this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2026
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Work Reform

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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

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[–] rayyy@piefed.social 75 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

The Republican and Democratic parties have placed targets on AOC, Bernie Sanders, and Mamdani because they aren't on the oligarchs side.

[–] leavemealone@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

"That these dead shall have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom to oppress the people—and that government of the oligarchs, by the oligarchs, for the oligarchs, shall not perish from the earth."

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Indeed and there are plenty of ill informed dumbshits that will vote against her.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 2 weeks ago

And the rest of us are on their side, and it's time to start throwing our weight around.

It starts with elections. The only reason the Establishment guys are paying attention is because the DemSocs are winning primaries, even against entrenched incumbents. Even worse, those that have been elected are far more effective that the average elected loser, and those wins have tended to be on the side of the Citizens.

They're doing everything right, they're succeeding, and they are gathering followers FAST.

No wonder the incumbent losers are panicking. They'll eventually accept it, and get on board. Except the MAGAs, they should be panicking.

[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 68 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I wish I had $66k. Could squash my wife’s student loans with that.

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 81 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

AOC has argued for student loan cancellation for all and free college education for all. She and Bernie Sanders have put forth proposals to do just that. They're just fighting an uphill battle.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 19 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Didn't Biden start implememting that? Or am i misremembering

[–] brandon@piefed.social 44 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

The Biden administration eventually lost in court. A major campaign promise was to forgive $10k in student loan debt (for those making less than X dollars in income, iirc). Congress couldn't get a bill for that through, so he tried to use an executive action to order the Department of Education to do it, but a number of (red) states fought it and won in the Supreme Court.

[–] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 24 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

He also tried to restructure existing loan forgiveness programs, like the public service loan forgiveness program that I am in, to make them have shorter terms. This also lost in court eventually. My loans are still in forbearance due that that litigation, but only for a few more weeks.

I still don’t understand why the paycheck loans could be forgiven but not student loans.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 14 points 2 weeks ago

Because the paycheck loans were being abused by members of congress and wealthy business owners...

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[–] Funkt4st1c@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Mohela. Missouri argued theyd disproportionately lose out on profits

[–] onlyhalfminotaur@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

That case was so fucking dumb and proved the SCOTUS majority is completely partisan. Missouri had zero standing to sue. The loan forgiveness order was probably illegal but they didn't even wait for a case that made sense.

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Another commenter explained how it was stopped, but he was only going to forgive some for people below a threshold. AOC and Sanders are trying to forgive all for everyone and make it free moving forward. AOC was very vocal about Biden not taking it far enough

[–] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

She's right -- He didn't take it far enough. By him saying he would forgive $10k for those earning less than blank, meant he believed he had the power to forgive student debt. With that power, he was like, "nah fuck most of 'em. Drown in your debt." I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Biden was a huge disappointment.

[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Biden also was the one who made loan non-forgiveness his signature piece of legislation in the 2000s. Maybe realized the folly of his ways but his offset was a drop in the fucking ocean.

[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I hope she gets that golden email, I really do.

[–] nonentity@sh.itjust.works 50 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Financial obesity is an existential threat to any society that tolerates it, and needs to cease being celebrated, rewarded, and positioned as an aspirational goal.

Corporations are the only ‘persons’ which should be subjected to capital punishment, but trillionaires should be forced to transition into billionaires, and billionaires should be euthanised through taxation.

[–] Stonewyvvern@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

"Financial Obesity" should be more of a common term when talking about those who should have a date with a guillotine.

I approve

[–] nonentity@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago

A blunt edge with guardrails at 9.8m•s^-2^.

[–] BillyClark@piefed.social 20 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I seem to recall this was from a few years ago. At this point, I wouldn't hold it against her if she's made more money. Big name politicians can make extra money through things like speaking fees and book deals. Honestly, I'd be surprised if any famous politicians aren't taking speaking fees. Plus, her salary is $174,000/year according to Wikipedia.

I like to at least pretend in my head that I'd be an ethical politician were I ever elected (a job I would never actually want), and if somebody offered me a speaking fee that was sort of the average amount a politician might get, I think I'd still be able to convince myself it wasn't a bribe.

