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It Took Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Exactly Four Words to Own Sen. Mike Lee

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The oldest, most tired, cliché used in an attempt to sound brilliant in the United States is – in answer to someone discussing the U.S. as a democracy – to point out that the United States is not a democracy, it is a Republic. It is used so often that absolutely everyone now just rolls their eyes upon hearing it.

Senator Mike Lee, self-described Konztatushional Skolar, made the point in a tweet yesterday, writing with almost a perverse pride “We’re not a democracy.”

Yeah, no fcking shit. That’s how it is that we’ve had 2 Republican presidents in the last 3 presidencies despite the fact that on only ONE occasion did the Republicans get more votes. That’s not a bad indication that you’re not a “good democracy,” anyway. There is also the fact that we’re the only nation on Earth that somehow found it wise to make the most powerful representative body, the U.S. Senate, set-up in such that Wyoming – with a total population that approximately equals Fresno – has two senators. Those two senators effectively cancel out California’s two senators, two who represent 40 something million people.

Only in America.

So, yes, Konztatushional skolar Mike Lee, we damn sure ain’t no democracy.

Fortunately, we had some people in New York smart enough to take a chance on AOC for you and me. Now, AOC has made plenty of embarrassing mistakes. Every single freshman in congress has done the same, just without the same visibility. AOC was also about 27 years old when elected to Congress. I cannot imagine the mistakes I would’ve made at that age with microphones shoved in my face. But more importantly, she is a force of nature who has raised the level of debate in the United States to where it should have been long ago, to a level where “having served in the House for 42 years” is not necessarily the mark of genius or impeccable service – perhaps just more comfort and connectedness?

So when Mike Lee made his stupid cliched point, AOC was the one with the perfect answer. Upon seeing Lee’s tweet, she merely answered, “Maybe we should be.”

Owned! Pubs!

No, not necessarily owned, but a much much deeper point than at first glance. Why would we be bragging about not being very “democratic?” Would it not be better to be trying to find ways to be more democratic?

Yes, in AOC’s mind. No in Mike Lee’s. It isn’t the only difference between the two, but it might well be the most important.

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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak

Jason Miciak
meet the author

Jason Miciak is a political writer, features writer, author, and attorney. He is originally from Canada but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He now enjoys life as a single dad raising a ridiculously-loved young girl on the beaches of the Gulf Coast. He is very much the dreamy mystic, a day without learning is a day not lived. He is passionate about his flower pots and studies philosophical science, religion, and non-mathematical principles of theoretical physics. Dogs, pizza, and love are proof that God exists. "Above all else, love one another."

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