# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/161 "2018-11-13T12:47:40Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I am also drawing conclusions based on her demonstrated preference. There is no “demonstrated preference”. 4 in 10 adults can’t swing a $400 dollar expense. Let alone your $2000. [The Fed - Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2017 - May 2018](https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2018-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2017-preface.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/162 "2018-11-13T13:02:02Z")
How many of the 4 in 10 make or are about to start making $174K? Regards, Shodan ---
**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 13, 2018, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/163 "2018-11-13T13:06:32Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I am also drawing conclusions based on her demonstrated preference. Such as? ---
**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 13, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/164 "2018-11-13T13:08:58Z")
…her preference to not live in certain DC neighborhoods ---
**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 13, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/165 "2018-11-13T13:11:29Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > There is no “demonstrated preference”. 4 in 10 adults can’t swing a $400 dollar expense. Let alone your $2000. [The Fed - Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2017 - May 2018](https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2018-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2017-preface.htm) 4 in 10 adults are unfit to make decisions about trillions in other people’s money. That said, I believe she could afford to live in poor DC neighborhoods but chooses not to. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/166 "2018-11-13T13:29:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > How many of the 4 in 10 make or are about to start making $174K? How many landlords are interested in getting paid in three months? See? I can JAQ too. Look, this whole matter would be rendered moot by either offering a signing bonus, reimbursement for training-related travel and housing, a modest advance on pay, etc. It’s just generally not been an issue because Congresscritters have a median net worth of around half a mil. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/167 "2018-11-13T13:34:44Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > That said, I believe she could afford to live in poor DC neighborhoods but chooses not to. Based on pixie dust and rainbows? Let’s see your evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/168 "2018-11-13T13:36:30Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > I didn’t make it. Those following should already see the dishonesty of this denial. The poster ascribes flaws to his target based only on his own hollow conjectures. To illustrate: > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Her actions indicate her preference … > …She has no business near the taxpayer loot. > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > She probably shares the PJ Harvey view … > [@WillFarnaby](#): > > …her demonstrated preference. Engagement is pointless. I can only hope that no one casually browsing this thread will fall for his tricks. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/169 "2018-11-13T13:41:58Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > That said, I believe she could afford to live in poor DC neighborhoods but chooses not to. So, do you believe she won’t be seated? ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/170 "2018-11-13T13:43:43Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > All the rest of this hostility you have towards her on this issue is your own baggage. You are projecting on her motives and opinions that are not in evidence from her words. They have no basis in that short paragraph posted above, but apparently spring from some other source of hostility for Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. Hell _I_ have other sources of hostility for her; she’s said some dumb shit IMO. And I disagree with many of her policy positions. But that’s neither here nor there. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/171 "2018-11-13T13:57:36Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Congressmen used to take the sleeper late from from NYC, early into DC. > > Just out of interest. Doubt it even exists anymore. Like I mentioned upthread, Amtrack fares from DC to NY are $79 off peak, $96 peak ONE WAY. Not a solution financially. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/172 "2018-11-13T15:03:09Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > How many landlords are interested in getting paid in three months? See? I can JAQ too. > > Look, this whole matter would be rendered moot by either offering a signing bonus, reimbursement for training-related travel and housing, a modest advance on pay, etc. It’s just generally not been an issue because Congresscritters have a median net worth of around half a mil. Or she could do what other people who don’t make $174K a year do. I thought liberals, especially democratic socialist liberals, were against giveaways to the rich. $17K is about three times the median household income for the US. Why should she get a signing bonus? She seems OK with the government borrowing trillions to pay for her and other people’s health care - how about if she borrows something to pay for her own housing? Everybody else is supposed to come up with the money to pay for her schemes, and everybody else doesn’t make $174K a year. She does, or she’s going to. If she can’t manage her own finances, she isn’t going to do any better managing mine. Let me guess - next she will complain about the servant problem. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/173 "2018-11-13T15:29:57Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > 4 in 10 adults are unfit to make decisions about trillions in other people’s money. So essentially, if you’re poor, you don’t get to lead. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/174 "2018-11-13T15:36:31Z")
Oh man schemes. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/175 "2018-11-13T15:54:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or she could do what other people who don’t make $174K a year do. > > I thought liberals, especially democratic socialist liberals, were against giveaways to the rich. $17K is about three times the median household income for the US. Why should she get a signing bonus? She seems OK with the government borrowing trillions to pay for her and other people’s health care - how about if she borrows something to pay for her own housing? > > Everybody else is supposed to come up with the money to pay for her schemes, and everybody else doesn’t make $174K a year. She does, or she’s going to. If she can’t manage her own finances, she isn’t going to do any better managing mine. $174k, $500k, it’s irrelevant. This is money she won’t have for several months. She is not “the rich” today. You suggest she do what other people do who don’t make $174k. Like what I do, perhaps? Work a full-time job to cover my living expenses? She already has a more than full-time job that she isn’t getting paid for until January. She’s already here for freshman orientation. Borrow money? Not everyone can. And I don’t think anyone should have to borrow money in order to do the job they were elected to do. If a bonus is inappropriate, there are other outlay-neutral options, e.g. an advance. Which I already mentioned but you conveniently skipped over in your post. It’s not the only option. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/176 "2018-11-13T16:03:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or she could do what other people who don’t make $174K a year do. > > I thought liberals, especially democratic socialist liberals, were against giveaways to the rich. $17K is about three times the median household income for the US. Why should she get a signing bonus? She seems OK with the government borrowing trillions to pay for her and other people’s health care - how about if she borrows something to pay for her own housing? > > Everybody else is supposed to come up with the money to pay for her schemes, and everybody else doesn’t make $174K a year. She does, or she’s going to. If she can’t manage her own finances, she isn’t going to do any better managing mine. > > Let me guess - next she will complain about the servant problem. > > Regards, > Shodan Who keep hitting **Shodan** in the knee with that little mallet? ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/177 "2018-11-13T16:10:16Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Or she could do what other people who don’t make $174K a year do. What’s that? > [@](#): > > I thought liberals, especially democratic socialist liberals, were against giveaways to the rich. Well, I am. Is she rich? Is she asking for a giveaway? Is the kindling piled high enough? > [@](#): > > $17K is about three times the median household income for the US. Does seem like a lot, hey? Is that how much she’s earning now? Are you in favor of politicians earning less? > [@](#): > > Why should she get a signing bonus? I dunno. Is that what she’s asking for? > [@](#): > > She seems OK with the government borrowing trillions to pay for her and other people’s health care Borrowing from whom to pay for whose healthcare? > [@](#): > > - how about if she borrows something to pay for her own housing? Maybe that’s what she’ll do. Seems like the problem is being dealt with. > [@](#): > > Everybody else is supposed to come up with the money to pay for her schemes, Who? To pay for what schemes? Is that what people are elected for, to pursue wiley schemes? Sounds intriguing. > [@](#): > > and everybody else doesn’t make $174K a year. True that. How much do your preferred politicians make? > [@](#): > > She does, No she doesn’t. > [@](#): > > or she’s going to. Going to. > [@](#): > > If she can’t manage her own finances, she isn’t going to do any better managing mine. I’m not sure that there is any indication that she can’t manage her finances, just that she’s, you know, NOT RICH. I’m also not sure what job you think she was applying for, but I don’t think it was as your personal financial planner, so the piggy bank’s probably safe. > [@](#): > > Let me guess - next she will complain about the servant problem. I know not of this servant problem your country is suffering, but this young lady (who has to actually put thought into how she’s going to manage her accommodation and finances, and also fulfil her duties while also observing the restrictions placed upon her until she actually starts to receive her salary) sounds like the worst example of privilege and wealth in politics imaginable. And I mean that. The _worst example_. > [@](#): > > Regards, > Shodan Good day to you, sir. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/178 "2018-11-13T16:27:02Z")
She announced her candidacy on May 16, 2017, more than 18 months before she is to take office. She couldn’t save up enough money for a few months rent in D.C. in all that time? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/179 "2018-11-13T16:30:29Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > $174k, $500k, it’s irrelevant. This is money she won’t have for several months. 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. > [@](#): > > Borrow money? Not everyone can. You think nobody would float a loan to a future Congressmember? :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > And I don’t think anyone should have to borrow money in order to do the job they were elected to do. If a bonus is inappropriate, there are other outlay-neutral options, e.g. an advance. Which I already mentioned but you conveniently skipped over in your post. It’s not the only option. You are missing the point. Complaining about how hard life is when you are about to earn a very large salary means that you are [list=a][li]Bad with money [_]stupid, or [_]a socialist.[/list]Guess what? She’s scored a trifecta.[/li] Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263/180 "2018-11-13T16:35:46Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > She announced her candidacy on May 16, 2017, more than 18 months before she is to take office. She couldn’t save up enough money for a few months rent in D.C. in all that time? The whole point of her economic platform is how to spend Other People’s Money. Who’s got time to worry about anything else? Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cannot-afford-to-move-to-washington/824263.md?page=10)