2020 Politics Thread - Enter At Your Own Risk - RULES IN OP

[jdandns]

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
July 23rd, 2020

"I would also like to thank many of my colleagues for the opportunity to not only speak today but for the many members from both sides of the aisle who have reached out to me in support following an incident earlier this week.

About two days ago I was walking up the steps of the Capitol when Representative Yoho suddenly turned a corner, and he was accompanied by Representative Roger Williams. And accosted me on the steps right here in front of our nation's capitol.

I was minding my own business, walking up the steps, and Representative Yoho put his finger in my face, he called me disgusting, he called me crazy, he called me out of my mind. And he called me dangerous. And then he took a few more steps and after I had recognized his – after I had recognized his comments as rude, he walked away and said, I’m rude, you're calling me rude. I took a few steps ahead and I walked inside and cast my vote.
Because my constituents send me here each and every day to fight for them. And to make sure that they are able to keep a roof over their head. That they are able to feed their families. And that they are able to carry their lives with dignity.

I walked back out and there were reporters in the front of the Capitol, and in front of reporters, Representative Yoho called me, and I quote, a f------ b----. These are the words Representative Yoho levied against a congresswoman. A congresswoman that not only represents New York’s 14th district but every congresswoman in this country because all of us have had to deal with this in some form, some way, some shape at some point in our lives.

And I want to be clear that Representative Yoho’s comments were not deeply hurtful or piercing to me. Because I have worked a working-class job. I have waited tables in restaurants. I have ridden the subway. I have walked the streets in New York City. And this kind of language is not new. I have encountered words uttered by Mr. Yoho and men uttering the same words as Mr. Yoho while I was being harassed in restaurants. I have tossed men out of bars that have used language like Mr. Yoho's, and I have encountered this type of harassment riding the subway in New York City. This is not new. And that is the problem.

Mr. Yoho was not alone. He was walking shoulder to shoulder with Representative Roger Williams. And that's when we start to see that this issue is not about one incident. It is cultural. It is a culture of a lack of impunity, of acceptance of violence and violent language against women, an entire structure of power that supports that.

Because not only have I been spoken to disrespectfully, particularly by members of the Republican Party, and elected officials in the Republican Party, not just here, but the President of the United States last year told me to 'go home' to another country with the implication that I don't even belong in America. The governor of Florida, Governor DeSantis, before I was sworn in, called me a 'whatever that is.' Dehumanizing language is not new. And what we are seeing is that incidents like these are happening in a pattern. This is a pattern of an attitude towards women and the dehumanization of others.

So, while I was not deeply hurt or offended by little comments that are made, when I was reflecting on this, I honestly thought I was going to pack it up and go home. It's just another day, right?

But then yesterday, Representative Yoho decided to come to the floor of the House of Representatives and make excuses for his behavior. And that I could not let go. I could not allow my nieces, I could not allow the little girls that I go home to, I could not allow victims of verbal abuse and, worse, to see that — to see that excuse and to see our Congress accept it as legitimate and accept it as an apology and to accept silence as a form of acceptance, I could not allow that to stand. Which is why I’m rising today to raise this point of personal privilege.

And I do not need representative Yoho to apologize to me. Clearly, he does not want to. Clearly, when given the opportunity he will not. And I will not stay up late at night waiting for an apology from a man who has no remorse over calling women and using abusive language towards women. But what I do have issue with is using women, wives, and daughters as shields and excuses for poor behavior.

Mr. Yoho mentioned that he has a wife and two daughters. I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho's youngest daughter. I am someone's daughter too.

My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho's disrespect on the floor of this house towards me on television, and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.

Now, what I am here to say is that this harm that Mr. Yoho levied, tried to levy against me, was not just an incident directed at me, but when you do that to any woman, what Mr. Yoho did was give permission to other men to do that to his daughters.

He -- in using that language, in front of the press, he gave permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, women in his community, and I am here to stand up to say that is not acceptable.

I do not care what your views are. It does not matter how much I disagree or how much it incenses me or how much I feel that people are dehumanizing others.

I will not do that myself. I will not allow people to change and create hatred in our hearts.

And so, what I believe is that having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man. And when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologize. Not to save face, not to win a vote. He apologizes genuinely to repair and acknowledge the harm done so that we can all move on.

Lastly, what I want to express to Mr. Yoho is gratitude. I want to thank him for showing the world that you can be a powerful man and accost women. You can have daughters and accost women without remorse. You can be married and accost women. You can take photos and project an image to the world of being a family man and accost women without remorse and with a sense of impunity. It happens every day in this country. It happened here on the steps of our nation’s Capitol. It happens when individuals who hold the highest office in this land admit, admit to hurting women, and using this language against all of us.

Once again, I thank my colleagues for joining us today."

[Siberian13]

[mike1498]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

And all I was talking about was my kids and my experiences, but leave it to Siberian to argue, especially with things he knows nothing about....

I hope enough kids enroll in cyber school that the school districts are forced to open or close for good. And it’s not teachers that are coming up with these plans, it’s school birds and administration. I have 4 neighbors that teach at 4 different districts and my brother teaches at a 5th. None of them have been involved at all in determining how they are going to open. They’ve all been told. Even they think this is going to be a disaster.

I follow one of my professors on linkden and decided to read a post he "retweeted" or what ever you'd call it for linkden. The post was a Q&A with someone higher up in administration.

They said at a local level teachers may not be as involved but at a state level they are.

My opinion is that I think some teachers may be afraid to come out and say they don't feel safe teaching in person because of backlash. I couldn't believe one of the questions was "how do you respond to parents who feel teachers are too entitled". I don't know how fearing corona is all the sudden "entitlement".

I think everyone agrees this will affect student growth and because we all agree upon this, I find it hard to believe most teachers are comfortable with going back. If they were comfortable with coming back, why would administration choose all online to stunt student growth?

[jdandns]

Originally Posted by coltsnsox07

The Trump tv ad about Biden saying 'Absolutely defund the police' during an old woman being put on hold while trying to call 911 because her house is getting broken into is well done.

Which one?
This one?

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by mike1498

I follow one of my professors on linkden and decided to read a post he "retweeted" or what ever you'd call it for linkden. The post was a Q&A with someone higher up in administration.

They said at a local level teachers may not be as involved but at a state level they are.

My opinion is that I think some teachers may be afraid to come out and say they don't feel safe teaching in person because of backlash. I couldn't believe one of the questions was "how do you respond to parents who feel teachers are too entitled". I don't know how fearing corona is all the sudden "entitlement".

I think everyone agrees this will affect student growth and because we all agree upon this, I find it hard to believe most teachers are comfortable with going back. If they were comfortable with coming back, why would administration choose all online to stunt student growth?

If they are too afraid to go to work, resign or retire. In PA it’s up to the school districts on how and what they will do. So there isn’t a state level mandate. Another local district has declared they will be open, they will not be requiring masks or making any outrageous changes and parents can choose what they want to do.

Your question is excellent. By not going to school they are choosing fear, concern, litigation or just ease over student development. The fear of corona isn’t entitlement. The idea that you can just not do your job normally, still get paid and expect everyone else to just change because of your fear is entitlement.

I was understanding when things changed so drastically and teachers and administration had to adjust on the fly. It was awful but we got through. Now 5 months later and you come back with zoom for 6 hours a day as your grand idea. No, sorry - you should just resign and let people who want to teach do it. You can stay at home.

[mnvikingstwins]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

What Mike said.

You said this:
“K-6th grade kids are not competent enough to learn on a computer, especially with teachers with zero background in teaching using technology.” Just didn’t sound like you were referring to just your kids.

I just said you can’t lump all those kids together. That’s all. No one is arguing but you. You’re just arguing with yourself which you seem to like doing. You’d be surprised what some kids can do, even those brighter than your own kids that may be decent with technology.

Also, glad you “manned up” with your ignore list.

Problem is there's still plenty of K-6 kids that can't afford a computer

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Which one?
This one?

Yes that is Joe Biden.

Make sure you vote for Joe Biden.

[mike1498]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

If they are too afraid to go to work, resign or retire.

