sure some may use her to appear current. AOC is not naive because of her youth with this crowd not at all, but what works with this crowd. She could have made the same point several other ways. I personally don’t care but I think there was more to her going than just making a statement , I think she wanted to go and that is ok with me good for her. I admit I have a love/ hate relationship with her as member of Congress and would like to see her energy there for a long time, but not poke people in the eye so much that can ultimately have an effect long term
Well balanced Amee as always, unfortunately I believe her attendance in such a dress shows how naive she is in this arena. The rich truly support our Arts more than middle class ever could . I think she could have gone and not been in their face. It’s kinda like Melania going to the border with her green raincoat on I don’t really care do you
That was my point. The rich should fund the arts and many other things that are completely within their means. I paid a higher income tax rate than Jeff Bezos that’s insane and I’m retired
Here's a tidbit from Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter that might add something to this discussion: "As Dr. Gabriel Zucman, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley, told Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein, the wealth of the top 400 people in the U.S. has increased by $1.4 trillion since 2019."
Thanks for writing about this Amee, really appreciate your perspective. AOC is a lightening rod, she knew attending would create a firestorm no matter what she wore. She was invited and was comped her ticket. Why not go and make a statement? Along with all you said, I always think of AOC’s bravery in kicking the hornets nest. Jerry Saltz, art critic for New York Magazine, posted the same pic and was instantly doxed for doing so. The repercussions for aligning with your beliefs are huge and I always admire AOC’s willingness to put herself in the line of fire. Who else is doing that on the Dem side? No one else is like her and she is smart enough to know that.
My only disagreement with this fascinating article is its title. While I understand the concept of "attention grabbing headline"; you are not a reporter for a newspaper where you are competing with other reporter's articles for readership. While I'm glad of the conclusion you finally came to; the title hints of the public disagrements many progressives/liberals/Democrats are having with each other. While your conclusion does not do so; using a headline hinting at other is not useful to the cause. I'm sure you could have developed an attention grabbing headline, affirming AOCs going into the lion's den and (through her dress) speaking truth to power. Otherwise, fully supportive of this work.
Amee, you do not have competition, like a reporter would with other reporters at a newspaper. People are paying to read only your words.
I just feel that your headline, if merely glanced at before someone moves on, could lead them to a completely different conclusion as to where you were coming from. Possibly concluding that you are a bothsider, seeing moral equivalence in each side.
I have no problem with the body of your work, specifically this article. I just felt uncomfortable seeing that headline, and knowing others might see it and just move on. I was relieved at the end.
I respectfully disagree Craig, this was indeed a social commentary piece something reporters do all the time, Amee is more than a social commentator she breaks down the news into bites for us and then makes an elegant piece something reporters and headlines don’t do
As long as Ivanka and Jared were snubbed then I’m lovin’ it. AOC love her or hate her knows how to say what she means.
She nutted up instead of shutting up & I love her for it. If "the rich" feel the sting of
the words on the back of her gown, then they SHOULD be nervous. Someday really young people will run the show & I for one sincerely hope they do it better than it's been done recently.
Thanks for opportunity to share thoughts on the matter.
I don’t think the rich who were at the gala gave a tinker’s damn about her and felt no sting at all at her display. She was invited it was a 25,000$ invite and I am truly not sure if she helped her designer or not by bringing her along.Sure some may use her to appear current. AOC is not naive because of her youth with this crowd not at all, but what works with this crowd. She could have made the same point several other ways. I personally don’t care but I think there was more to her going than just making a statement , I think she wanted to go and that is ok with me good for her. I admit I have a love/ hate relationship with her as member of Congress and would like to see her energy there for a long time, but not poke people in the eye so much that can ultimately have an effect long term
I have no issue with this, she acknowledges her position, and the room is filled with the rich.
You completely summarized the mixed feelings I had about her attending such a flagrantly lavish event while cheering her message.
Well balanced Amee as always, unfortunately I believe her attendance in such a dress shows how naive she is in this arena. The rich truly support our Arts more than middle class ever could . I think she could have gone and not been in their face. It’s kinda like Melania going to the border with her green raincoat on I don’t really care do you
The middle class needs to eat.
Bob I am a 68 year old disabled woman and I live on Social Security. I need to eat too.
That was my point. The rich should fund the arts and many other things that are completely within their means. I paid a higher income tax rate than Jeff Bezos that’s insane and I’m retired
That must be one tasty boot.
Good piece (again).
Here's a tidbit from Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter that might add something to this discussion: "As Dr. Gabriel Zucman, an economist at the University of California at Berkeley, told Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein, the wealth of the top 400 people in the U.S. has increased by $1.4 trillion since 2019."
Thanks for writing about this Amee, really appreciate your perspective. AOC is a lightening rod, she knew attending would create a firestorm no matter what she wore. She was invited and was comped her ticket. Why not go and make a statement? Along with all you said, I always think of AOC’s bravery in kicking the hornets nest. Jerry Saltz, art critic for New York Magazine, posted the same pic and was instantly doxed for doing so. The repercussions for aligning with your beliefs are huge and I always admire AOC’s willingness to put herself in the line of fire. Who else is doing that on the Dem side? No one else is like her and she is smart enough to know that.
Love AOC, love Amee Vanderpool. #Power!
AOC looks great whatever she throws on. Tax the rich. To death, if possible.
My only disagreement with this fascinating article is its title. While I understand the concept of "attention grabbing headline"; you are not a reporter for a newspaper where you are competing with other reporter's articles for readership. While I'm glad of the conclusion you finally came to; the title hints of the public disagrements many progressives/liberals/Democrats are having with each other. While your conclusion does not do so; using a headline hinting at other is not useful to the cause. I'm sure you could have developed an attention grabbing headline, affirming AOCs going into the lion's den and (through her dress) speaking truth to power. Otherwise, fully supportive of this work.
It's interesting that you think I don't have competition, Craig.
Amee, you do not have competition, like a reporter would with other reporters at a newspaper. People are paying to read only your words.
I just feel that your headline, if merely glanced at before someone moves on, could lead them to a completely different conclusion as to where you were coming from. Possibly concluding that you are a bothsider, seeing moral equivalence in each side.
I have no problem with the body of your work, specifically this article. I just felt uncomfortable seeing that headline, and knowing others might see it and just move on. I was relieved at the end.
I respectfully disagree Craig, this was indeed a social commentary piece something reporters do all the time, Amee is more than a social commentator she breaks down the news into bites for us and then makes an elegant piece something reporters and headlines don’t do
Patricia, I believe your comments only address the body of this article, which I agree with completely; not the headline.