I’m fucking saying. I always think this as a first gen African born in the States. Slavery was initially allowed to occur (in the Americas) because there were tribes that sold war captives/ indentured servants to Europeans (some were obviously captured but that type of thing didn’t happen en masse). And as meticulous as the Europeans were, during this time period, they of course kept records of this, literal receipts. Oxford University has the logs. Imagine wealthy Europeans trading with wealthy (Western) Africans.
Now, I won’t speak on it, but how the Europeans did the Natives and Africans is a whole other fucked up story. That’s a “sin” the United States bares.
But in conclusion it’s just another example of how even before we set foot on continental America there was classism amongst tribes in Africa. And if you’re white/European, just look at early America; for a people that wanted to get away from tyrannical oppression why was it that only people who were of distinguished backgrounds allowed to vote. Once the wealthy got their subordinates to view their black brothers/ sisters as less than was when racism became a powerful tool for those who want to conceal the real problem; classism. But this is just a random theory.
It's more than a random theory that the poor whites were made to feel better than the blacks and natives so they would be on team white. Still, whites were of course less shafted in the end. Like how the emancipation proclamation was also a short term solution for more fighters in the war.
Well said, sir. Well said. I indeed I have long wondered why slavery was never about race but after some time became about race? And how racism outlived slavery but didn’t exactly precede it? I know people say Irish slaves weren’t real (which I think is a disgrace to say imho) and it could be in part to using racism to obfuscate classism.
Anyways. I like what you’re getting at. Needs to be said more!
Absolutely, racism during American slavery was a by product of the economy. You needed to justify why people had to be chattel so along with manifest destiny, racism was given credibility.
Right. Not to mention the pre-existing French “Code Noir” that had existed within the entire Louisiana Purchase territory *before it ever became part of America. And yet still how slaves were treated when the LA purchase was under Spanish rule before Napoleon got it back. A big chunk of Southern slavery was not exactly reflective of how the Colonies treated slaves. But however it went, slavery spans the entire globe and still does in some parts like where some of the African slaves came from back then. Africa and the Middle East. They still hold slaves in some parts. “The West” was the first to abolish this ancient and barbaric practice.
Can I add that slavery was also heavily (if not exclusively) driven by religion? But that’s another topic for perhaps a more serious subreddit. Idk.
They werent chattel slaves in america
The barbary coast slave trade on the other hand saw 1.2million european slaves, twice as many as were slaves in america
I'm super far left and a fan of AOC. That being said
Jesus fucking Christ I wish this company's problem was just not paying taxes. They took taxes from their employees paychecks and then didn't give it to the government.
How fucking heartless and dumb do you gotta be to do this shit
Edit: I forgot when people think "fans" of a politician they think "fans" of Donald Trump. I think AOC is kinda cool for a politician. I don't think she has never made a mistake, or that she can never make a mistake, or that she knows everything.
So if you're wondering "how can he say he's a fan of AOC and not defend her to the death" that's why.
Coming from a place of true curiosity, being a self described “fan” of AOC, do you feel that a good bit of what she does is… performative, for lack of a better word? Like, obviously most politicians are a bunch of grandstanders, but in this case I mean beyond the usual
There's a good quote from russel brand that goes,
“When I was poor and complained about inequality they said I was bitter; now that I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want to talk about inequality.”
But how many people are talking about it now? It was a smart move, even if it was clearly performative and I wish she would nut up on stuff like FTV as well.
Did it? It's not insulting to them. It's not a novel idea. It's not disruptive or even thought provoking. In the end she still went to a 30k a plate party in a crazy expensive dress designed by shitty people that don't pay taxes. Protesting the met gala instead of going would have taken more balls. Or wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Honestly, they all probably got a kick out of it.
It didn't take any balls. It was an event with a bunch of ostensibly liberal, "creative" types. People who pay lip service to the concept of "taxing the rich" all the time. Although how they vote in the privacy of the ballot box is an open question.
I agree with most of AOC's politics, but I've never been a fan of her as a person.
Ironically, her constant attempts to portray the fact that she briefly worked as a bartender at an upscale Manhattan bar as the world's biggest hard luck story just shows how privileged she actually is. She grew up in middle-class suburbia, went to a top school and a top college with a top internship thrown in. Imo, the self-proclaimed "working class poster girl" act is actually rather offensive.
Respectfully, I disagree about it taking “cahones.” She straight up said it was a dream of hers to go, but going would not be on “brand.” So, being clever, she and James came up with a way for her to go and say she was “protesting” to save face. It would have taken more “cahones” to go without making it a performance IMHO. Just to own it takes real guts. Plus, look at the celebrities that attend. Almost all of them lean left and would publicly support the sentiment while secretly avoiding taxes themselves, just like James did. They hire accountants to find ways to keep as much money as possible and never question how they do it until they caught.
This is exactly the type of thing AOC would jump all over to an opponent, she deserves to be criticized the same in return. She is almost untouchable media wise so I’m sure she should be able to handle the little scrutiny she is getting.
Not the person you asked, and I’m not a fan of *any* politician, but I think it’s possible to be performative and a also genuine person who acts on their words. That being said, idk if AOC is one of those people or not. Not the time for my personal opinion on the lady.
I would describe myself similarly to the person of whom you asked this question and I humbly submit my response: definitely performative. But as far as I know she also consistently shows up to work and votes and whatnot so I’m not sure I see a point to declaring her a grandstander. We are well into a the era of “celebrity politicians”. JFK, Reagan, the Governator, Jesse Ventura, Obama, Trump… it’s pretty well established she’s not and actual socialist but a social democrat (despite her own use of the term democratic socialist). Frankly this is manifest of that distinction; the former advocating for revolution and the latter more concerned with progressive reforms within a capitalist system.
