>> "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE" CONTINUES.
ADAM: WELCOME BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE, AND TONIGHT’S GUEST -- ENTREPRENEUR, ANDREW YANG.
WE MOVED TO THE TOWN HALL PORTION.
I’LL JUMP IN IF WE NEED A FOLLOW-UP.
BUT, FOR NOW, LET’S GET RIGHT TO OUR FIRST QUESTION FROM NANCY LESSARD.
NANCY?
>> HOW DO YOU PLAN TO WORK MORE COOPERATIVELY ACROSS THE AISLE AND RESTORE SOME CIVILITY TO GOVERNMENT?
PLEASE GIVE US SOME PRACTICAL EXAMPLES.
MR. YANG: AS A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, I HAVE BUILT A NATIONAL NONPROFIT AND A COMPANY THAT BECAME NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY.
IT’S ALL ABOUT BUILDING TEAMS.
YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON AND GET DONE.
I’M VERY BIPARTISAN AND NOT IDEOLOGICAL.
I AM DEEPLY PRACTICAL.
IF THERE ARE GOOD IDEAS FROM ACROSS THE AISLE WE CAN INTEGRATE INTO OUR POLICY, THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO GO.
ALREADY, I’M GETTING MANY INDEPENDENTS AND CONSERVATIVES EXCITED ABOUT MY PLATFORM.
ADAM: THANK YOU, NANCY.
>> MR. YANG, WHAT ARE YOUR PARAMETERS FOR USING EXECUTIVE ORDERS?
MR. YANG: UNFORTUNATELY, THE USE OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAS RISEN IN PART BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS BECOME DYSFUNCTIONAL.
THE TWO BRANCHES HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON THINGS.
I WOULD PUSH THE AUTHORIZATION FOR MILITARY ACTION BACK TO CONGRESS, WHERE IT BELONGS IN THE CONSTITUTION.
I DON’T THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE MAKING THOSE KINDS OF UNILATERAL ACTIONS.
THE HOPE IS YOU CAN GET A CONGRESS GALVANIZED AND ABLE TO AGREE ON LEGISLATION.
THAT IS A MUCH BETTER WAY TO GO.
>> HELLO, MR. YANG.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE GREEN NEW DEAL AS A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY?
IF SUCCESSFUL, WOULDN’T THE JOBS CREATED MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME?
MR. YANG: I’M A BIG FAN OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL IN TERMS OF ITS VISION.
WE NEED TO START ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
IT IS AN EXTENSIONAL THREAT.
I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THEM IN A PLANET IN SHAMBLES.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS THAT WOULD BE CREATED ARE IMMENSE AND VITAL AND IMPORTANT.
THE TWO PHENOMENON ARE UNRELATED.
IF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE REPLACES CALL CENTER AND RETAIL WORKERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS, THERE WILL STILL BE NEEDS ON BOTH SIDES.
ADAM: YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT AUTOMATION, ESSENTIALLY ROBOTS.
SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT AND CHUCKLE -- MR. YANG: THE ASIAN ROBOT GUY.
I KNOW.
ADAM: HOW DO YOU GET PAST THE SCI-FI ASPECT OF THIS WHERE THERE’S A LEVEL OF DISBELIEF?
MR. YANG: IT’S NOT LIKE ROBOTS WILL START MARCHING DOWN THE STREETS OF MANCHESTER ANYTIME SOON.
STORES ARE CLOSING AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE OF AMAZON.
IF YOU GO TO THE AMAZON FULFILLMENT CENTER, YOU WILL SEE ROBOTS WALL-TO-WALL.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ECONOMY FITS TOGETHER.
IT’S NOT LIKE A ROBOT WILL WALK IN AND START PICKING UP THE PHONE.
SOFTWARE WILL REACH A POINT WHERE IT CAN FULFILL A CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTION IN A WAY THAT IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM A HUMAN BEING.
ADAM: HOW DO YOU KEEP ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FROM ACHIEVING ILL-GOTTEN ENDS?
MR. YANG: THAT IS YEARS, MAYBE DECADES AWAY.
THAT IS SCIENCE FICTION, I CAN THINK LIKE A HUMAN.
IT WILL BE VERY SOPHISTICATED AT ACCOMPLISHING CERTAIN TASKS AND VERY STUPID EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU CAN HAVE THOUSANDS OF INTERACTIONS AND PHRASES AT THE READY AND NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
THAT’S WHERE AI WILL BE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
IT’S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT WOULD BE IN THE SCIENCE FICTION ZONE LIKE TAKING OVER OUR SOCIETY.
