Follow the money: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on what’s behind all the executive orders and what we can do
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is doing regular Instagram Live events about what’s happening in this new administration and actions we can all take. These events help us understand what underpins everything that’s happening and why it’s happening. Knowing this information can help us stay calm and focus our energy into actions that will move the needle.
I didn’t know 99% of what AOC explains in this week’s Live event, and I read all day, every day. I watch the news constantly. The media and the opinions of friends and family members, no matter their jobs and past experience, are not facts. Many think they’re experts in what’s happening and almost no one is because what’s happening is unprecedented. Past experience isn’t a guide because we’re not living in the same world we were in two weeks ago. The only people who actually see the entire landscape are those on the ground right now, in the room where it happens inside the Capitol Building. That’s exactly why AOC is doing these Live events.
I highly recommend watching AOC’s Live events. They’re saved as Reels to watch later. They’re long because the landscape is complex. If you don’t have the energy or time, I’ve put the biggest take-aways from this week’s event below.
Here is the biggest thing you need to know: A massive tax break for the rich with a looming deadline, Medicaid, Department of Defense spending and the tech industry (including AI), immigration, prisons, and the GOP are all connected.
Tax breaks
In 2017, this president and the GOP forced through one of the biggest tax giveaways to the rich in U.S. history — a total of ~$4 trillion. For example, they include tax write-offs on private jets and yachts. These tax breaks sunset this year. Not only does this administration want to extend them but they also want to expand them.
Medicaid
Where will they find $4 trillion to extend and expand these tax breaks? I thought I would be from raising taxes on people who make less than $350,000. Nope. That’s only going to give them a fraction of the $4 trillion. They’re going after Medicaid because they think they can get $2 trillion from there. This explains why they want us to think people on Medicaid are lazy and that they’re the enemy. This explains why they tried to freeze Medicaid portals, except that massively backfired on them, and they had to reopen them.
Department of Defense spending and tech companies (including AI)
You know what government waste they won’t cut? Defense spending. Why? Because most tech companies whose products we use every day, and the billionaires who own them, make a massive amount of money from defense contracts. Defense contractors price gouge constantly. The Pentagon has yet to pass an audit. They want us to believe supporting Defense spending proves we’re patriots and love our country; if we question anything to do with the Defense spending, we’re not patriots. We’re the enemy. This is how they pit us against one another. Don’t fall for it.
Immigration, prisons, and the GOP
They want us to think they’re focused on immigration and mass deportation for our safety. Nope. They know they can’t do mass deportations all at once so what will they do with the people they round up? Detain them. Where? Prisons (like the news about the 30,000 people they want to hold at Guantánamo.) Who makes money from prison construction and management? The private prison industry. Who owns the prison industry? Billionaires. Who finances a lot of Republican campaigns? The private prison industry.
What actions can we take?
No action is too small.
We are all grains of sand in these giant gears and if enough of us mobilize, we can at least slow them down. If a lot of us mobilize, we can stop them. When your mind says, “we can’t do anything”, STOP. Breathe. Do it anyway. When we are relentless, they will fatigue. Draw them out. Do not comply in advance.
File your Federal taxes directly FOR FREE
For years AOC and many others have been fighting against the lobbyists at TurboTax, H&R Block, and others who make massive amounts of money off of people filing their taxes. IRS Free File could potentially cause those companies to lose a lot of money this year. That’s why this administration is trying to kill IRS Free File. This administration cares about making money for big businesses, not about protecting working class people. I’ve used a company to file for years. I’ll file my taxes for free this year with IRS Free File.
If you’re exhausted and have no time
Look up your rights, whether you’re a U.S. citizen, green card holder, visa holder, or undocumented. You can also help your neighbors know their rights. AOC put a Know Your Rights flyer on her website in English, Spanish, Bangla, Mandarin, and Arabic.
If you have a little more energy
Print out the Know Your Rights flyer. Take them around to your local shops, business, food carts, and libraries, and ask if you can put them up for people to read.
If you have a medium amount of energy
Call your senators. No matter what party they’re in, tell them you want them to vote no on every single cabinet appointment. Even if your call just slows them down a fraction, it’s effective. No matter how they vote, your voice matters. Your anger matters, even if they make you think it doesn’t. Their skin is thin. And so is this administration’s. And so is this batch of billionaires’.
Call your House Reps. No matter how they vote, no matter what party they’re in, express your dismay. You might think it doesn’t matter, especially if they support this administration, but it matters. The tallies of who calls and what those callers say is reported to them every single day. Call them.
If you’re a federal worker
Don’t take the buy-out. They’re counting on you giving up and walking away so they can do whatever they want. Make them make you leave. Don’t consent in advance.
If ICE comes to your home, workplace, school, house of worship, or community center
You don’t have to open the door. They need a judicial warrant with a judge’s signature to enter. You can ask them to leave. You don’t have to give them any personal information. You don’t have to answer any of their questions. You don’t need to sign anything. You can ask for an attorney. California and New York provide attorneys for everyone, even those who are undocumented. Outside those states, you can ask to speak to an attorney. You can stay silent, even if you’re detained.
In summary
Take a breath
Focus
Know your rights and help others know theirs
Call your senators and House reps