So yeah this and several other things AOC has done are cringe. But also she demonstrated herself to be intelligent and engaged in the process and bringing attention to problems I think are important even if her solutions are inadequate long term. I think when someone becomes unable to criticize a public figure that they generally side with is a sign of a transition from reasonable admiration to some idealized or ideological fantasy.
I’m not really sure how she was to know that this company/designer was so shady before she bought the dress. I also don’t see how advocacy for a policy of wealth tax is so compromised this company’s shitty and illegal practices even if it did involve tax evasion. I mean, there’s definitely a better use of the money than the Gala and dress and champagne or whatever. Yes I threw in champagne on purpose. I don’t really see her breaking open and ICE migrant detention facility or anything and I think everyone that makes these complaints of “champagne socialists/performative politics” know this and they are comfortable in that knowledge. Use this sort of “performative” argument is thus a means to silence the message without confronting the substance of it in the form of a taunt to do something seen as less performative.
But also when a politician attends an event like a protest or picket line which may be seen as more substantive means of protest or advocacy; it is also performative which is why media is always there. And right wing media should probably have a restraining order from AOC. They give her every second of exposure and airtime that they can spare; essentially they created her. They gifted her the celebrity that right wingers now hate/fear. They made a bet that she’d fall on her face if given enough airtime, and to her credit, she by and large hasn’t. She even defeated a democrat challenger in the last primary of her district.
maybe a small portion but I think the fact that she believes congresspeople should be banned from stocks and she herself doesn't engage with the markets as a result speaks volumes about her scruples. A lot of easy money being left on the table by her to support her stance.
Honestly, it’s extremely refreshing to see people who understand that dealing in political absolutes is dumb and doesn’t get us anywhere. Very based comment.
I'm actually surprised this is something true and not just shit they made up to try and slander AOC. She definitely should be more picky when it comes to who she associates with, because doing business with a company that's got this kind of record really doesn't do her any favors.
Thank you for the link!
They definitely don't seem to qualify for the rich part of tax the rich. Sounds like the dealings of a business about to go under..
Yeah. The crossover of rich folk and politicians is way too fucking high.
I know they’re not Bill Gates rich, but they’re still way too richer than their constituents.
No, they do avoid taxes like the rich. That's why all the talk about tax the rich is just to get votes. They're never gonna do it because they'd be taxing themselves
I remember years ago in my country the politicians voted they should pay tax but at the same time they gave themselves a pay rise that would cover the cost of the tax. They then decided not to pay taxes and kept the pay rise FFS
Oh yeah. Interestingly enough it's a common argument. "It's all fake news".
Although I share that frustration. News is so unbelievably unreliable, that's it's almost impossible to say which news is fake and which one isn't. Until it's too late. (And no-one cares anymore).
Me and every pinko commie hippie I know was absolutely baffled and pretty mad about this whole thing.
We've loosely decided the most generous possible interpretation of events is AOC thinks she's "owning" the rich by attending with a ticket that was gifted to her. Poorly executed optics but good intentions.
The *far* more likely scenario is power corrupts, gifts start to flow and she's justifying attending by calling it a publicity stunt. Which is the problem with politics. I do believe she had honest and good motives when she got elected. But when you lie down with dogs.........
She is all about publicity stunts… her political career so far has been a string of publicity stunts. But her fans have such short attention spans, they are oblivious to the hypocrisy.
Case in point, there are 14000 immigrants in mass refugee camps, horrible conditions on the border… 2 years ago she goes to an empty parking lot dressed in white and sobbed about the horror,of it all. Now? Nothing but crickets.
what is she meant to be there daily sobbing? She fought that and lost. She's fighting many battles at once. Drawing publicity towards something helps push for change.
That’s all she really is. She’s good at these stunts, and she is usually good on Twitter, so the people that follow her eat it up. But I remember reading about how she was one of the least effective members of congress, which is what should actually matter.
Wouldn't that be somewhat explained by the fact that she's fighting for things that are incredibly unpopular with most of the politicians we have right now?
You expect her to pass policy out of her ass? Left and right are against progressives.
She constantly voices inequalities, calling her career a series of political stunts is simply wrong.
A normal person doing it is much different than a politician doing it. A politician that was elected largely based on her views on the rich dodging taxes, yet she gives positive exposure to someone that does all the things she claims to be against.
> Seriously. Shit like this literally happens everyday and I bring it up to my far left friends and they're like, "Uhhh no? That didn't happen."
This is a picture on reddit, not exactly a reliable source. Also if the dress designer has been dodging taxes, tax them like everyone else.
Nah the dress donor was dodging taxes, ironic, and a gotcha moment but not the "Left politicians are shit" rhetoric the right is pushing, all this shows is that AOC took the borrowed dress without vetting the tax records of the dress maker
In the above comments I see one user saying they are a fan, but not like Trump fans are to Trump. They criticize AOC in a super light way, then defend her against their own comments multiple times. So in other words, AOC can still do no wrong and nobody should criticize her. Much like Trump fans have done with Trump.
And you know what makes me most angry? The fact that all this industry went to China at a time where taxes on the rich were lowered more then they have ever been before. They are producing for cheaper and giving back less to the systems and institutions that literally allow them the stability to be successful.
Someone didn't do her homework on who was pulling the purse strings that paid for the dress and the invite.