ADAM: TRACIE ANTOLIN NOW.
>> WHAT IMPROVEMENTS COULD YOU MAKE FOR BORDER SECURITY TO PREVENT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM CROSSING, AS WELL AS ILLEGAL CARGO ON TRUCKS AND SHIPS?
MR. YANG: YOU SAID TRUCKS AND SHIPS.
WE HAVE TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AND PERSONNEL AT THE BORDER.
THE WALL IS NOT A PROPER SOLUTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES WHERE BUILDING THE WALL WOULD BE COMPLETELY IMPRACTICAL.
I LOOKED INTO THE TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION ONE COULD IMPLEMENT -- THERE IS NOT ONE.
WE HAVE TO PUT MORE RESOURCES TO WORK.
THERE’S NO SILVER BULLET.
ADAM: THE SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION IS F TRACIE ANTOLIN.
DOES YOUR PROPOSAL TO GIVE EVERYONE IN AMERICA $1000 A MONTH DO AWAY WITH WELFARE ASSISTANCE?
NO FOOD STAMPS, NO MEDICARE -- THAT WAY, EVERYONE IS ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD?
MR. YANG: WE HAVE 26 WELFARE PROGRAMS IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU ARE RELYING UPON WELFARE FOR SURVIVAL, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER PEOPLE.
WE WILL OFFER THIS FREEDOM DIVIDEND THAT IS OFTEN.
-- OPT IN.
IF YOU DO OPT IN, YOU DEFER WELFARE BENEFITS -- WE ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM SOMEONE IF THEY THINK THEIR CURRENT BENEFITS ARE SUPERIOR.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
IF YOU ARE FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IT WILL COST AND HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT?
MR. YANG: YES.
I’VE BEEN A CEO AND BUSINESSPERSON AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS AROUND MEDICARE FOR ALL IS THAT WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY.
WE ARE SPENDING IT.
18% OF GDP TO WORSE RESULTS.
THERE’S INCREDIBLE LEVELS OF ACCESS IN THE SYSTEM -- EXCESS IN THE SYSTEM.
IS PREACH EITHER JUST -- THESE PROCEDURES SHOULD NOT BE SO EXPENSIVE.
GREAT NEWS -- THE MONEY YOU ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING ON HEALTH INSURANCE, WE WILL TAKE THAT MONEY FOR THIS TRANSITIONAL CARE.
AS A CEO, I CAN TELL YOU, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE HEALTH INSURANCE OFF MY BOOKS.
IT KEEPS YOU FROM HIRING, IT KEEP YOU FROM TREATING PEOPLE AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AS YOU SHOULD.
IT WILL SAVE US MONEY.
IF YOU HAVE A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION, YOU CAN GET THE RATES MUCH LOWER VERY QUICKLY.
ADAM: HOW DOES THAT WORK BY AGE GROUP?
WOULD YOU HAVE A SLIDING SCALE IN ANY WAY?
MR. YANG: THE EASY WAY TO IMPLEMENT IT IS TO LOWER THE ELIGIBILITY AGE OVER TIME.
WE NEED TO HAVE A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION FOR PEOPLE AT EVERY AGE.
THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN IT, THE MORE EFFECTIVELY YOU CAN NEGOTIATE RATES LOWER.
HAVING YOUNG HEALTHY PEOPLE IN THAT POOL IS BENEFICIAL.
>> WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND HOW WILL IT HELP OUR COUNTRY?
MR. YANG: WE ARE IN THE THIRD INNING OF THE GREATEST TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION IN HISTORY.
WE AUTOMATED 4 MILLION MANUFACTURING JOBS IN OHIO, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, MISSOURI, IOWA -- THIS HAPPENED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DECADES EARLIER.
IT’S NOW HAPPENING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MANUFACTURING WORLD WILL NOW HAPPEN TO THE TRUCK DRIVERS, FAST FOOD WORKERS AND CALL-CENTER WORKERS.
I’M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TO WAKE AMERICA UP TO THE FACT THAT IT’S NOT IMMIGRANTS CAUSING ECONOMIC ISSUES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
OUR ECONOMY HAS CHANGED IN FUNDAMENTAL WAYS.
IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AS A COUNTRY AND COME TOGETHER AROUND MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS LIKE THE FREEDOM DIVIDEND, MY RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY WILL HELP MOVE SOCIETY FORWARD.