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Most elected positions don't pay enough in the U.S. today. This is expecially true in state legislature where most politicians start before attempting a national run. The only people who can afford to run for underpaid positions are either independently wealthy or corrupt. For example let's look at some of the most corrupt states in the U.S.

Texas - state senators & representatives $7,200 salary and $221/per diem when in session.

Louisiana- senator and representatives $16,800 + $178/per diem and $6000 slush fund.

Utah - state senators and representatives $0 salary and $301/per diem.

Nevada - State senators and representatives $0 salary and $130/per diem.

This lack of pay for positions is deliberate to keep "working class" out of government. It lead to open corruption and conflict of interest being normalized.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

Initially politician wasn't supposed to be a career. It was a side hustle you did after planting and after harvest. Which exains some of the session schedules you see today that seem odd.

I'd argue that we need to get these offices back to being what you do outside your day job again. Whatever that means in modern society. However, if were going to make the mistake of letting it remain a career path. We do need to pay accordingly. While codifying actual laws against graft. Not just unenforceable "norms".

[–] NathanDerWeise@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Most Americans get two weeks off a year, if they're lucky. There's no way to make this "outside your day job."

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

They're 100% is. But it 100% requires addressing what you just talked about. There needs to be a new labor movement. Where terms are renegotiated again.

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

It was designed so that wealthy landowners could attend sessions more easily. Just like the u.s. senate does not represent the population, but the land area. The writers of the national and state constitutions were almost all wealthy landowners.

In my opinion, given the size of the population and the complexity of the economy, full time politicians who are paid very well combined with draconian anti-graft laws are needed.

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[–] chisel@piefed.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

And then they like to put up measures to increase their salary from $5k to $25k, as if that'll let your average Joe run and isn't just a handout to the already wealthy scum currently in office. Bonus points when they also try to increase the term limit at the same time.

[–] onlyhalfminotaur@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah I remember during one of Bernie's presidential runs it was some sort of "gotcha" from the right that he made about $1M in a year. Like.... okay? He'd be pretty fucking dumb if he didn't make that at a bare minimum from his popularity.

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[–] Abyssian@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

"She doesn't have the mountain of ill-gotten personal wealth required to understand the commoners and their struggles."

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Anyone have a link to the actual disclosure document? I can't seem to find any way to actually view it. This just doesn't seem to pass the smell test. She's making a salary of $174k per year and has been in Congress for 7 years. I wonder if this excludes retirement accounts like 401ks and IRAs. That would make sense. But I would expect her to have at least $100k in a retirement account by now. I mean she did go from working as a bartender to being a member of Congress. That kind of jump in pay usually lets one really up their retirement savings at least.

[–] King_Bob_IV@startrek.website 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I mean, congress has a really nice retirement package if I recall correctly. Maybe she is just banking on that

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[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Speaking of wealth and politicians, by the time Trump's tax records were finally released after years of court battles, the public had moved on to other things and paid virtually no attention to the masses of inconsistencies they contained - which would be prosecuted as tax fraud if other people did them.

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 12 points 2 weeks ago

She’s not perfect, but she is at least coming from a place where she is aware of the challenges facing regular people. If everyone in congress was like that we’d be in a much better situation.

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

She... she has 66k in bank accounts? I hope they're at least in CDs or high yield savings; although I guess she gets a pension.

[–] birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] manxu@piefed.social 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sooo... Big fan of AOC and Hogg, but the original tweet (I know, I am showing my age here) doesn't value-judge the holdings, just lists them.

I would have been horrified if she'd had the numbers of a Mitch McConnell or Nancy Pelosi. The current Congress and Administration show very clearly why having people with lots of money run the country is a terrible idea.

[–] luokaton@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

maybe the response was addressing comments to, and not the original tweet?

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[–] SoloCritical@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Just imagine how much more money she could have if she just took AIPAC money!

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Or did obscene insider trading like Dan Crenshaw, who took office the same year and now has a net worth in the tens of millions

[–] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

I certainly hope AOC continues to work for the people and not turn into a greedy bastard.

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 4 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Actually some idiot previously made fun of her for just this. Some people really deserve to be fiddled by daddy Trump all their life

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[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Also did you get your phone out of the toilet yet? Should prolly do that soon.

[–] SalamiDommie@lemmus.org 2 points 2 weeks ago

If you believe that I would like to invite you to go watch some pro wrestling with me.

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