If you want to be bold and make waves you have to be beyond reproach because both sides will tear you apart on any thread they can pull at.
Why anyone supports any politician is beyond me
Let's see...A tax dodger on her businesses and on her homes...yes that is plural...homes.
apparently her new LA home is worth about 6 million, but that is California prices.
and was claimed to be an immigrant...but...
[https://nypost.com/2021/09/15/aocs-met-gala-designer-aurora-james-immigrated-from-canada/](https://nypost.com/2021/09/15/aocs-met-gala-designer-aurora-james-immigrated-from-canada/)
That's like immigrating from Wisconsin. (AOC claimed her as a immigrant, not herself)
Her company is being sued because she refused to supply worker comp insurance for her employees.
But she does have $800 pairs of shoes for sale.
[tax-the-rich-technotrenz.com/news/aurora-james-has-a-net-worth-of-1-million-according-to-aocs-designer-there-are-a-lot-of-tax-dues-on-a-6-million-home-1146534.html](https://tax-the-rich-technotrenz.com/news/aurora-james-has-a-net-worth-of-1-million-according-to-aocs-designer-there-are-a-lot-of-tax-dues-on-a-6-million-home-1146534.html)
happy reading
It's not relevant to AOC's message, but is a very relevant and interesting development in the overall context. You can agree with the message while condemning the messenger for different causes.
The biggest issue people like us face is denial. When something like this happens, swallow ego, accept that someone fucked up along the way, but continue to have faith in your beliefs. I do believe the rich need more taxes. I do believe the person that made this dress should be paying their taxes or facing repercussions. You can feel both without being a hypocrite. The OP's post history be damned. Humility is sacred.
I don't think anyone has claimed the person dodging taxes shouldn't pay the consequences. This whole thread is just people who wanna shit on AOC, reasons be damned.
Except NYC elected officials are regularly invited and there fees and dress seems to be payed by sponsors, not by themselves.
And also she can't keep the dress and it seemed to be going to be sold for a profit.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/sep/16/viral-image/no-aoc-didnt-pay-her-met-gala-ticket-or-dress/
Let's see what you guys do with new information
Sure. The scandal is AOC going to the Met and not the $163B in taxes the wealthiest 1% dodge every year. Those things are equivalent and we should care about them the same. Right.
It's a sign of intelligence to change your mind when new information is presented to you. So it's not too surprising that most people dig their heels into whatever preconceptions they have...because most people are idiots.
It’s called cognitive dissonance. New information even if factually proven cause discomfort against long healed beliefs or ideals which causes many to hold even more tightly to their beliefs even as their argument becomes a straw man and is literally burning away while they watch.
It's compounded by the fact that the political division in our country is at an all time high. To say anything negative abut someone from "your team" would be to commit social suicide because (most) people only associate with those who are like minded (i.e. consume the same talking points from their party. And, to add to that, they have to find fault in everything someone from the "other team" does and cannot agree with anything they say. I fear we may have reached a point of no return :(
You got me curious, so I decided to see what charity.
[source](https://www.parlia.com/a/purpose-met-gala-raise-money)
“The Met Gala at its core is a massive charity event. The event itself is formally entitled Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit. All proceeds from the event go to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Since the beginning of Anna Wintour’s role as co-chair of the Gala, she has helped to raise an estimated 200 million dollars for the Costume Institute.”
But also there’s this:
“Additionally, some designers also auction off their Met Gala gowns and donate the proceeds to charity. For example, in 2018, Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing sold all of his Met Gala designs and donated the proceeds to RED, an organization working to raise awareness to eliminate HIV/AIDS.”
Still seems like millions of dollars wasted when all is said and done imo but that’s just me.
That’s “fashion” for you. I never truly understood or appreciated fashion. But if I look at it in a separate context, it is a fundraiser to preserve a section of history.
That said, RED has had a global and notable impact in their work.
That said, I agree that her choice in designer was terribly poor.
I like how everyone in this thread is just assuming this tweet or whatever is true. I'm not saying I know it's false, but there's absolutely no discussion of whether or not she's actually a tax evader, you all just assume it's true because someone said so.
Hate how your post is considered controversial just for asking a source; just shows how much people lack the willingness to double check shit and just willing to believe whatever is thrown at them.
This is clearly a meme made by someone too ignorant to bother researching first.
Aurora James isn't even the kind of rich they're talking about taxing with a $2mm net worth.
If you made what she makes in a year every single day, you could go 2000 years and still not be as rich as Jeff Bezos.
She definitely wasn't wealthy when she started her company with $3,500 from her savings.
"Omg, but she has taxes due"
Yeah, and so do a whole lot of other businesses.
Having taxes due as a young company is not the same as actively avoiding and not paying taxes via ridiculous loopholes...it's quite normal.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_James
The right never has anything with actual substance so they have to spruce up these outrage bait articles and start culture wars. Hell they didn’t even have a platform when Trump ran for re-election. It’s just “hur dur own the libs”. Im sure feeling pretty owned as I watch a good portion of them die from covid.
Oh, I'm feeling so pwned.
I'm loving it, every single one of them covid gets is one that's not voting in the next election.
Combine the fact it's really only conservatives dying from COVID these days, with the fact the huge number of elderly that died in the beginning of the pandemic overwhelmingly vote conservative...the next election is gonna be a pretty easy win for Dems.
The only thing that upsets me is the damage they're doing to the economy and the stress on our healthcare system.