ADAM: HOW DID YOU DECIDE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT WAS THE WAY TO DO THAT?
I WILL GO FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
MR. YANG: IF YOU HAVE 5-10 YEARS BEFORE THE ROBOT TRUCKS HIT -- MANY OF THESE TRUCKERS OWN THEIR OWN TRUCKS.
IMAGINE BEING A TRUCKER AND SEEING THOSE ROBOT TRUCKS THAT NEVER STOP.
WE ARE 5-10 YEARS AWAY FROM THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT REALISTIC WAYS TO ADVANCE SOLUTIONS, RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS THE ONLY THING I FOUND THAT HAS AN ACTUAL CHANCE OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
IF I WROTE A BOOK AND TRIED TO WHISPER IN PEOPLE’S EARS -- WE ARE WAY PAST THAT POINT.
WE NEED TO START SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN BUILDING UP FOR YEARS AND DECADES.
ADAM: WHAT SKILLS DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE?
MR. YANG: I’M FRIENDS WITH MANY CONGRESS PEOPLE AND SENDERS.
THEY WANT TO GET THINGS DONE.
IF I BECOME PRESIDENT IN 2021, THE DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES WILL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DIVIDEND.
IT WILL IMPROVE GRADUATION RATES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
REPUBLICANS WILL LIKE IT BECAUSE IT INCREASES ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND AUTONOMY.
IT IS A WEALTH TRANSFER FROM CERTAIN COASTAL AREAS TO RURAL STATES.
WE CAN GET THINGS DONE BY GALVANIZING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
ADAM: THIS SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION IS FROM CHUCK JETTE.
WHAT IS HIS OPINION OF TERM LIMITS FOR ALL CONGRESSIONAL POSITIONS?
MR. YANG: WE NEED TO HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS DON’T MAKE SENSE NOW.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO BE WORRIED IF AN 80-YEAR-OLD JUSTICE HAS A HEALTH PROBLEM -- THAT’S NO WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY.
TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS PEOPLE, I LIKE.
IF YOU HAD CONSTANT TURNOVER IN THE CONGRESS, THEY WOULD BE LITTLE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE -- IF YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE TERM LIMITS IN CONGRESS, YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE IT LONGER IN
TIME SO THAT THERE IS SOME SENIORITY THAT BUILDS UP.
HAVING PEOPLE CROUCHING IN D.C.
FOR DECADES AS PUP BE NOT GOOD FOR OUR SOCIETY -- IS PROBABLY NOT GOOD FOR OUR SOCIETY.
>> THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS HIT NEW HAMPSHIRE ESPECIALLY HARD, AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.
MORE AND MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA OR WERE BORN WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE
SYNDROME.
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUE?
-- ISSUES?
MR. YANG: WHAT’S HAPPENED AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH THE OPIATE EPIDEMIC IS OBSCENE.
IT IS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY TURNED A BLIND EYE WHILE PURDUE PHARMA DISPENSED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OXYCONTIN DESCRIPTIONS SAYING THIS IS NOT
ADDICTIVE.
THAT HAS MORPHED INTO HEROIN AND FENTANYL -- THIS IS A CRISIS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS IN PART TO BLAME FOR.
I WOULD GO TO PURDUE PHARMA AND SAY YOU MADE $15 BILLION OF BLOOD MONEY.
WE WILL GET THAT MONEY BACK IN FUND TREATMENT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL SAY IT IS OUR FAULT, IN PART, THAT THIS HAPPENED.
WE NEED TO GIVE THESE KIDS AND PEOPLE IN THEIR FAMILIES A FIGHTING CHANCE.
THIS IS A HUMAN PROBLEM.
MONEY SHOULD NOT BE THE OBSTACLE.
ADAM: THE NEXT QUESTION FROM AARON FOWLER.
>> I COME FROM A MILITARY FAMILY.
I WAS RAISED TO PROTECT THE WEAK AMONG US.
WHEN OUR HEARTS STOP BEATING WE ARE PRONOUNCED DEAD, BUT WHEN OUR HEART STARTS BEATING WE ARE NOT PRONOUNCED ALIVE.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO OR SAY TO CHANGE THIS?
MR. YANG: COULD YOU REFRAME THE QUESTION?
WHEN OUR HEARTS STOP BEATING, WE ARE PRONOUNCED DEAD, BUT WHEN OUR HEART STARTS BEATING, WE ARE NOT PRONOUNCED ALIVE.
