Purity testing political leaders based on the way they dress is self-sabotage. If you think someone can’t be a real ally if they wear nice suits then you’ll find few allies in life. The reverse is also true, John Fetterman isn’t an ally of the working class just because he wears a hoodie to congress, for example.
That’s not true. They’re supporting a system that exists to pass a bunch of money around at the top. Each one that wears an expensive suit is guilty of this.
John Fetterman isn’t an ally of the working class just because he wears a hoodie to congress, for example.
I’m glad we’re at least on the same page here. I don’t keep up with Fetterman, but isn’t he also an ally of the working class? Again, I’m glad we can see eye to eye on what I’m referring to. Bringing up Fetterman is a great example.
They’re supporting a system that exists to pass a bunch of money around at the top.
By… wearing a suit? You’re gonna have to go into more detail here to get your point across.
I’m glad we’re at least on the same page here.
I’d like to get there, but I’m really not sure that we are yet.
I don’t keep up with Fetterman, but isn’t he also an ally of the working class?
Fetterman ran as a progressive and presented himself as an unpretentious ally of blue-collar workers, then after getting elected he made a hard right turn starting with support for Israel’s genocide and eventually going back on every progressive stance he ever held, even claiming he never held them to begin with. He’s now just a conservative - registered Democrat. A turn-coat who claims “I didn’t leave the left, the left left me.” Many such cases these days, unfortunately.
If you’re arguing that AOC is the same, I really don’t see it. I don’t agree with everything she does, of course, but for someone working within the system she’s as radical as it gets.
By… wearing a suit? You’re gonna have to go into more detail here to get your point across.
Yes. It contributes to a culture where we need to pay into the suit industry in order to be successful. It’s a complete waste of money and only serves to continue passing it around at the top. Every dollar wasted on nice suits could’ve been spent improving the lives of people who can’t afford nice suits.
I’d like to get there, but I’m really not sure that we are yet.
Maybe your reading comprehension isn’t that good, but I was referring to how you mentioned John Fetterman in contrast to AOC and the other suit-wearers.
but for someone working within the system she’s as radical as it gets.
Kind of. “For someone working within the system” is the key point.
Alright, I understand your position. Personally, I disagree with it because it’s unrealistic to expect perfection from everyone who fights for a cause. I feel that it’s important to have some baseline tolerance for hypocrisy because it’s counterproductive to police your allies on every small thing.
I agree that tailored suits should not be a precondition for success, and choosing not to wear them in congress is absolutely a statement to that end, but I’m not going to discount AOC as a potential ally because she chose not to fight that particular battle. In the same vein, I’m also not going allow John Fetterman’s choice to fight that particular battle convince me that he’s a working class ally in more important ways.
When you allow yourself to get hung up on the appearance of hypocrisy you make yourself vulnerable to exactly the type of manipulation that Fetterman engages in. Look past the surface and consider the bigger picture. You don’t have to be someone who works within the system, I’m not that type of person either, but don’t write people off for choosing that path. Everyone has a part to play.
Fair enough. I definitely don’t expect perfection, but I like to highlight the problem with Big Suit so that other people are aware it’s an issue.
I agree with you about Fetterman. I don’t keep up with him so I can’t corroborate your claims, but the fact that he doesn’t wear a suit does not automatically make him an ally of the working class.
OMG, don’t tell me, were some of them beige, khaki, buff, or <gasp> tan?
They are expensive, and that’s all that matters.
Purity testing political leaders based on the way they dress is self-sabotage. If you think someone can’t be a real ally if they wear nice suits then you’ll find few allies in life. The reverse is also true, John Fetterman isn’t an ally of the working class just because he wears a hoodie to congress, for example.
That’s not true. They’re supporting a system that exists to pass a bunch of money around at the top. Each one that wears an expensive suit is guilty of this.
I’m glad we’re at least on the same page here. I don’t keep up with Fetterman, but isn’t he also an ally of the working class? Again, I’m glad we can see eye to eye on what I’m referring to. Bringing up Fetterman is a great example.
By… wearing a suit? You’re gonna have to go into more detail here to get your point across.
I’d like to get there, but I’m really not sure that we are yet.
Fetterman ran as a progressive and presented himself as an unpretentious ally of blue-collar workers, then after getting elected he made a hard right turn starting with support for Israel’s genocide and eventually going back on every progressive stance he ever held, even claiming he never held them to begin with. He’s now just a conservative - registered Democrat. A turn-coat who claims “I didn’t leave the left, the left left me.” Many such cases these days, unfortunately.
If you’re arguing that AOC is the same, I really don’t see it. I don’t agree with everything she does, of course, but for someone working within the system she’s as radical as it gets.
Yes. It contributes to a culture where we need to pay into the suit industry in order to be successful. It’s a complete waste of money and only serves to continue passing it around at the top. Every dollar wasted on nice suits could’ve been spent improving the lives of people who can’t afford nice suits.
Maybe your reading comprehension isn’t that good, but I was referring to how you mentioned John Fetterman in contrast to AOC and the other suit-wearers.
Kind of. “For someone working within the system” is the key point.
Alright, I understand your position. Personally, I disagree with it because it’s unrealistic to expect perfection from everyone who fights for a cause. I feel that it’s important to have some baseline tolerance for hypocrisy because it’s counterproductive to police your allies on every small thing.
I agree that tailored suits should not be a precondition for success, and choosing not to wear them in congress is absolutely a statement to that end, but I’m not going to discount AOC as a potential ally because she chose not to fight that particular battle. In the same vein, I’m also not going allow John Fetterman’s choice to fight that particular battle convince me that he’s a working class ally in more important ways.
When you allow yourself to get hung up on the appearance of hypocrisy you make yourself vulnerable to exactly the type of manipulation that Fetterman engages in. Look past the surface and consider the bigger picture. You don’t have to be someone who works within the system, I’m not that type of person either, but don’t write people off for choosing that path. Everyone has a part to play.
Fair enough. I definitely don’t expect perfection, but I like to highlight the problem with Big Suit so that other people are aware it’s an issue.
I agree with you about Fetterman. I don’t keep up with him so I can’t corroborate your claims, but the fact that he doesn’t wear a suit does not automatically make him an ally of the working class.