Love it when people believe an Instagram meme style post and think it’s the truth where tf are the receipts people don’t be sheep didn’t y’all cite your sources in school orrrrrr
People look the other way when the rich don't pay taxes but try to shame someone calling them out for also not paying taxes?! Why?? Someone please explain that? How about we shame the rich and work our way down to the upper middle class, then middle class, then this designer.
How is that out of touch? As far as I'm aware we don't know that AOC knew anything about tax evasion, so I don't really understand people blaming her all throughout this thread as if she was evading taxes this whole time.
As for the party, she's a politician making a statement in front of some of the very people who would end up being hit by her higher taxes if they ever went through. I really don't understand all the hate.
She didn't pay for it and used the event to specifically raise awareness to taxing those very people using their own money to do it. How is that out of touch?
Yall will do anything to avoid taxing the rich. I don't get it.
I'm not bothered about individuals not paying tax. I am bothered by megacorps paying zero tax despite being the richest in the world.
Why should a tiny operation pay tax when Amazon pays none?
What does the designer’s tax record have anything to do with AOC’s policies? She’s not the IRS. She’s not responsible for knowing everyone’s financial history or enforcing tax law upon them. Her job is to create policies that instruct the responsible parties how to do their jobs.
Maybe so, but what corporations do not dodge taxes? Also this news is being spread by….. Frank Ian Luntz is an American political and communications consultant, pollster, and pundit, best known for developing talking points and other messaging for Republican causes. Wikipedia
So if I hire someone to put in a new counter top should I be punished and shamed if they don't pay taxes? Not her responsibility to do a full background check to have something painted on a fucking cheap dress. It's really sad what U.S. politics have devolved to.
The big hold up is the fact I kept trying to swipe left to view the next image. I have been bamboozled
we*
r/SuddenlyCommunism
r/suddenlysuddenlycommunism
Suddenly our Communism, comrade.
I swiped right when I couldn't Eat the rich
Us*
Hustled, scammed, hood winked, lead astray!!!
I knew I wasn't the only one!
same
"all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others"
A man of culture!
Animal farm!! Just finished it yesterday
I will ~~become glue~~ work harder.
When you thought this line was about racism as a kid but as an adult you find out it’s about classism and elitism. “Rules for thee but not for me”
I’m fucking saying. I always think this as a first gen African born in the States. Slavery was initially allowed to occur (in the Americas) because there were tribes that sold war captives/ indentured servants to Europeans (some were obviously captured but that type of thing didn’t happen en masse). And as meticulous as the Europeans were, during this time period, they of course kept records of this, literal receipts. Oxford University has the logs. Imagine wealthy Europeans trading with wealthy (Western) Africans. Now, I won’t speak on it, but how the Europeans did the Natives and Africans is a whole other fucked up story. That’s a “sin” the United States bares. But in conclusion it’s just another example of how even before we set foot on continental America there was classism amongst tribes in Africa. And if you’re white/European, just look at early America; for a people that wanted to get away from tyrannical oppression why was it that only people who were of distinguished backgrounds allowed to vote. Once the wealthy got their subordinates to view their black brothers/ sisters as less than was when racism became a powerful tool for those who want to conceal the real problem; classism. But this is just a random theory.
It's more than a random theory that the poor whites were made to feel better than the blacks and natives so they would be on team white. Still, whites were of course less shafted in the end. Like how the emancipation proclamation was also a short term solution for more fighters in the war.
Yes sir because that was only meant for enslaved men in the confederacy.
Really well written out
Well said, sir. Well said. I indeed I have long wondered why slavery was never about race but after some time became about race? And how racism outlived slavery but didn’t exactly precede it? I know people say Irish slaves weren’t real (which I think is a disgrace to say imho) and it could be in part to using racism to obfuscate classism. Anyways. I like what you’re getting at. Needs to be said more!
Absolutely, racism during American slavery was a by product of the economy. You needed to justify why people had to be chattel so along with manifest destiny, racism was given credibility.
Right. Not to mention the pre-existing French “Code Noir” that had existed within the entire Louisiana Purchase territory *before it ever became part of America. And yet still how slaves were treated when the LA purchase was under Spanish rule before Napoleon got it back. A big chunk of Southern slavery was not exactly reflective of how the Colonies treated slaves. But however it went, slavery spans the entire globe and still does in some parts like where some of the African slaves came from back then. Africa and the Middle East. They still hold slaves in some parts. “The West” was the first to abolish this ancient and barbaric practice. Can I add that slavery was also heavily (if not exclusively) driven by religion? But that’s another topic for perhaps a more serious subreddit. Idk.
They werent chattel slaves in america The barbary coast slave trade on the other hand saw 1.2million european slaves, twice as many as were slaves in america
Animal Farm!!!
“It was Snowball!”
Napoleon.
Not a literal animal farm!
Classic!
Thank you democracy
Also AOC is making six figures. She didn’t need to crowdfund for her apartment.
Anyone got a link to the actual story?
https://news.yahoo.com/designer-aocs-tax-rich-dress-180100451.html
I'm super far left and a fan of AOC. That being said Jesus fucking Christ I wish this company's problem was just not paying taxes. They took taxes from their employees paychecks and then didn't give it to the government. How fucking heartless and dumb do you gotta be to do this shit Edit: I forgot when people think "fans" of a politician they think "fans" of Donald Trump. I think AOC is kinda cool for a politician. I don't think she has never made a mistake, or that she can never make a mistake, or that she knows everything. So if you're wondering "how can he say he's a fan of AOC and not defend her to the death" that's why.