THIS IS ABOUT LATE-TERM ABORTION . MR. YANG: AND THIS IS TIED TO MILITARY SERVICE?
>> I COME FROM A MILITARY FAMILY.
I WAS RAISED TO PROTECT THE WEAK AMONG US.
UNBORN BABIES ARE THE WEAKEST AMONG US .WHEN OUR HEARTS STOP . MR. YANG: TO ME, IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT WOMEN SHOULD DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD, EVERY UNBORN CHILD WOULD BE COMING INTO A SOCIETY THAT IS WELCOMING WITH OPEN ARMS.
ONE WAY TO MAKE THIS MORE OF A REALITY WOULD BE TO PUT $1000 A MONTH IN THE HANDS OF EVERY AMERICAN ADULT.
IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO CARE FOR THAT CHILD.
ADAM: WE HAVE ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION.
THIS ONE COMES FROM BRIAN WHITAKER.
ON THE POTENTIAL INCREASE OF OUTSOURCING FROM TECH COMPANIES IN REGARDS TO HIS PROPOSED WAY TO FUND UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME.
WOULD THIS HAVE ANY EFFECT TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION?
THIS IS THE UBI.
MR. YANG: IT’S HARDER AND HARDER FOR AMERICANS TO COMPETE WITH PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD -- YOU CAN GET A DEGREE IN INDIA OR CHINA TO WORK FOR SIX DOLLARS AND OUR.
-- AN HOUR.
AS YOU PUSH THOSE TASKS ABROAD, YOU FIND WAYS TO AUTOMATE THEM.
THAT IS THE PROGRESSION.
IT GOES OUT AND THEN AUTOMATION.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO JUST CAME BACK FROM ASIA.
THEY ARE AUTOMATING A WAY TO LABOR THERE, TOO.
THIS IS WORLDWIDE.
OUTSOURCING, TO ME, IS SOMETHING THAT IS INEVITABLE.
YOU CANNOT REGULATE IT OUT OF EXISTENCE.
IF THERE ARE ECONOMIC BENEFITS, WE SHOULD SHARE IN IT.
ADAM: IS THERE ANY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD THAT HAS USED UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME IN A WAY THAT SHOWS IT WORKS?
MR. YANG: THIS HAS BEEN IN EFFECT IN ALASKA FOR 37 YEARS, A DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE STATE.
IT’S ALREADY CREATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND IMPROVED CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND DECREASED INCOME INEQUALITY.
WE PAID FOR THAT WITH OIL MONEY.
TECHNOLOGY IS THE OIL OF THE 20% TREE.
-- OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
>> I’M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY CAMPAIGNS ARE FUNDED . BIG-MONEY DONORS AND LOBBYISTS HAVE TOO MUCH INFLUENCE ON LAWS AND POLICIES.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND IF SO, WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO RETURN OUR GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE?
MR. YANG: I LOVE THIS QUESTION SO MUCH.
I’VE RAISED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FROM AMERICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
OUR AVERAGE ONLINE DONATION IS ONLY $19.
THAT’S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, IDEALLY.
HERE’S THE WAY WE FIX IT.
I WOULD OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED AND GET CORPORATE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.
AS PRESIDENT, I WOULD PUT 100 DEMOCRACY DOLLARS IN THE HANDS OF EVERY AMERICAN ADULT THAT YOU CAN ONLY GIVE TO A POLITICAL CANDIDATE OR CAMPAIGN.
THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO WASH OUT ALL THE CORPORATE MONEY.
IF I GET 10,000 REAL HUMAN BEINGS BEHIND ME, THAT’S $1 MILLION.
I HATE CALLING RICH PEOPLE FOR MONEY.
IF THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN DO TO STOP THAT -- WHY ARE WE ALL DOING SOMETHING WE ALL HATE?
IT’S BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WE PASS THIS DEMOCRACY DOLLARS BILL AND IT’S A HUGE WIN FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
ADAM: WE HAVE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND.
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE ON TELEVISION FOR "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE." COMING UP NEXT IN OUR SERIES, FORMER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JOHN DELANEY OF
MARYLAND WILL BE ON THE PROGRAM.
WHILE WE’RE SIGNING OFF ON TELEVISION, THIS CONVERSATION WITH ANDREW YANG CONTINUES ONLINE AND ON OUR MOBILE APP.
THERE, YOU’LL FIND A FULL 30 MORE MINUTES OF QUESTIONS FROM OUR STUDIO AUDIE THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD