'Conversation with the Candidate' with Andrew Yang: Online exclusive

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>> "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE" CONTINUES.
ADAM: THANK YOU FOR CLICKING ON OUR EXTENDED DIGITAL "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE" WITH ENTREPRENEUR, ANDREW YANG.
WE HAVE 30 MINUTES COMMERCIAL-FREE, SO WE CAN GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE.
>> MY DAD AND MY FAMILY GREW UP AS KENNEDY DEMOCRATS.
NOWADAYS, WE WONDER, WHERE HAVE THE DEMOCRATS GONE?
NOW, ALL YOU SEE IS A BUNCH OF SOCIALISTS HAVE INFILTRATED THEM.
WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WORKING FOR AMERICA?
MR. YANG: I WAS IN IOWA WITH A TRUCKER NAMED DENNIS.
HE ASKED ME A SIMILAR QUESTION.
WHY IS IT THAT THE DEMOCRATS DON'T SEEM TO BE WHAT THE WORKING CLASS -- WITH THE WORKING CLASS?
I GOT THE SAME PERCEPTION FROM UNION WORKERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
TO ME, THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO HAVE THE BACKS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.
THAT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE PARTY.
THE FACT THAT THAT HAS CHANGED IS THE MISSING PIECE.
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT BACK SO THAT YOU FEEL LIKE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE YOUR BACK.
ADAM: WHY DO YOU THINK THAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES?
MR. YANG: THERE'S BEEN THIS MOVEMENT IN THE PARTY TO BECOME THIS MORE URBAN PARTY.
THE URBAN PARTY HAS ADOPTED VARIOUS CULTURAL ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO ECONOMIC AND BREAD-AND-BUTTER ISSUES.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BECOME TOO TRUSTING OF INSTITUTIONS BUT NOT TRUSTING ENOUGH OF PEOPLE.
IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO DEMOCRAT ABOUT HOW TO FIX SCHOOLS, IT WOULD BE LIKE, INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SCHOOLS.
THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO IS PAY THE TEACHERS MORE.
THE DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN LESS AND LESS COMPELLING TO PEOPLE.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS ARRAY OF PROGRAMS.
THE DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION IS CREATE A NEW PROGRAM.
WE JUST NEED TO GET RESOURCES INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.
THAT WILL BE A BETTER APPROACH.
ADAM: IS UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME SOCIALISM BY OTHER MEANS?
MR. YANG: IT'S VERY MUCH NOT.
IT IS CAPITALISM WHERE INCOME DOESN'T START AT ZERO.
WE ARE UP TO $20 TRILLION IN GDP.
WHERE THE RICHEST AND MOST ADVANCED ECONOMY.
MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE NOT EXPERIENCING THAT.
78% OF AMERICANS ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
MOST AMERICANS CAN'T AFFORD AN UNEXPECTED $500 BILL.
I'VE BEEN WHERE THE BOUNTY IS BEING CONCENTRATED.
THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE BEING CREATED THAT WE CAN EASILY DO THIS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT WOULD BUILD A TRICKLE UP ECONOMY.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS.
>> A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN ABOUT HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE WORKFORCE.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PREPARE AMERICANS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS?
MR. YANG: RIGHT NOW, WE ARE OVERPRESCRIBING COLLEGE.
THE MISSING PIECE IS TECHNICAL APPRENTICESHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL UP.
ONLY 6% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
THAT REFLECT MILLIONS OF UNFILLED JOBS THAT WILL BE RESISTANT TO AUTOMATION.
IT'S HARD TO AUTOMATE AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR OR PLUMBING.
IT'S EASY TO AUTOMATE BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING, AND A LOT OF THE ENTRY-LEVEL WHITE-COLLAR JOBS.
WE NEED TO DRAMATICALLY CHANNEL MORE OF OUR RESOURCES TOWARDS TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRENDS THAT WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY ARE GOOD, SOLID JOBS THAT PEOPLE ENJOY.
ADAM: ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION.
THIS ONE FROM PATRICK COLLIS.
HOW ABOUT PAY OFF THE DEFICIT, THEN MANDATE A BALANCED BUDGET?
