Abbie Hoffman, of Chicago Seven fame, was famous for coining antiwar chants. When subjected to analysis these chants were demonstrated to be ridiculous or untrue. He was called on this and had an explanation. He was playing to the media. Thirty seconds of a group of people shouting: “Hey, hey LBJ…” was better television than the White House press secretary offering a rational two minute response.
He was right. Imagine the field day that Abbie could have had with the Internet and social media.
The space cadet from New York was interviewed on “Sixty Minutes.” She came up with this gem and went unchallenged.
Ocasio-Cortez: People ‘More Concerned’ About Being Factually Correct Than ‘Morally Right’
6 Jan 20193861:24
During an interview with Anderson Cooper for CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) addressed concerns with her lack of knowledge on the facts by brushing it off as not a big deal.
The newly-sworn in congresswoman explained people are “more concerned” with being factually correct than they are about “being morally right,” arguing “they are missing the forest for the trees.”
Apparently nobody at CBS possesses a dictionary. I consulted Miriam-Webster for a definition of the two key words in the space cadet’s statement; fact and moral(ity). Facts are objective, are supported by evidence and can be replicated. Morality is subjective and may require an act of faith and similar situations may not result in similar outcomes.
A kills B. Factually A commits an act that results in the death of B. A is morally responsible for the death of B, unless the death was the direct result of state sanctioned homicide. The facts don’t change but the moral sanction may.
Merriam-Webster dictionary
Definition of fact
1a: something that has actual existence space exploration is now a fact b: an actual occurrence prove the fact of damage
2: a piece of information presented as having objective reality These are the hard facts of the case.
3: the quality of being actual : ACTUALITY a question of fact hinges on evidence
4: a thing done: such as a: after the factbarchaic : ACTIONcobsolete : FEAT
5archaic : PERFORMANCE, DOING
Merriam-Webster dictionary
Definition of moral
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ETHICAL moral judgments b: expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior a moral poem c: conforming to a standard of right behavior took a moral position on the issue though it cost him the nomination d: sanctioned by or operative on one’s conscience or ethical judgment a moral obligation e: capable of right and wrong action a moral agent
2: probable though not proved : VIRTUAL a moral certainty
3: perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect a moral victory moral support
Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
Stalin justified the murder of 3 to 60 million Russians as morally necessary to preserve the Soviet state.
Hitler and the Nazis killed 6 million Jews, gypsies and other undesirables as a matter of state policy and moral imperative.
Chairman Mao murdered 45 million of his countrymen to assert the moral superiority of the state.
The space cadet also delves into science and seems sure that morality can overcome science.
Anderson Cooper: You’re talking about zero carbon emissions — no use of fossil fuels within 12 years.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: That is the goal. It’s ambitious. And…
Anderson Cooper: How is that possible? Are you talking about everybody having to drive an electric car?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: It’s going to require a lot of rapid change that we don’t even conceive as possible right now. What is the problem with trying to push our technological capacities to the furthest extent possible?
Has somebody told the space cadet that the solar panels and wind turbines she is so in love with are built with steel? Who will break the news to her that the manufacture of steel requires coal?
Would it bust her bubble to know that petroleum is used for more than just gasoline and diesel fuel.
Here is a partial list of products made from petroleum?
There is a quite a large list of products made from petroleum. This list is constantly growing as new inventions are created. Here are some of the items which are made from petroleum.
| Solvents | Diesel fuel | Motor Oil | Bearing Grease |
| Ink | Floor Wax | Ballpoint Pens | Football Cleats |
| Upholstery | Sweaters (that explains the itchy sweater I have at home) | Boats | Insecticides |
| Bicycle Tires | Sports Car Bodies | Nail Polish | Fishing lures |
| Dresses | Tires | Golf Bags | Perfumes |
| Cassettes | Dishwasher parts | Tool Boxes | Shoe Polish |
| Motorcycle Helmet | Caulking | Petroleum Jelly | Transparent Tape |
| CD Player (do people still have these?) | Faucet Washers | Antiseptics | Clothesline |
| Curtains | Food Preservatives | Basketballs | Soap (that explains why soap doesn’t clean oil off your hands) |
| Vitamin Capsules | Antihistamines | Purses | Shoes |
| Dashboards | Cortisone | Deodorant | Footballs |
| Putty | Dyes | Panty Hose | Refrigerant |
| Percolators | Life Jackets | Rubbing Alcohol | Linings |
| Skis | TV Cabinets | Shag Rugs | Electrician’s Tape |
| Tool Racks | Car Battery Cases | Epoxy | Paint |
| Mops | Slacks | Insect Repellent | Oil Filters |
| Umbrellas | Yarn | Fertilizers | Hair Coloring |
| Roofing | Toilet Seats | Fishing Rods | Lipstick |
| Denture Adhesive | Linoleum | Ice Cube Trays | Synthetic Rubber |
| Speakers | Plastic Wood | Electric Blankets | Glycerin |
| Tennis Rackets | Rubber Cement | Fishing Boots | Dice |
| Nylon Rope | Candles | Trash Bags | House Paint |
| Water Pipes | Hand Lotion | Roller Skates | Surf Boards |
| Shampoo | Wheels | Paint Rollers | Shower Curtains |
| Guitar Strings | Luggage | Aspirin | Safety Glasses |
| Antifreeze | Football Helmets | Awnings | Eyeglasses (I thought they were made from glass) |
| Clothes | Toothbrushes | Ice Chests | Footballs |
| Combs | CD’s & DVD’s | Paint Brushes | Detergents |
| Vaporizers | Balloons | Sun Glasses | Tents |
| Heart Valves | Crayons | Parachutes | Telephones |
| Enamel | Pillows | Dishes | Cameras |
| Anesthetics | Artificial Turf | Artificial limbs | Bandages |
| Dentures | Model Cars | Folding Doors | Hair Curlers |
| Cold cream | Movie film | Soft Contact lenses | Drinking Cups |
| Fan Belts | Car Enamel | Shaving Cream | Ammonia |
| Refrigerators | Golf Balls | Toothpaste (Yuck) | Gasoline |
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”
― Daniel Patrick Moynihan
A legitimate interviewer would not have let the space cadet off so easily. The Sixty Minutes interview was never meant to challenge the subject, only to give her a chance to advance her disordered thinking devoid of any intellectual honesty. Abbie Hoffman said it best:
Abbie Hoffman
Out of the mouths of 60’s radicals.