For the longest time, New York has needed some big changes, which Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor-elect, aims to fix, like freezing rent, universal childcare, and free bus rides. The ultimately goal is to make it affordable to live for all New Yorkers, especially working class people. A few naysayers want to poo-poo on his parade, before he’s even had an opportunity to make New York better for everyone. One local is feeling especially enthusiastic about Mamdani’s proposals and promises, despite what others think.
Comedian Same Old Shawn weighed in on Zohran’s supposed “unrealistic” policies by flatly telling Debbie Downers: “So? Good! They should be unrealistic,” and points pout that if you hold progressive ideals, your plans will seem unrealistic to anyone who isn’t. He argues, and does so correctly by stating both “Black people having rights” and “women having rights” used to be unrealistic, too. “Once upon a time, children not working in factories was unrealistic!” Shawn adds.
Clearly, when people feel that action is needed, they do it, even if it sounds unrealistic. If it’s the right thing to do, who cares if it sounds like a pipedream? According to him, “They went out and figured out how to make it realistic,” by gathering likeminded people and changing policies and laws. Does this sound familiar? It’s exactly what Mamdani ran on.
Mamdi knew New Yorkers wanted change and wanted to stop struggling to simply survive in a city that seems hellbent on only attracting wealthy business donors, where prices have been keeping people from having homes. By electing “unrealistic” candidates, we’re choosing to expect more from our mayors and others holding political office.
“That’s how we get high speed rail and universal healthcare,” Shawn continues. Along the way, “we’ll get something pretty good” by electing those who make big promises and choose to keep them.
“Universal healthcare is so unrealistic only 70% of the world has been able to figure it out,” one comment read. In the US alone, more than 60% of Americans want universal coverage, according to PMC.
“Politicians keeping the status quo is one of the worst things that can happen to any of us. Things are not fine nor were they ever. Why the hell should we work to keep things as they are,” one person asked. Zohran Mamdani can show New York, and the US as a whole, what effort and change will look like.