MR. YANG: 40 OUT OF 50 STATES HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE ARE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
WE ARE ALSO THE GLOBAL RESERVE CURRENCY.
WE CAN MAKE MOVES TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
RUNNING THIS MASSIVE DEFICIT IS NOT A GOOD THING.
WE SHOULD TRY TO BRING IT DOWN IN VARIOUS WAYS.
A BALANCED BUDGET WOULD BE THE WRONG WAY TO GO.
I WOULD BRING THE DEFICIT DOWN.
A BALANCED BUDGET WOULD BE A GOAL THAT WOULD DO MORE HARM IN THE SHORT RUN THEN GOOD.
BEST MAN GOOD -- MORE HARM IN THE SHORT RUN DTHAN GOOD.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS NOT GOING TOWARDS THE TWO THREATS OF TODAY -- TRUE THREATS OF TODAY.
CLIMATE CHANGE, CYBERSECURITY, AI, LOOSE NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND HAVING MORE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS AND EQUIPMENT DOESN'T PROTECT US AGAINST THAT.
CHINA AND RUSSIA COULD PROBABLY SHUT DOWN OUR POWER PLANTS THROUGH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE -- THAT IS THE DANGER OF THE 20% THREE.
-- OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE NEED TO START DIRECTING THOSE DOLLARS TOWARD PROTECTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION FROM GAIL TAYLOR.
>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT OVERTURNING CITIZENS UNITED?
MR. YANG: VERY MUCH SO.
THAT WAS THE WORST DECISION EVER.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU NEED A CAUSE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO OVERTURN IT -- YOU NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO OVERTURN IT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BAD DECISION.
ADAM: JUST ABOUT EVERY VOTER HERE IS INTERESTED IN THE SUPREME COURT.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANY POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMINEE -- IN A POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NOMINEE?
MR. YANG: WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID BY SANDBAGGING MAYOR GARLAND WAS UNPRECEDENTED -- MERRICK GARLAND WAS UNPRECEDENTED.
THAT ENDED UP TIPPING THE BALANCE OF THE COURT.
AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE TO TRY TO UNDO SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR JUSTICE THAT HAS VIEWS THAT ALIGN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TERMS OF MOVING SOCIETIES FORWARD.
SOME OF THE JUSTICES APPOINTED RECENTLY WILL MOVE US THE OTHER WAY.
ADAM: YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR JUSTICE BELIEVES.
MR. YANG: I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL INTO CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
I UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL BACKDROP OF THE SUPREME COURT.
I WOULD APPOINTED JUSTICE THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED ME INTO OFFICE.
>> THE IDEA THAT SO MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT ARE FOR THE SAME ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, THE SAME BACKGROUND -- IS IT TIME TO FIND JUSTICES WITH A MORE VARIED
EXPERIENCE?
MR. YANG: LITERALLY, THEY ARE PICKING JUSTICE BASED UPON THEIR YOUTH SO THEY CAN STICK AROUND FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.
THE WHOLE THING IS SO PERVERSE.
WE HAVE TO MOVE TO 18 YEAR TERMS.
THAT WAY, EVERY PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS.
IN TERMS OF INSTITUTIONS, SURE, RELYING UPON ACADEMIC PEDIGREE AT THIS POINT -- SOME OF THE BEST JUSTICES DID NOT GO TO THE SAME SCHOOLS.
>> IN THIS TIME OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE EXTREMISM IN BOTH PARTIES, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST CAN BE DONE TO BRING A SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE AND CIVILITY BACK TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS?
MR. YANG: WE'VE BEEN DISTRACTED BY A LOT OF THINGS.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS AND THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
THAT'S WHY THE FREEDOM DIVIDEND IS THE CENTERPIECE OF MY PLAN.
THAT IS VERY BIPARTISAN.
IT IS NOT LEFT OR RIGHT.
IT IS FORWARD.
AFTER WE DO THIS, THE BIG HOPE IS WE CAN REVERSE THE MINDSET OF SCARCITY THAT IS OVERTAKING OUR COMMUNITIES.
AMERICANS ARE NOT DOING WELL.
IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR BILLS, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO BECOME NEGATIVE ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE.