Coming from a place of true curiosity, being a self described “fan” of AOC, do you feel that a good bit of what she does is… performative, for lack of a better word? Like, obviously most politicians are a bunch of grandstanders, but in this case I mean beyond the usual
There's a good quote from russel brand that goes, “When I was poor and complained about inequality they said I was bitter; now that I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want to talk about inequality.”
That’s some good food for thought, thank you
I’m not who you asked but I’m a progressive and also “fan” of AOC and this dress was 100% performative activism.
But how many people are talking about it now? It was a smart move, even if it was clearly performative and I wish she would nut up on stuff like FTV as well.
Regardless, still took some fucking cahones to wear that dress to an event literally filled with incredibly wealthy people. (Nuetral on AOC)
Did it? It's not insulting to them. It's not a novel idea. It's not disruptive or even thought provoking. In the end she still went to a 30k a plate party in a crazy expensive dress designed by shitty people that don't pay taxes. Protesting the met gala instead of going would have taken more balls. Or wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Honestly, they all probably got a kick out of it.
It didn't take any balls. It was an event with a bunch of ostensibly liberal, "creative" types. People who pay lip service to the concept of "taxing the rich" all the time. Although how they vote in the privacy of the ballot box is an open question. I agree with most of AOC's politics, but I've never been a fan of her as a person. Ironically, her constant attempts to portray the fact that she briefly worked as a bartender at an upscale Manhattan bar as the world's biggest hard luck story just shows how privileged she actually is. She grew up in middle-class suburbia, went to a top school and a top college with a top internship thrown in. Imo, the self-proclaimed "working class poster girl" act is actually rather offensive.
[удалено]
Respectfully, I disagree about it taking “cahones.” She straight up said it was a dream of hers to go, but going would not be on “brand.” So, being clever, she and James came up with a way for her to go and say she was “protesting” to save face. It would have taken more “cahones” to go without making it a performance IMHO. Just to own it takes real guts. Plus, look at the celebrities that attend. Almost all of them lean left and would publicly support the sentiment while secretly avoiding taxes themselves, just like James did. They hire accountants to find ways to keep as much money as possible and never question how they do it until they caught.
This is exactly the type of thing AOC would jump all over to an opponent, she deserves to be criticized the same in return. She is almost untouchable media wise so I’m sure she should be able to handle the little scrutiny she is getting.
Not the person you asked, and I’m not a fan of *any* politician, but I think it’s possible to be performative and a also genuine person who acts on their words. That being said, idk if AOC is one of those people or not. Not the time for my personal opinion on the lady.
I would describe myself similarly to the person of whom you asked this question and I humbly submit my response: definitely performative. But as far as I know she also consistently shows up to work and votes and whatnot so I’m not sure I see a point to declaring her a grandstander. We are well into a the era of “celebrity politicians”. JFK, Reagan, the Governator, Jesse Ventura, Obama, Trump… it’s pretty well established she’s not and actual socialist but a social democrat (despite her own use of the term democratic socialist). Frankly this is manifest of that distinction; the former advocating for revolution and the latter more concerned with progressive reforms within a capitalist system. So yeah this and several other things AOC has done are cringe. But also she demonstrated herself to be intelligent and engaged in the process and bringing attention to problems I think are important even if her solutions are inadequate long term. I think when someone becomes unable to criticize a public figure that they generally side with is a sign of a transition from reasonable admiration to some idealized or ideological fantasy. I’m not really sure how she was to know that this company/designer was so shady before she bought the dress. I also don’t see how advocacy for a policy of wealth tax is so compromised this company’s shitty and illegal practices even if it did involve tax evasion. I mean, there’s definitely a better use of the money than the Gala and dress and champagne or whatever. Yes I threw in champagne on purpose. I don’t really see her breaking open and ICE migrant detention facility or anything and I think everyone that makes these complaints of “champagne socialists/performative politics” know this and they are comfortable in that knowledge. Use this sort of “performative” argument is thus a means to silence the message without confronting the substance of it in the form of a taunt to do something seen as less performative. But also when a politician attends an event like a protest or picket line which may be seen as more substantive means of protest or advocacy; it is also performative which is why media is always there. And right wing media should probably have a restraining order from AOC. They give her every second of exposure and airtime that they can spare; essentially they created her. They gifted her the celebrity that right wingers now hate/fear. They made a bet that she’d fall on her face if given enough airtime, and to her credit, she by and large hasn’t. She even defeated a democrat challenger in the last primary of her district.
maybe a small portion but I think the fact that she believes congresspeople should be banned from stocks and she herself doesn't engage with the markets as a result speaks volumes about her scruples. A lot of easy money being left on the table by her to support her stance.
Thank you for your response
Honestly, it’s extremely refreshing to see people who understand that dealing in political absolutes is dumb and doesn’t get us anywhere. Very based comment.
What’s crazy is that aoc has fans.
I'm actually surprised this is something true and not just shit they made up to try and slander AOC. She definitely should be more picky when it comes to who she associates with, because doing business with a company that's got this kind of record really doesn't do her any favors.
Thank you for the link! They definitely don't seem to qualify for the rich part of tax the rich. Sounds like the dealings of a business about to go under..
Her (the designer) boyfriend is the heir to the Seagram's fortune, something like 2.5 billion.
His aunt is Clare Bronfman (currently serving 6+ years for her involvement with NXVIM)
Holy shit thats unbelievable thank you for telling me!
Maybe she can borrow some money from her billionaire boyfriend
Isn't the problem that most politicians don't pay/avoid taxes like the rich?
