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The Atlantic

Ocasio-Cortez Understands Politics Better Than Her Critics

A 70 percent marginal tax rate might not be realistic—but that doesn’t matter.
Source: Caitlin Ochs / Reuters

Most Americans—myself included—probably don’t have a well-thought-out position on whether a is a good idea. But it probably doesn’t matter whether it is, or whether it would “work.” To argue that “workability” is secondary might sound odd to many Democrats, particularly party leaders and experts who have long prided themselves on being a party of pragmatic problem-solvers. This, though, could be the most important contribution so far of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the new crop of progressive politicians—the realization that the technical merits of a particular policy aren’t the most relevant consideration. For these new Democrats, the purpose of

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