IF WE REVERSE THIS MINDSET OF SCARCITY AND REPLACE IT WITH A MINDSET OF ABUNDANCE AND OPTIMISM AND GENEROSITY, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN BRING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOGETHER.
ADAM: I AM CURIOUS, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET THE BLAST OF NEGATIVITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
YOU TWEET SOMETHING ABOUT POLICY, AND WHETHER IT IS BOUGHT OR REAL PEOPLE COMING AFTER YOU, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
MR. YANG: IN MY CASE, ANY NEGATIVITY IS A GOOD THING, JUST BECAUSE IT MEANS PEOPLE ARE DIGGING INTO THE PROPOSALS THAT I HAVE FOR THE ECONOMY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND I AM NOT THE SORT THAT EXPECT EVERYONE TO AGREE WITH ME.
IF PEOPLE COME TO ME WITH QUALITY ARGUMENTS AND FACTS, I AM OPEN TO CONSIDERING THEM.
IF THEY ARE JUST STARTING THINGS ARE NOT FACTUAL AND SEEMS LIKE HOSTILITY FOR THE SAKE OF HOSTILITY, IT IS EASY TO PUT IT ASIDE AND IGNORE.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT GETTING MUCH HOSTILITY AT ALL.
THE HOSTILITY IS SOMETHING LIKE 100 TO 1.
WE HAVE RAISED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM EVERYDAY AMERICANS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS VISION IN THE ECONOMY, AND THE NEGATIVITY, FRANKLY, I HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH OF.
AND I'VE BEEN ON FOX FOUR TIMES.
FIVE.
I CANNOT EVEN KEEP TRACK.
[LAUGHTER] ADAM: CAT MCAFEE ASKED "SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT FORCE THE NCAA TO PAY ITS ATHLETES?" MR. YANG: 100% YES.
IF YOU GO TO MY WEBSITE, YOU SEE I HAVE 76 POLICIES.
BAN ROBO CALLING.
GET A PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
FORGIVE STUDENT LOANS.
AND PAY NCAA ATHLETES.
IT IS WRONG TO MAKE -- EXPLOIT YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND MEANWHILE YOUR PAYING THE COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THAT?
IT IS OK TO EXPLOIT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING RISKS FOR THEIR BODIES?
SO 100%, PAID REVENUE-GENERATING ASSETS.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SIGN MEMORABILIA AND GET THE SHARE OF THEIR MERCHANDISE.
ADAM: SO THE REVENUE GENERATING ASSETS, MAYBE NOT THE CLUB SOCCER TEAM?
[LAUGHTER] MR. YANG: YEAH, IT WOULD BE REVENUE-GENERATING.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN A GIANT, SOLD-OUT ARENA, AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING LOTS OF MONEY, AND THE SCHOOL IS MAKING TONS OF MONEY, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR THE STUDENTS TO BE SCRAPING
BY.
ADAM: THAT WOULD BE ON TOP OF THE?
U.B.I..
MR. YANG: YEAH.
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, IT IS LIKE WHY IS SCHOOL SO EXPENSIVE NOW?
WHEN YOU LOOK IT UP, YOU ARE LIKE HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
I WILL TRY TO BRING IT DOWN BY TYING THE COST RATIO DOWN TO FEDERAL LOAN ACCESS.
ALSO PUTTING $1000 A MONTH INTO YOUR HANDS AND THE HANDS OF YOUR CHILDREN WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IF SOMEONE SHOWS UP TO COLLEGE, THEY WOULD BE GETTING UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME.
MOST OF THAT GOES TO TUITION, BUT IF THEY ARE EIGHT REVENUE-GENERATING ATHLETE, THEY SHOULD GET IT.
ADAM: LET'S MIGRATE BACK TO THE MIDDLE HERE.
LET'S GO TO CLARA MONIER FOR A QUESTION.
CLARA: GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR INTERESTING PROPOSALS TO US HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I AM INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSALS ARE FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
IT HAS BEEN PREDICTED TO BE -25% IN 2035.
IF SOME CHANGES ARE MADE NOW, MAYBE THE CRISIS CAN BE AVERTED.
LISTENING TO YOUR IDEAS WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.
