Since the remarkable election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to US Congress in January, the 29-year-old has used her media presence to push for a sweeping set of policy reforms. The Green New Deal, a throwback to the post-depression recovery programme of Franklin D. Roosevelt, would seek to reverse economic inequality, tackle climate change and improve job security in the United States.
The resolution has been castigated by right-wing critics. Republican Senator John Barrasso said a Green New Deal would “bankrupt the nation”. Fox News pundit Kathrine Timpf joked the reforms would lead to cannibalism in the US.
But rather than too radical, the question might be whether the plan is radical enough.
Although it sounds bold, the bill passed to Congress early February is light on details. The what sounds great: net-zero greenhouse gases, millions of high-wage jobs and universal access to healthy food. But the how is far more vague. “Finding solutions” to sources of pollution is one. “Upgrading all buildings in the United States” is another.
This isn’t a question of cost. Roosevelt made his New Deal happen during the worst economic depression in recent history. But it’s alarming that the paper does not acknowledge the fact just 100 companies cause 71% of global emissions. Nor does it propose any fix for the systemic issues driving inequality. Taxing the rich sounds great – AOC has floated a 70% top rate of income tax for the wealthiest Americans – but it’s pointless without a way to make sure they pay up. Amazon paid zerofederal taxes in 2017. The Green New Deal doesn’t offer a way to fix that.
A recent Yale poll found 81% of US voters support a Green New Deal. That’s extremely popular. But in its current form, it probably isn’t enough.
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