# Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Cannot Afford to Move to Washington **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263 "2018-11-09T21:47:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/241 "2018-11-14T15:30:29Z")
I just did a Zilow search for $500 and got zilch. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/242 "2018-11-14T15:31:16Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, it’s not irrelevant. She is complaining about how hard things are taking up a gig that pays a lot of money. Boo fucking hoo. > > You think nobody would float a loan to a future Congressmember? :rolleyes: > > Regards, > Shodan Agreed and Agreed. Go to any person in this country making $25k per year and tell them that in two months they will be making $174k per year, but that they will have no pay for those two months. What percentage of those people would reject that offer? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/243 "2018-11-14T15:32:50Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I just did a Zilow search for $500 and got zilch. I did the same, and then looked on craigslist and found a bunch of scams. There’s no newly renovated 3 BR houses for $450 a month! Maybe that’s what he was looking at? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/244 "2018-11-14T15:33:52Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > What percentage of those people would reject that offer? I wasn’t aware that she was rejecting the offer of becoming a member of Congress! Wow! Where did you find this stop-the-presses news? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/245 "2018-11-14T15:34:04Z")
Again, where in her words does she complain? She’s talking about taking a job in a new city, she mentions in a couple of sentences in a much longer interview the thoughts anyone would face when moving to a new city to take a new job. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/246 "2018-11-14T15:34:26Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Agreed and Agreed. Go to any person in this country making $25k per year and tell them that in two months they will be making $174k per year, but that they will have no pay for those two months. > > What percentage of those people would reject that offer? Damn, you and **Shodan** have absolutely OBLITERATED that straw man. Good on you! Woo, conservatism is in capable hands now, I can assure everyone. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/247 "2018-11-14T16:03:12Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I wasn’t aware that she was rejecting the offer of becoming a member of Congress! Wow! Where did you find this stop-the-presses news? She’s whining about it. She mentions it in an interview as some sort of statement on why poor people cannot run for Congress. Posters in this thread have said the same thing and some have proposed that the taxpayers should pay for her relocation expenses. My point was that it is not a hardship at all. She will be making a very nice salary, one that almost anyone making $25k per year would kill for. Nobody would be dissuaded from running for Congress because of this. Other posters have said that most people have little savings. Fine. Take out a personal loan, put it on a credit card, call up mom or dad to float you some cash. Have Maxine Waters loan you the money. Do whatever everyone else in the country does when you are short on cash. The only difference is that in two months you can pay everything back with interest. To a guy making $25k per year, her statement is absurd and he would trade places with her in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/248 "2018-11-14T16:06:24Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > She’s whining about it. She mentions it in an interview as some sort of statement on why poor people cannot run for Congress. Posters in this thread have said the same thing and some have proposed that the taxpayers should pay for her relocation expenses. > > My point was that it is not a hardship at all. She will be making a very nice salary, one that almost anyone making $25k per year would kill for. Nobody would be dissuaded from running for Congress because of this. She wasn’t dissuaded from running for Congress, nor is she quitting. Where did you get that idea that she’s turning the job down, as compared to others who would not? Especially when that is not happening? > [@](#): > > Other posters have said that most people have little savings. Fine. Take out a personal loan, put it on a credit card, call up mom or dad to float you some cash. Have Maxine Waters loan you the money. Do whatever everyone else in the country does when you are short on cash. The only difference is that in two months you can pay everything back with interest. > > To a guy making $25k per year, her statement is absurd and he would trade places with her in a heartbeat. Do you consider it a financially smart move to pay interest costs for a loan on an apartment that will barely be used for six weeks? ETA: in a related question to your perception of finances, did you support the Trump tax cuts? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/249 "2018-11-14T16:13:24Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > She’s whining about it. She mentions it in an interview as some sort of statement on why poor people cannot run for Congress… Where in that paragraph does she say that this is why poor people cannot run for congress? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/250 "2018-11-14T16:21:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > She wasn’t dissuaded from running for Congress, nor is she quitting. Where did you get that idea that she’s turning the job down, as compared to others who would not? Especially when that is not happening? > > Do you consider it a financially smart move to pay interest costs for a loan on an apartment that will barely be used for six weeks? > > ETA: in a related question to your perception of finances, did you support the Trump tax cuts? 1. In this very thread, posters are saying how this hampers poor people from running for Congress. 2. Of course it is a smart financial move. You are going from $25k/yr to $174k/yr. If in order to do that, you must borrow money for two months, then that is absolutely the right financial move to make. Should you give up $149k next year because you might have to pay a few hundred dollars in interest? 3. I have no idea why the Trump tax cuts are relevant to this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/251 "2018-11-14T16:26:25Z")