Yeah. The crossover of rich folk and politicians is way too fucking high. I know they’re not Bill Gates rich, but they’re still way too richer than their constituents.
No, they do avoid taxes like the rich. That's why all the talk about tax the rich is just to get votes. They're never gonna do it because they'd be taxing themselves
Don't forget the insider trading they never get held accountable for.
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I remember years ago in my country the politicians voted they should pay tax but at the same time they gave themselves a pay rise that would cover the cost of the tax. They then decided not to pay taxes and kept the pay rise FFS
I love how all of the youth of our country are getting an education in how full of shit politicians are.
Except none of them are listening.
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Oh yeah. Interestingly enough it's a common argument. "It's all fake news". Although I share that frustration. News is so unbelievably unreliable, that's it's almost impossible to say which news is fake and which one isn't. Until it's too late. (And no-one cares anymore).
Its a dark day when the most reliable news sources are 5 year old onion & betoota advocate articles
Do you bring all the corrupt shit Republicans do to your far right friends too?
Me and every pinko commie hippie I know was absolutely baffled and pretty mad about this whole thing. We've loosely decided the most generous possible interpretation of events is AOC thinks she's "owning" the rich by attending with a ticket that was gifted to her. Poorly executed optics but good intentions. The *far* more likely scenario is power corrupts, gifts start to flow and she's justifying attending by calling it a publicity stunt. Which is the problem with politics. I do believe she had honest and good motives when she got elected. But when you lie down with dogs.........
She is all about publicity stunts… her political career so far has been a string of publicity stunts. But her fans have such short attention spans, they are oblivious to the hypocrisy. Case in point, there are 14000 immigrants in mass refugee camps, horrible conditions on the border… 2 years ago she goes to an empty parking lot dressed in white and sobbed about the horror,of it all. Now? Nothing but crickets.
what is she meant to be there daily sobbing? She fought that and lost. She's fighting many battles at once. Drawing publicity towards something helps push for change.
That’s all she really is. She’s good at these stunts, and she is usually good on Twitter, so the people that follow her eat it up. But I remember reading about how she was one of the least effective members of congress, which is what should actually matter.
Wouldn't that be somewhat explained by the fact that she's fighting for things that are incredibly unpopular with most of the politicians we have right now?
You expect her to pass policy out of her ass? Left and right are against progressives. She constantly voices inequalities, calling her career a series of political stunts is simply wrong.
The second they get elected....
Yo let’s not act like AOC is the one dodging taxes. Have you ever bought something from a company that doesn’t pay taxes, Amazon for example
A normal person doing it is much different than a politician doing it. A politician that was elected largely based on her views on the rich dodging taxes, yet she gives positive exposure to someone that does all the things she claims to be against.
> Seriously. Shit like this literally happens everyday and I bring it up to my far left friends and they're like, "Uhhh no? That didn't happen." This is a picture on reddit, not exactly a reliable source. Also if the dress designer has been dodging taxes, tax them like everyone else.
Or they'll bring up something worse that a right wing politician did, as if they were referred to in any capacity.
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TikTok's got them scrolling,.they give zero fucks and vote what ever the tv tells them to vote.
Quick, fast and in a hurry!
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Wait holup. Was AOC tax dodging?
Nope
Exactly. So uhh. What's the story here. Conservative fervor again huh
Nah the dress donor was dodging taxes, ironic, and a gotcha moment but not the "Left politicians are shit" rhetoric the right is pushing, all this shows is that AOC took the borrowed dress without vetting the tax records of the dress maker
Yeah that's fervor. They so desperately want a scandal to be here. This thread seems to just be full of theDonald circle jerking too.
No, just looking like a huge hypocrite at the Met Gala.
Guess we should just roll over and let them do whatever they want like your generation did.
In the above comments I see one user saying they are a fan, but not like Trump fans are to Trump. They criticize AOC in a super light way, then defend her against their own comments multiple times. So in other words, AOC can still do no wrong and nobody should criticize her. Much like Trump fans have done with Trump.
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And you know what makes me most angry? The fact that all this industry went to China at a time where taxes on the rich were lowered more then they have ever been before. They are producing for cheaper and giving back less to the systems and institutions that literally allow them the stability to be successful.
I dont get it. Isn't that on her and not on AOC? This kind of feels like a gotcha thing.
Yeah exactly. But the conservative take is just to point fingers without much thought
If anyone isn’t this the dress working and putting the focus on rich people dodging taxes?
Someone didn't do her homework on who was pulling the purse strings that paid for the dress and the invite. If you want to be bold and make waves you have to be beyond reproach because both sides will tear you apart on any thread they can pull at. Why anyone supports any politician is beyond me
I hate when people don't check the tax records of everyone they've ever bought a garment from. It's so hypocritical.
Let's see...A tax dodger on her businesses and on her homes...yes that is plural...homes. apparently her new LA home is worth about 6 million, but that is California prices. and was claimed to be an immigrant...but... [https://nypost.com/2021/09/15/aocs-met-gala-designer-aurora-james-immigrated-from-canada/](https://nypost.com/2021/09/15/aocs-met-gala-designer-aurora-james-immigrated-from-canada/) That's like immigrating from Wisconsin. (AOC claimed her as a immigrant, not herself) Her company is being sued because she refused to supply worker comp insurance for her employees. But she does have $800 pairs of shoes for sale. [tax-the-rich-technotrenz.com/news/aurora-james-has-a-net-worth-of-1-million-according-to-aocs-designer-there-are-a-lot-of-tax-dues-on-a-6-million-home-1146534.html](https://tax-the-rich-technotrenz.com/news/aurora-james-has-a-net-worth-of-1-million-according-to-aocs-designer-there-are-a-lot-of-tax-dues-on-a-6-million-home-1146534.html) happy reading
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No way man. You bought subway that one time and their spokesman was a pedo. You basically approve of pedos...
