The top definition for “self own” at Urban Dictionary reads as such:
Self Own:
When you do something so stupid, you own yourself like a f**ktard!
Let’s go ahead and add the state of New York, and the district (NY-14, Queens, Bronx) of freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the examples of self own-dom.
On Thursday, monster corporation, Amazon, announced that plans to build a new corporate campus in New York City were off.
It would have been a great boon for the state. Lawmakers estimated 40,000 jobs over the next couple of decades would have been added to the local economy, with average salaries around $150,000 a year.
Of course, for Jeff Bezos to agree to bring a new headquarters to the area, there had to be something in it for his brand. That’s just good business.
That came through an agreement for $3 billion in government subsidies, as part of the courtship to get the company there.
No, it’s not like Amazon went to New York. They allowed for bidding and jostling among several states that were under consideration.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio had their hands all over that deal, because they knew what it meant for the citizens of their state.
Some lawmakers, including Ocasio-Cortez balked at the deal, mainly because their far left brain and socialist leanings are completely disconnected from real life.
Their envy over the existence of someone like Jeff Bezos, a man who has done well for himself and is, in fact, a self-made billionaire caused them to shoot their state and their constituents in the foot.
Their main complaint is that a man of Bezos’ wealth, with a company as big as Amazon should not have been getting a government subsidy when the city is facing budget cuts.
They also felt bringing in such a major company would result in rising rent prices and overcrowded subways.
Nobody tell them that the jobs and income that would come would help with any raised rent rates. I’m not sure they’d get it.
And if you want to get a picture of just how difficult the leftist mob intended to make it for actual prosperity to come to their city:
In a series of City Council meetings in recent weeks, Amazon executives were grilled about their view on unions, specifics about jobs in the neighborhood and the fact that their chosen site is located in an opportunity zone, enabling it to qualify for federal and state tax breaks there. Amazon said it wouldn’t claim the break. One executive hinted at the exasperation within the company, saying Amazon wanted to be in a community that wanted it.
Sounds reasonable.
You don’t want the company? You don’t want the jobs for your citizens?
Cool. We’ll move on.
“Amazon’s decision to withdraw from New York is no doubt a blow to our local economy,” said Julie Samuels, executive director at Tech: NYC. “New York City is today one of the most dynamic tech hubs in the world, but there is no guarantee we will maintain this status in the future, which makes this news so disappointing.”
Do you know how you lose that status?
By continuing to elect economic illiterates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
After news of Amazon’s decision, AOC and her merry band of dullards celebrated across social media.
https://twitter.com/mollycrabapple/status/1096101182932729857?s=20
https://twitter.com/eorlins/status/1096089638526246914?s=20
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose surprise election last year helped push her party to the left, also claimed victory.
“Today was the day a group of dedicated, everyday New Yorkers & their neighbors defeated Amazon’s corporate greed, its worker exploitation, and the power of the richest man in the world,” she tweeted.
I’m sure those who were counting on those jobs will build a memorial in your honor.
You. Are. So. Dumb.
Speaking of those who aren’t exactly on board with AOC’s reality-deprived view of economics, and the need to punish those more successful than themselves:
“Today New York lost billions of dollars of revenue that could have been used over the next decade to help rebuild this decaying city … All due to ignorance and small mindedness,” wrote one.
And there were others:
Only in New York City could bringing 20,000 jobs NOT be seen as a good thing.
Great brand. Great company. We all use it.
We could have made this work.#AmazonHQ2
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) February 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/NYCPunter/status/1096095435658330112?s=20
And they’re right to be angry.
The socialist utopia AOC envisions does not exist. This envy and covetous that propels mental voids like AOC to the top only serves to harm those they claim to represent: the downtrodden and desperate.
Please, if you’re of the belief that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the bright, young future of the left, understand some very simple metrics.
First of all, you cannot elevate someone by dragging down someone else. This drive to punish the wealthy does nothing to help those who are not.
It is the wealthy who create opportunity for others. Not everyone will be a millionaire or a billionaire, but the business acumen of those who run these mega-companies, such as Amazon, will always have a need for real people to keep the company going.
Those people down the line may not become rich doing it, but they’ll have an income. Their lights and rent will be paid. Their families will be clothed and fed. Their basic needs are met when they have jobs available to go to.
What’s more, there is a certain amount of self-satisfaction and inner peace that comes from not waiting for government handouts, but actually putting yourself out there and earning your money.
“This is a stunning development, with Amazon essentially giving in to vocal critics,” said Mark Hamrick, an analyst at Bankrate.com. “For those who didn’t want Amazon to bring the promised 25,000 new jobs and added economic vitality to the area: Be careful what you wish for.”
So while AOC and her ilk dumbly celebrate denying thousands of New Yorkers gainful employment (not to mention construction workers, vendors, area businesses, like convenience stores, restaurants, etc…), Northern Virginia and Nashville will benefit.
Great work, New Yorkers. Remember that when AOC’s seat comes up.