It is a humorous jibe, suggesting that your devotion to fiscal prudence may not be all it seems to be. You’re welcome, glad to help. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/252 "2018-11-14T16:29:45Z")
Move over George Soros, there’s a new leftie boogeyman terrifying God-fearing republicans everywhere. Watching them sputter in incoherent rage while an imaginary version of Ocasio-Cortez nests in their brains is both fascinating and repulsive. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/253 "2018-11-14T16:34:29Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > 1. In this very thread, posters are saying how this hampers poor people from running for Congress… But where does _she_ say any of that? And that wild eyed Marxist from Utah, Jason Chaffetz had proposed that members of Congress receive a $2,500 a month stipend. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/254 "2018-11-14T16:36:10Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Move over George Soros, there’s a new leftie boogeyman terrifying God-fearing republicans everywhere. Watching them sputter in incoherent rage while an imaginary version of Ocasio-Cortez nests in their brains is both fascinating and repulsive. Ocasio-Cortez seems to be able to clap back pretty hard. The more I hear from her the more I like her. [For example](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/416632-ocasio-cortez-mocks-fox-news-graphic-featuring-radical-new-democratic-ideas). I’ve also noticed that the people in this thread who object most to her comments are the people who have most blatantly and obviously not read them. I find that amusing. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/255 "2018-11-14T16:44:31Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > No where in that statement does she say that she will not take an apartment in a distressed neighborhood. It’s not just a matter of having the money for an apartment, one also has to fill out an application and clear a credit check It’s one little sentence in an article about her transition. None of the things you are criticizing her for are stated in that one sentence. > [@Slash1972](#): > > Seems pretty clear to me that she was saying “Some problems that I need to solve during those three months include finding an apartment” It is obvious she was concerned with cost constraints. I’m sorry if you guys cannot parse dialogue. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Is the neighborhood she lives in today sufficiently distressed to meet your preferences? > > ETA: and where are you seeing this $500 apartment? Link, please. $500 room I said. > [@madmonk28](#): > > I just did a Zilow search for $500 and got zilch. You may have to go underground to get a room for that low. Check bulletin boards etc. I’m not going to cruise the internet for a citation to something I know exists firsthand in very similar neighborhoods. > [@Ravenman](#): > > I did the same, and then looked on craigslist and found a bunch of scams. There’s no newly renovated 3 BR houses for $450 a month! Maybe that’s what he was looking at? Above. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/256 "2018-11-14T16:46:09Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Ocasio-Cortez seems to be able to clap back pretty hard. The more I hear from her the more I like her. > > [For example](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/416632-ocasio-cortez-mocks-fox-news-graphic-featuring-radical-new-democratic-ideas). > > I’ve also noticed that the people in this thread who object most to her comments are the people who have most blatantly and obviously not read them. I find that amusing. Yes I believe right wingers had the same opinion of Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/257 "2018-11-14T16:50:20Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > It is obvious she was concerned with cost constraints. I’m sorry if you guys cannot parse dialogue. It’s obvious to me that she is concerned with finding an apartment. I’m sorry that you cannot parse dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/258 "2018-11-14T16:53:33Z")
Yes I understand some people have difficulty communicating with fellow humans. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/259 "2018-11-14T16:56:12Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > It is obvious she was concerned with cost constraints. I’m sorry if you guys cannot parse dialogue. > > $500 room I said. > > You may have to go underground to get a room for that low. Check bulletin boards etc. I’m not going to cruise the internet for a citation to something I know exists firsthand in very similar neighborhoods. > > Above. What a joke. You expect a congresswoman to take a room in a boarding house or else she’s a hypocrite. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/260 "2018-11-14T16:57:46Z")
As far as whether her current residence is embedded with what Common would call “real people”, idk. But I am not the one she is running game on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263.md?page=14)