My opinion of AOC is changed, likely permanently

[Celerity]

142. Unfortunately the hideous (on so many levels) electoral college blocks her and anyone near here

her in ideological stance from becoming POTUS for many decades, if ever. I truly have to laugh when she and others are labelled 'far left' (even by certain factions within our own party), as not a single Dem (or Bernie) would be anything other than a basic social democratic, a bog standard centre left pol in most all other advanced western nations. Pretty much every major initiative and programme that earn them the faux 'far left' tag in the US are already (and have been for ages) in place in most of the core EU nations. Not only that, but many centre right parties over here support many things that cause so many to scream and pull their hair out and howl 'commie!'.

The US political spectrum and labelling systems are artificially slid to the right to a gobsmacking degree, and the nation as a whole truly suffers for it. The pitiful 7.25 USD federal minimum wage for instance, finally kicked in 11 and half years ago. That 7.25 usd in terms of purchasing power then (2009), is now only around 5.45 usd in purchasing power in 2021, due to inflation, and that is NOT counting vital things that have increased FAR beyond the overall rate of inflation, such as healthcare, housing (in so many areas), and tertiary educational costs.