MR. YANG: SOCIAL SECURITY IS SCHEDULED TO GO BANKRUPT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THE TRUTH IS SOCIAL SECURITY'S BANKRUPTCY IS AN ACCOUNTING FICTION.
THE WAY THEY SET IT UP IS YOU PUT MONEY ASIDE AND GET BACK YOUR MONEY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THE MONEY YOU HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN HAS BEEN GOING TO OTHER THINGS, AND NEW MONEY IS GOING TO COME
IN.
THE WAY SOCIAL SECURITY GETS FINANCED, IF YOU WERE A MOTHER AND DID NOT BUILD UP A WORK HISTORY, YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ARE LOWER.
THAT IS PART OF THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP.
I WOULD DRAMATICALLY STRENGTHEN AND REVAMP THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
YOU WOULD HAVE NO FEAR OF IT GOING BACK UP EVER AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY WE ARE GOING TO BE.
WE KNOW MILLIONS OF AMERICANS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RETIREMENT SAVINGS, AND WE ARE HEADING INTO AN ERA WHERE WE WILL SEE UTTERLY AMERICANS WORKING AT A CONVENIENCE STORE UNTIL THE DAY
THEY DIE AND DYING ON THE STREETS.
OR WE GET OUR ACT TOGETHER AND SAY WE ARE A MORAL COUNTRY.
AND IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND OUR PAST A CERTAIN AGE, YOU SHOULD BE GETTING ENOUGH SO YOU CAN LIVE IN A DIGNIFIED AND QUALITY RETIREMENT.
$1000 A MONTH WOULD GO A LONG WAY FOR AMERICANS THE ENTIRE WAY UP.
BUT THE ENTIRE BANKRUPTCY OF SOCIAL SECURITY IS SOMETHING WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND CHANGE IF WE DECIDE TO DO SO.
CLARA: THANK YOU.
MR. YANG: I HAVE PARENTS, TOO, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.
MY PARENTS ARE STILL ALIVE.
HAVING ELDERLY AMERICANS STRUGGLE TO THAT DEGREE IS IMMORAL.
ADAM: YOUR WEBSITE HAS MORE POLICY POSITIONS THAN MOST.
MR. YANG: AND THERE ARE NEW ONES COMING.
ADAM: ONE OF THE INTERESTING ONES THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS THIS IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT LOST I'VE BECOME DEFUNCT.
-- THAT HAVE BECOME -- LAWS THAT HAVE BECOME DEFUNCT.
MR. YANG: SO HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO A GHOST MALL OR A MALL EMPTYING OUT.
IT IS SCARY.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE A CRIME ZONE.
WHEN THOSE THINGS GO EMPTY, THEY SPREAD BLIGHT FOR MILES AND MILES AND DEPRESS PROPERTY VALUES.
AS THESE MALLS CLOSE, IT BEHOOVES US TO FIND A GREAT IF USE FOR THEM, IF WE CAN.
IT HAS HAPPENED IN PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY ARE GETTING USED AS CHURCHES, COMMUNITY SPACES, OFFICES, SOMETIMES RESIDENTIAL.
THEY ARE POORLY DESIGNED FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT YOU CAN MAKE MOVES IN THIS DIRECTION.
I WILL PASS THE AMERICAN MALL ACT THAT WILL MATCH FUNDS SO IF A COMMUNITY HAS A CREATIVE USE FOR THAT MALL, THEY WILL GET BACKING FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP MAKE THAT TRANSITION.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN REVIVE THAT MALL, IT IS A HUGE VALUE SAVINGS OR THAT COMMUNITY.
IF THAT MALL GOES DARK, THE BLIGHT WILL SPREAD.
THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOST ONE THIRD OF AMERICAN MALLS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
BECAUSE OF WHAT?
AMAZON.
ADAM: THE CARDBOARD BOX INDUSTRY IS DOING VERY WELL, THOUGH.
YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BRING DOWN OVERDOSE NUMBERS AND OPIOID ADDICTION BY 20% OVER FOUR YEARS.
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THAT GOAL?
MR. YANG: THERE IS AN AMERICAN IDEA THAT YOU CANNOT TREAT DRUGS WITH DRUGS.
