Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC·337K subscribers·270 videos
Why We Need a Green New Deal | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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February 24, 2021
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1:54Now PlayingThe disaster in Texas is quite literally what happens when you *don’t* pass a Green New Deal. I was recently asked what I made of Texas Republicans blaming me for the consequences of their decisions. My response is here ⬆️
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After last week’s tragic infrastructure disaster in Texas that left millions in the cold, the TX Gov & Republicans decided to blame me, a New York Congresswoman, & the Green New Deal for *their* failure to prepare + protect Texans. Except their argument had 1 ludicrous problem: Texas has long had a Republican-run government that’s largely bought by & works for the benefit of the fossil fuel industry.
The Green New Deal is a framework to confront our exploding climate crisis equitably by creating 20 million jobs decarbonizing our economy, invest in people and public infrastructure, all while making sure working class and frontline communities aren’t left behind in tackling environmental injustice (e.g. Flint, MI).
So... when did the Republican-run Texas government pass a Green New Deal? 🤔 They never did! And THAT’S the problem. Texas leadership was warned *10* years ago that they needed to prepare and winterize their grid for a freeze, and were warned about the potential catastrophe for Texans if they didn’t. They chose not to despite warnings, because making those investments would have cut into profits of their privatized energy system that’s designed to maximize corporate profits over public good.
This is not just a result of corruption, but climate denial too: a mentality of “it can’t happen here.” But the climate crisis ensures that it CAN happen here. We are seeing floods, freezes, and fires where people previously thought it impossible. And leadership that doesn’t prepare for it out of denial and the baggage that comes w/ cashing the fossil fuel industry’s checks is dooming their communities to disaster.
A Green New Deal centers the creation of good, decent jobs, the public good, & environmental justice. What happened in Texas was the exact opposite: sacrificing public safety for private profits, denying climate change, and decisions that leave poor, rural, & poc communities to freeze.
A better world is possible. 🌎
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