Obviously neither of us have numbers here but I'd believe that number is a lot higher than you which is why many states are moving to this format.

In PA it’s up to the school districts on how and what they will do. So there isn’t a state leaves mandate. Another local district has declared they will be open, they will not be requiring masks or making any outrageous changes and parents can choose what they want to do.

Your question is excellent. By not going to school they are choosing fear, concern, litigation or just ease over student development. The fear of corona is entitlement. The idea that you can just not do your job, still get paid and expect everyone else to just change because of your fear is entitlement.

I guess we have two different definitions of entitlement and that's coming from someone who is working during the virus.

My responses are in bold

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by mike1498

My responses are in bold

I’ve worked through the virus, as have my wife.

I know my stance comes across as harsh, but I have no pity at this point. This virus isn’t going away, life has to continue. My kids education suffering because teachers are scared is unacceptable.

ETA: I had a typo and it should have read “the fear of corona isn’t entitlement”

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by rman112

For reference:



I honestly have no f*cking clue whatsoever what to make of what he said.

Fwew... I clicked on the video without reading your post. I was wondering, “how is it possible this guy is making so little sense... I must be too high to catch on,” and alas... nope. I’m still on.

[mike1498]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

I’ve worked through the virus, as have my wife.

I know my stance comes across as harsh, but I have no pity at this point. This virus isn’t going away, life has to continue. My kids sled I stink suffering because teachers are scared is unacceptable.

ETA: I had a typo and it should have read “the fear of corona isn’t entitlement”

I guess the counter to that statement is that aren't you entitled to feel that someone should feel required to go back to teaching live and risk their health so your kids can benefit. I don't actually feel your are entitled by the way, I'm just stating you can spin that any way you want. You come across looking for what's best for your kids while they try looking for what's best for them and their families. That isn't entitlement either which way.

[jdandns]

Even desperate measures like this aren't gonna help.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ed/ar-BB179WCj

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

I was understanding when things changed so drastically and teachers and administration had to adjust on the fly. It was awful but we got through. Now 5 months later and you come back with zoom for 6 hours a day as your grand idea. No, sorry - you should just resign and let people who want to teach do it. You can stay at home.

Yeah, good luck with that.
The current teachers themselves will decide.
No one else.

[GeechQuest]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

I’ve worked through the virus, as have my wife.

I know my stance comes across as harsh, but I have no pity at this point. This virus isn’t going away, life has to continue. My kids education suffering because teachers are scared is unacceptable.

ETA: I had a typo and it should have read “the fear of corona isn’t entitlement”

If the teachers don’t want to teach, and your solution is resign or retire, what comes next?

If they take you up on that, then what? Are you going to have a career change and teach these kids?

[rman112]

Yahoo did a story about the one Giants player that didn't take a knee. I want to read the comments..

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by mnvikingstwins

Problem is there's still plenty of K-6 kids that can't afford a computer

Yeah that’s why I said you can’t group them all together. Some can do it and some can’t. But to say all K-6th grade can’t isn’t correct.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by mike1498

I guess the counter to that statement is that aren't you entitled to feel that someone should feel required to go back to teaching live and risk their health so your kids can benefit. I don't actually feel your are entitled by the way, I'm just stating you can spin that any way you want. You come across looking for what's best for your kids while they try looking for what's best for them and their families. That isn't entitlement either which way.

I am entitled since I pay the taxes and their salaries.

If you are in a public service and public facing job, you’ve already voluntarily signed up for a job that will expose you - it’s part of the job. Don’t want to do it, resign or retire.

Again, I know it’s harsh, but so is the reality of how poor the educational experience through zoom is going to be.

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by rman112

Yahoo did a story about the one Giants player that didn't take a knee. I want to read the comments..

It would be one of the stories they blocked all comments anyways since they know the responses aren’t what they want. Was always funny how they blocked the comments on just certain articles.

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Even desperate measures like this aren't gonna help.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ed/ar-BB179WCj





Yeah, good luck with that.
The current teachers themselves will decide.
No one else.

If it were up to the teachers they'd stay home for the rest of their life doing a 1 hour a day zoom lecture while collecting a full paycheck.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by GeechQuest

If the teachers don’t want to teach, and your solution is resign or retire, what comes next?