IT TURNS OUT, AT LEAST IN SOME COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING NONADDICTIVE DRUG SUBSTITUTES.
FRANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, LOWERED ITS HEROINE OVERDOSE RATE BY MAKING A NONADDICTIVE DRUG SUBSTITUTE FREELY AVAILABLE.
THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THE U.S.
NOT JUST THE NALOXONE, BUT ALSO SUBSTITUTES TO HELP PEOPLE MANAGE ADDICTION.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO GET OFF OF DRUGS, WE HAVE TO MAKE EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.
WE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT LEAVE ANYTHING OFF THE TABLE, INCLUDING NONADDICTIVE DRUG SUBSTITUTES.
ADAM: IN ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IS YOU WANT A PSYCHOLOGIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHAT ROLE DOES THIS PERSON PLAY?
OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A CLEAR ONE MEDICALLY, BUT IN TERMS OF HOW THE RESIDENT WILL MAKE -- PRESIDENT MAKE DECISIONS.
MR. YANG: SO MY BROTHER IS A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR.
MY OLDER BROTHER IS A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AT NYU.
WE KNOW PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS, MAKING VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
AND MENTAL HEALTH IS GOING TO BE THE LAST THING ON PEOPLE'S MINDS.
IF YOU GET A MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, ONE, IT D STIGMATIZES MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE ALL HAVE STRUGGLES.
WE ALL BENEFIT FROM HAVING SOME SORT OF RESOURCES.
TWO, IN REAL TERMS, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, WITH A MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE, IF THEY NOTICE SOMEONE IS STRESSED OUT AND STRUGGLING, THEY CAN SAY YOU SHOULD PROBABLY SEE THAT PERSON, YOU ARE
STRUGGLING.
AND IT TURNS OUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE THAT PERSON PERIODICALLY, SO IF THE PSYCHOLOGIST SAYS THIS PARTICULAR PERSON IS STRUGGLING IN A PARTICULAR WAY, YOU CAN START TRYING TO MAKE MOVES.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CANNOT HAVE IS YOU CANNOT HAVE THIS SUPERMAN, SUPERWOMAN CULTURE WHERE EVERYONE PRETENDS TO BE SUPERHUMAN, AND THEN YOU WIND UP WITH REAL PROBLEMS IN MYSTICS
BEING MADE AND DECISIONS BEING MADE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MADE.
ADAM: CERTAINLY WE SEE THE PRESIDENT THESE DAYS AGING AND OFFICE QUITE A BIT FROM GEORGE W. BUSH TO PRESIDENT OBAMA.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF UPKEEP, I GUESS.
MR. YANG: BECAUSE HIS HAIR IS NOT REAL.
ADAM: WHAT ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE?
MR. YANG: IT IS A COMPLICATED PROBLEM.
GUNS SHOULD BE TREATED SIMILARLY TO AUTOMOBILES.
WE HAVE TEXANS -- WE HAVE TESTING AND LICENSING FOR AUTOMOBILES BECAUSE THEY CAN KILL PEOPLE.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE 300 MILLION FIREARMS OWNED BY CITIZENS, AND THERE IS NO REALISTIC WAY YOU CAN REDUCE THAT NUMBER DRAMATICALLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
A LOT OF IT THE INVESTMENT SHOULD BE MADE AROUND THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND THINGS TO KEEP PEOPLE STRONG, PARTICULARLY IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
IN MANY SCHOOLS, THERE IS A TROUBLED BOY, AND EVERYONE KNOWS THE BOY IS TROUBLED, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO RAISE THE ALARM ABOUT IT.
MY BROTHER, THE PSYCHOLOGIST, KNOWS THAT IF YOU HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES, YOU CAN PREEMPT SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS SO WHAT -- ADAM: SO WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET AROUND THIS?
WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT TROUBLED BOY?
MR. YANG: IF PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE AND THERE IS A RESOURCE THERE AND WE LISTEN TO OUR CHILDREN, AND THEY SAY IT SEEMS THAT BOY IS STRUGGLING, FIRST WE NEED TO CREATE A
CULTURE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES STRUGGLE.
