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Ocasio-Cortez Learns ‘Milton Keynes’ Is Not a Real Economist



New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an avowed socialist who often references her college economics degree, confused diametrically opposed influential 20th century economists Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes by referring to a “Milton Keynes” in an Instagram post.

“I was just reading today about how Milton Keynes, a famous economist back in the day, predicted that by 2030, U.S. GDP would grow six to eight times what it is, which would allow for everyday people to work 15 hours a week,” Ocasio-Cortez said – which was accompanied by subtitles — on her “Instagram Story.”

She corrected the mistake by posting an edited version of the text with: “UGGGH TYPO. It’s John Maynard Keynes. Mixed his name with Milton Friedman — a (very) different economist,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.

Keynes, a British economist, touted a governmental managed economy while Friedman, an American who won the 1976 Nobel Prize, espoused free-market capitalism.

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Some took to Twitter, including a Republican primary candidate looking to oust Ocasio-Cortez, to mock the freshman congresswoman’s gaffe.

“His name was John Maynard Keynes. Not ‘Milton Keynes,'” tweeted Republican congressional candidate Catalina Lauf.

:However, I’m not convinced that’s who you learned economics from — you learned your ideology from Karl Marx. ‘Milton’ Friedman was a champion for free-market values and influenced our economy substantially. Read him,” she added.

“I’m running to replace this Congressional Representative,” 14th New York Legislative District hopeful Scherie Murray said. “Listen to her recent comments. Wow! Milton Friedman & John Maynard Keynes were economists. Who is Milton Keynes? Wikipedia says it is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England, North-West of London.”

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Others not only mocked her for her confusing Keynes and Friedman but for remarking during a House committee meeting on Wednesday that “It’s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces.”

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