If they take you up on that, then what? Are you going to have a career change and teach these kids?

I doubt highly many, if any would. There is an new crop of young teachers graduating that need jobs so you can hire them.


But since you are asking, right now my wife and I are weighing our options. One would be enrolling in a Charter cyber school which would provide a more rounded cyber curriculum and flexibility and the other would be to hire a full time tutor.

Zoom 6 hours a day is not school or education. Imagine day 46 of that for an 8 year old.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Even desperate measures like this aren't gonna help.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ed/ar-BB179WCj





Yeah, good luck with that.
The current teachers themselves will decide.
No one else.

Actually they aren’t in PA.
School District Superintendents are.

[GeechQuest]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

I doubt highly many, if any would. There is an new crop of young teachers graduating that need jobs so you can hire them.


But since you are asking, right now my wife and I are weighing our options. One would be enrolling in a Charter cyber school which would provide a more rounded cyber curriculum and flexibility and the other would be to hire a full time tutor.

Zoom 6 hours a day is not school or education. Imagine day 46 of that for an 8 year old.

Yeah I don’t disagree that kids can’t learn that way or anything, just the reality is if the teachers say they’re not going back then society is kind of stuck. It at least seems that way to me.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by GeechQuest

Yeah I don’t disagree that kids can’t learn that way or anything, just the reality is if the teachers say they’re not going back then society is kind of stuck. It at least seems that way to me.

Actually it doesn’t. In PA a child costs the school district about $3-4K in costs. Enrolling your child in cyber school costs the school district $7-10k per child. That is the other reason we are considering it. Want to hold us ransom out of fear, we can easily bankrupt the school district and force them to open up or close down.

A school district can’t afford 1/4 of its students going that route. If enough parents are upset Monday evening at the school board meeting, and we are given the options of zoom or cyber school, it won’t take much to get parents onboard with cyber school.

[GeechQuest]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

Actually it doesn’t. In PA a child costs the school district about $3-4K in costs. Enrolling your child in cyber school costs the school district $7-10k per child. That is the other reason we are considering it. Want to hold us ransom out of fear, we can easily bankrupt the school district and force them to open up or close down.

A school district can’t afford 1/4 of its students going that route. If enough parents are upset Monday evening at the school board meeting, and we are given the options of zoom or cyber school, it won’t take much to get parents onboard with cyber school.

Who teaches the cyber school? Where does your kid go once you’ve bankrupted the district?

My child is still a few years away from elementary so I’m not concerned one way or the other.

We have recent evidence how these teacher strikes work.

[Dielon]

Originally Posted by jdandns

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
July 23rd, 2020

"I would also like to thank many of my colleagues for the opportunity to not only speak today but for the many members from both sides of the aisle who have reached out to me in support following an incident earlier this week.

About two days ago I was walking up the steps of the Capitol when Representative Yoho suddenly turned a corner, and he was accompanied by Representative Roger Williams. And accosted me on the steps right here in front of our nation's capitol.

I was minding my own business, walking up the steps, and Representative Yoho put his finger in my face, he called me disgusting, he called me crazy, he called me out of my mind. And he called me dangerous. And then he took a few more steps and after I had recognized his – after I had recognized his comments as rude, he walked away and said, I’m rude, you're calling me rude. I took a few steps ahead and I walked inside and cast my vote.
Because my constituents send me here each and every day to fight for them. And to make sure that they are able to keep a roof over their head. That they are able to feed their families. And that they are able to carry their lives with dignity.

I walked back out and there were reporters in the front of the Capitol, and in front of reporters, Representative Yoho called me, and I quote, a f------ b----. These are the words Representative Yoho levied against a congresswoman. A congresswoman that not only represents New York’s 14th district but every congresswoman in this country because all of us have had to deal with this in some form, some way, some shape at some point in our lives.