IT CANNOT BE THAT IF SOMEONE SAYS YOU ARE STRUGGLING, THAT IS SOMEHOW STIGMATIZED AND MARKS YOU IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
SECOND IS YOU HAVE REAL RESOURCES AT WORK TO TRY AND INTERVENE AND IMPROVE AND SUPPORT THAT YOUNG PERSON.
GENERALLY, A YOUNG BOY, BECAUSE WE KNOW YOUNG BOYS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO INFLICT GUN VIOLENCE ON THEIR PEERS THAN OTHERS.
ADAM: LET'S JUMP BACK ON THE TECH CONVERSATION.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NET NEUTRALITY, AND WHY SHOULD THAT MATTER?
MR. YANG: THE BIG THING IS SHOULD BIG COMPANIES PAY TO HAVE BETTER INTERNET ACCESS THAN OTHERS?
IF YOU THINK THAT IS A BAD IDEA, YOU ARE FOR NET NEUTRALITY.
I AM FOR NET NEUTRALITY.
BIG COMPANIES HAVE ENOUGH ADVANTAGES.
SO I AM PRO NET NEUTRALITY.
IT IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO.
EVEN WITH NET NEUTRALITY, THERE ARE MASSIVE ADVANTAGES.
ADAM: IN TERMS OF THE REGULAR PERSON, WHY SHOULD THEY CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE?
MR. YANG: THE QUESTION IS WHETHER YOU WANT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ONLINE FOR VENDORS, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH YOU, FOR CONTENT PROVIDERS.
IF YOU WERE GETTING BETTER SPEEDS FROM CERTAIN PROVIDERS, YOU WOULD USE THEM MORE, AND IT WOULD CONSOLIDATE POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES.
ADAM: ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION COMING IN, THIS ONE FROM ANDY.
THIS IS A LITTLE POINTED.
HE SAYS, "SO I GET A $1,000 A MONTH FOR BUSTING MY BUTT AT WORK, AND SOMEBODY ELSE GETS $1000 FOR NOT WORKING?
AM I UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY?" MR. YANG: IF YOU'RE BUSTING YOUR BUTT AT WORK, PRESUMABLY YOU ARE GETTING PAID FOR THAT.
SO YOU GET $1000 A MONTH FROM THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND YOUR EMPLOYER IS PAYING YOU.
AND THE PERSON WHO IS NOT WORKING, THEY ARE GETTING $1000 A MONTH, AND THEY SEE YOU COMING HOME FROM WORK, THEY THINK MAYBE I CAN GET MORE, GET A JOB.
THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION IS THAT THE FREEDOM DIVIDEND WILL SOMEHOW MITIGATE WORK -- IT WILL NOT SPEED IT WILL CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS.
IF YOU ARE GETTING AN EXTRA $12,000 A YEAR, HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL BE SPENT RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
MOST OF IT.
TUTORING, FOOD FOR YOUR KIDS, CAR REPAIRS YOU HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF, THE OCCASIONAL NIGHT OUT.
IT STAYS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
SOME OF IT GOES TO JEFF BEZOS AND THE GANG.
YOU WILL DO SOME AMAZONING.
FOR MOST OF IT STAYS HERE.
THAT WILL BE TRUE FOR THAT GENTLEMAN'S COMMUNITY AS WELL.
HE WILL GET THE MONEY FROM HIS JOB AND HIS DIVIDEND.
ADAM: YOU ARE ALREADY CONDUCTING YOUR EXPERIMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND CROSSTOWN, WHERE YOU ARE JUST PAYING THEM WITH THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU DOTHAT, ARE YOU TREATING -- ARE YOU KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT THEY DO?
ARE YOU TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT MONEY?
MR. YANG: I AM NOT EVEN SURE THEY SPENT THE FIRST $2000 THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN.
AND IF THEY DO NOT, THAT IS GREAT.
IF THEY SPEND IT ON SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEIR LIVES BETTER, ALSO GREAT.
THE FOSSI FAMILY IN GOFFSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I AM DOING THE SAME FOR A FAMILY IN IOWA.
HERE IS WHAT IS INSPIRATIONAL.
A COUPLE IN GEORGIA WAS SO INSPIRED THEY ARE GIVING $1000 A MONTH TO A FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA THEY HAVE NEVER MET, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE CAN IMPROVE AMERICANS LIVES QUICKLY.