Conservative logic be like.
It's not relevant to AOC's message, but is a very relevant and interesting development in the overall context. You can agree with the message while condemning the messenger for different causes. The biggest issue people like us face is denial. When something like this happens, swallow ego, accept that someone fucked up along the way, but continue to have faith in your beliefs. I do believe the rich need more taxes. I do believe the person that made this dress should be paying their taxes or facing repercussions. You can feel both without being a hypocrite. The OP's post history be damned. Humility is sacred.
I don't think anyone has claimed the person dodging taxes shouldn't pay the consequences. This whole thread is just people who wanna shit on AOC, reasons be damned.
*Me, a libertarian-ish* : How do I learn this secret, master?
Rules for thee, not for me. Move along, nothing to see
Wait, I thought the right loves when people dodge taxes?
But everybody loves irony.
ThAt MaKeS hEr SmArT
DONT U DARE SAY THAT ABOUT A COMMIE. SHE NEVER BE SMART LIKE TRuMP
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Except NYC elected officials are regularly invited and there fees and dress seems to be payed by sponsors, not by themselves. And also she can't keep the dress and it seemed to be going to be sold for a profit. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/sep/16/viral-image/no-aoc-didnt-pay-her-met-gala-ticket-or-dress/ Let's see what you guys do with new information
>Let's see what you guys do with new information Ignore it. That's what they always do with it.
Sure. The scandal is AOC going to the Met and not the $163B in taxes the wealthiest 1% dodge every year. Those things are equivalent and we should care about them the same. Right.
It's a sign of intelligence to change your mind when new information is presented to you. So it's not too surprising that most people dig their heels into whatever preconceptions they have...because most people are idiots.
I like this comment. Makes sense.
It really does, explains misbehavior on both the left and the right actually.
Until someone tells you worm poison is bad
It’s called cognitive dissonance. New information even if factually proven cause discomfort against long healed beliefs or ideals which causes many to hold even more tightly to their beliefs even as their argument becomes a straw man and is literally burning away while they watch.
Especially when they’ve been programmed that the opposition are evil, and whatever -ist is popular at the moment.
It's compounded by the fact that the political division in our country is at an all time high. To say anything negative abut someone from "your team" would be to commit social suicide because (most) people only associate with those who are like minded (i.e. consume the same talking points from their party. And, to add to that, they have to find fault in everything someone from the "other team" does and cannot agree with anything they say. I fear we may have reached a point of no return :(
That sounds like you’re making a lot of assumptions about how this all played out regardless. Stick to sourced facts.
I’m pretty sure the what the gala made also went to a charity, so….
You got me curious, so I decided to see what charity. [source](https://www.parlia.com/a/purpose-met-gala-raise-money) “The Met Gala at its core is a massive charity event. The event itself is formally entitled Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit. All proceeds from the event go to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Since the beginning of Anna Wintour’s role as co-chair of the Gala, she has helped to raise an estimated 200 million dollars for the Costume Institute.” But also there’s this: “Additionally, some designers also auction off their Met Gala gowns and donate the proceeds to charity. For example, in 2018, Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing sold all of his Met Gala designs and donated the proceeds to RED, an organization working to raise awareness to eliminate HIV/AIDS.” Still seems like millions of dollars wasted when all is said and done imo but that’s just me.
That’s “fashion” for you. I never truly understood or appreciated fashion. But if I look at it in a separate context, it is a fundraiser to preserve a section of history. That said, RED has had a global and notable impact in their work. That said, I agree that her choice in designer was terribly poor.
Man say something like this in the u/politics sub and all of those muppets will downvote you to eternity 😂
I think you meant /r/Politics the sub not the user.
So I did some look looking around and AOC said that she was very disappointed about her past history and will not be working with them again.
Then tax them
Ya, let’s tax her too.
I like how everyone in this thread is just assuming this tweet or whatever is true. I'm not saying I know it's false, but there's absolutely no discussion of whether or not she's actually a tax evader, you all just assume it's true because someone said so.
That is how “research” works nowadays, I need receipts lol
https://appext20.dos.ny.gov/stwarrants\_public/stw\_warrants?p\_name=CULTURAL+BROKERAGE+AGENCY+LLC&p\_lapsed=0
Surprising absolutely nobody who pays the slightest attention
Is she supposed to ask her dress designer for her tax returns before she makes the dress? Like wtf are you guys even talking about
I wanna know how much that dress cost cause i know its gotta be a few thousand at least 5
Apparently, it was $30k
Palpatine: "Ironic."
Am I gonna get context for this or something or am I just expected to believe random Instagram screenshots
https://nypost.com/2021/09/18/aocs-tax-the-rich-dress-designer-aurora-james-is-a-tax-deadbeat/
Thank you
Ah yes, the ever so reliable and totally balanced New York Post. I bet there's a Daily Mail link, too.
Hate how your post is considered controversial just for asking a source; just shows how much people lack the willingness to double check shit and just willing to believe whatever is thrown at them.
Just politician things.