And I want to be clear that Representative Yoho’s comments were not deeply hurtful or piercing to me. Because I have worked a working-class job. I have waited tables in restaurants. I have ridden the subway. I have walked the streets in New York City. And this kind of language is not new. I have encountered words uttered by Mr. Yoho and men uttering the same words as Mr. Yoho while I was being harassed in restaurants. I have tossed men out of bars that have used language like Mr. Yoho's, and I have encountered this type of harassment riding the subway in New York City. This is not new. And that is the problem.

Mr. Yoho was not alone. He was walking shoulder to shoulder with Representative Roger Williams. And that's when we start to see that this issue is not about one incident. It is cultural. It is a culture of a lack of impunity, of acceptance of violence and violent language against women, an entire structure of power that supports that.

Because not only have I been spoken to disrespectfully, particularly by members of the Republican Party, and elected officials in the Republican Party, not just here, but the President of the United States last year told me to 'go home' to another country with the implication that I don't even belong in America. The governor of Florida, Governor DeSantis, before I was sworn in, called me a 'whatever that is.' Dehumanizing language is not new. And what we are seeing is that incidents like these are happening in a pattern. This is a pattern of an attitude towards women and the dehumanization of others.

So, while I was not deeply hurt or offended by little comments that are made, when I was reflecting on this, I honestly thought I was going to pack it up and go home. It's just another day, right?

But then yesterday, Representative Yoho decided to come to the floor of the House of Representatives and make excuses for his behavior. And that I could not let go. I could not allow my nieces, I could not allow the little girls that I go home to, I could not allow victims of verbal abuse and, worse, to see that — to see that excuse and to see our Congress accept it as legitimate and accept it as an apology and to accept silence as a form of acceptance, I could not allow that to stand. Which is why I’m rising today to raise this point of personal privilege.

And I do not need representative Yoho to apologize to me. Clearly, he does not want to. Clearly, when given the opportunity he will not. And I will not stay up late at night waiting for an apology from a man who has no remorse over calling women and using abusive language towards women. But what I do have issue with is using women, wives, and daughters as shields and excuses for poor behavior.

Mr. Yoho mentioned that he has a wife and two daughters. I am two years younger than Mr. Yoho's youngest daughter. I am someone's daughter too.

My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho's disrespect on the floor of this house towards me on television, and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.

Now, what I am here to say is that this harm that Mr. Yoho levied, tried to levy against me, was not just an incident directed at me, but when you do that to any woman, what Mr. Yoho did was give permission to other men to do that to his daughters.

He -- in using that language, in front of the press, he gave permission to use that language against his wife, his daughters, women in his community, and I am here to stand up to say that is not acceptable.

I do not care what your views are. It does not matter how much I disagree or how much it incenses me or how much I feel that people are dehumanizing others.

I will not do that myself. I will not allow people to change and create hatred in our hearts.

And so, what I believe is that having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man. And when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologize. Not to save face, not to win a vote. He apologizes genuinely to repair and acknowledge the harm done so that we can all move on.

Lastly, what I want to express to Mr. Yoho is gratitude. I want to thank him for showing the world that you can be a powerful man and accost women. You can have daughters and accost women without remorse. You can be married and accost women. You can take photos and project an image to the world of being a family man and accost women without remorse and with a sense of impunity. It happens every day in this country. It happened here on the steps of our nation’s Capitol. It happens when individuals who hold the highest office in this land admit, admit to hurting women, and using this language against all of us.

Once again, I thank my colleagues for joining us today."

I am not sure who Yoho is but these two are both not representative of normal people. Should both be voted out. She is the queen of moral grandstanding and he clearly walked into a trap here, shouldnt of said that.

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by GeechQuest

Who teaches the cyber school? Where does your kid go once you’ve bankrupted the district?

My child is still a few years away from elementary so I’m not concerned one way or the other.

We have recent evidence how these teacher strikes work.

Teachers teach and design the curriculum.
Likely the same answer as what happens when too many teachers resign or retire. I don’t think the school district would just say “we’ll we won’t open so we will go bankrupt”

It’s not something I would consider normally but if none of my options are more than 2 days a week in school, then I would rather have my kids involved with Teachers that know technology and have a fully built platform for education with flexibility.

The funny thing is my brother the teacher and union rep for his school district is initially the one who floated the idea to me as a way for forcing administration to back down from their stance.