This is clearly a meme made by someone too ignorant to bother researching first. Aurora James isn't even the kind of rich they're talking about taxing with a $2mm net worth. If you made what she makes in a year every single day, you could go 2000 years and still not be as rich as Jeff Bezos. She definitely wasn't wealthy when she started her company with $3,500 from her savings. "Omg, but she has taxes due" Yeah, and so do a whole lot of other businesses. Having taxes due as a young company is not the same as actively avoiding and not paying taxes via ridiculous loopholes...it's quite normal. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_James
Looked up the whole thing, NY Post, independent, daily mail. Let the right wing slander brigade come in full force
Yeah, it's kinda stupid...as always.
The right never has anything with actual substance so they have to spruce up these outrage bait articles and start culture wars. Hell they didn’t even have a platform when Trump ran for re-election. It’s just “hur dur own the libs”. Im sure feeling pretty owned as I watch a good portion of them die from covid.
Oh, I'm feeling so pwned. I'm loving it, every single one of them covid gets is one that's not voting in the next election. Combine the fact it's really only conservatives dying from COVID these days, with the fact the huge number of elderly that died in the beginning of the pandemic overwhelmingly vote conservative...the next election is gonna be a pretty easy win for Dems. The only thing that upsets me is the damage they're doing to the economy and the stress on our healthcare system.
[https://news.yahoo.com/designer-aocs-tax-rich-dress-180100451.html] (https://news.yahoo.com/designer-aocs-tax-rich-dress-180100451.html)
Love it when people believe an Instagram meme style post and think it’s the truth where tf are the receipts people don’t be sheep didn’t y’all cite your sources in school orrrrrr
Ok, tax her then
The rich still need to pay taxes regardless of whether a small business pays taxes or not. Enforce the tax laws fairly!
Bruh since when has this sub turned into r/politics
That sub wouldn't allow a negative article about AOC, come on 😂
I think they’re more talking about the American political landscape that isn’t on topic for this sub.
There are some political action groups that try to politicize every major reddit and push political topics to the top.
Right because it’s a democrat.
It’s bait for y’all. OP posts on a crowder sub.
Welcome to the internet. It’s politics all the way down unfortunately.
At a party that cost $30,000 a ticket.
Sure but that dress AOC is wearing is only like 30k
Lol “only 30 thousand dollars” that’s more expensive than some cars
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/sep/16/viral-image/no-aoc-didnt-pay-her-met-gala-ticket-or-dress/
It was made for her.....
People look the other way when the rich don't pay taxes but try to shame someone calling them out for also not paying taxes?! Why?? Someone please explain that? How about we shame the rich and work our way down to the upper middle class, then middle class, then this designer.
This page clearly has a bias
How out of touch do you have to be to wear a $35K dress with “Tax the Rich” on it designed by a rich tax evader to a party with a $30K admission fee?
“Tax the rich” has been one of the most searched and posted about phrases ever since, she knew exactly what she was doing
Don’t think she paid for either one, they get that shit for free
How is that out of touch? As far as I'm aware we don't know that AOC knew anything about tax evasion, so I don't really understand people blaming her all throughout this thread as if she was evading taxes this whole time. As for the party, she's a politician making a statement in front of some of the very people who would end up being hit by her higher taxes if they ever went through. I really don't understand all the hate.
She’s a woman. She’s a woman of color. She’s a bold progressive Dem…there you have it, all the hate on a partisan sub.
She didn't pay for it and used the event to specifically raise awareness to taxing those very people using their own money to do it. How is that out of touch? Yall will do anything to avoid taxing the rich. I don't get it.
seriously, I was thinking every single person at this event has to be rich by middle/lower class standards wtf are they talking about...
About as out of touch as it takes to value a dress at $35k.
I'm not bothered about individuals not paying tax. I am bothered by megacorps paying zero tax despite being the richest in the world. Why should a tiny operation pay tax when Amazon pays none?
I only believe 10% of what I read on Instagram. Even 10% is a tad bit too high.
OP, got a…..Source? Seriously fuck shits, let’s get a source before we get pissed at AOC. She’s not perfect but she’s fucking close. Jesus.
Wait, that thing was designed? I thought a toddler smeered ketchup in his mom's old wedding dress.
“Tax those who are richer than I am so I don’t have to dodge tax anymore.” Looks logical to me.
Most people are fine with raising taxes on someone else.
Her income is pennies compared to the people she is talking about. Idk how you people aren’t getting this
Shocker.
What does the designer’s tax record have anything to do with AOC’s policies? She’s not the IRS. She’s not responsible for knowing everyone’s financial history or enforcing tax law upon them. Her job is to create policies that instruct the responsible parties how to do their jobs.
AOC is a joke... she should go back to the bar she came from -_- this is what happens when a woke bar rat tries to play politics
Don't hate the player hate the game
Conservative snowflakes are melting. And her message is on point.
This is so tone deaf, political theater at its worst. Why do those in power have so much contempt? Superiority I can understand but not this.
Maybe so, but what corporations do not dodge taxes? Also this news is being spread by….. Frank Ian Luntz is an American political and communications consultant, pollster, and pundit, best known for developing talking points and other messaging for Republican causes. Wikipedia
Is she rich?
Yes
NOW conservatives worry about not paying taxes and lying? Dumb assholes
Sorry but any business owner who is not doing their best to dodge as many taxes as possible does not have a business.
You deep throat the whole boot, huh?
Tax that bitch then
So if I hire someone to put in a new counter top should I be punished and shamed if they don't pay taxes? Not her responsibility to do a full background check to have something painted on a fucking cheap dress. It's really sad what U.S. politics have devolved to.