I AM NOT CHECKING IN ON THEM AT ALL.
WHATEVER THEY DO WILL BE GREAT.
ADAM: LET'S CHECK ON AN ISSUE IN A HOT BUTTON -- MR. YANG: I KIND OF KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO.
IT WILL GO TO JANELLE'S COLLEGE TUITION.
SO THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, I AM SURE.
ADAM: LET'S TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE IMPORTANT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT NOW.
THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON LEGALIZATION AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
MR. YANG: I AM FOR THE FULL LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA AND REMOVING IT FROM THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LIST.
IT IS BETTER FOR MANAGING PAIN THAN OPIATES.
LESS DANGEROUS.
WE STILL NEED TO REGULATE IT.
YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING THE LEGAL AND REGULATE IT.
BUT TO ME, IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRIMINALIZATION OF IT HAS NOT BEEN EQUITABLE, AND WE SHOULD LEGALIZE IT FULLY.
ADAM: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
HOW WOULD YOU PLAN TO USE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS IN TECH, ALL OF THIS AI, ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, HOW DO YOU APPLY THAT TO THE PROBLEM OF SUPERFUND SITES THAT ARE
POLLUTING DRINKING WATER, CREATING HEALTH PROBLEMS?
MR. YANG: I WISH THERE WAS A TECH SOLUTION.
THERE MIGHT BE AT THE MARGINS.
BUT WE NEED TO DO MUCH, MUCH MORE TO POLICE SUPERFUND SITES AND TIE CORPORATE INCENTIVES TO OUR AIR AND WATERPROOF THE PROBLEM IS THESE COMPANIES ARE MAKING A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
AND SAY IF IT PAYS TO POLLUTE, THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO.
WE HAVE TO MAKE IT MORE COSTLY FOR THEM TO POLLUTE WITH A CARBON FEE AND DIVIDEND SYSTEM AND CHANNEL THOSE RESOURCES TO MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER FOR COMPANIES TO CUT CORNERS.
ADAM: ON CLIMATE CHANGE, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN AMERICA WHILE STILL ALLOW THE DEVELOPING -- ALLOW THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO DEVELOP AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE NOT PUTTING
TOO MUCH CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE?
MR. YANG: THIS IS THE HARSH TRUTH ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL EMISSIONS.
THE UNITED STATES IS ONLY 15% OF GLOBAL EMISSIONS.
EVEN IF WE WERE TO GO REALLY EXTREME AND CUT OUR EMISSIONS SIGNIFICANTLY, IT MIGHT CUT GLOBAL EMISSIONS BY 5%.
THE FOUR WARMEST YEARS IN HISTORY HAVE BEEN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE ON THE CURVE TOWARDS A WARMING PLANET.
IT IS NOT LIKE IF WE ALL OF US ARE -- ALL OF A SUDDEN START RECYCLING DILIGENTLY IT WILL START TO COOL AGAIN.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE TECHNOLOGY WILL COME INTO PLAY.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE US MORE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE.
YOU SEE THAT AROUND THE COUNTRY, THAT THERE ARE FLOODS AND NATURAL DISASTERS THAT ARE DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE, IN PART BECAUSE INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING.
THEN WE NEED TO INVEST IN REVERSING SOME OF THE MOST SEVERE EFFECTS.
IF HE CAN GET CARBON OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND FIND A WAY TO SEQUESTER IT, THAT IS A ACTION WE SHOULD GO IN.
THAT IS WHERE TECHNOLOGY SHOULD HELP.
BUT WE HAVE TO START BEING HONEST WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT THE WORLD.
IF WE REDUCED ADMISSIONS, THAT WOULD HELP BUT WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ENTIRELY.
ADAM: ONE LAST QUESTION HERE.
WE HAVE EXHAUSTED THE ROOM, SO I AM FEELING IN HERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VOTING PROCESS.
YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THEIR SMARTPHONES.
HOW DO YOU PROTECT INTERFERENCE, WHEN WE KNOW SO MANY APPS HAVE ALREADY GAINED ACCESS TO OUR PHONES.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT SOMEONE FROM HAVING THEIR VOTES INTERFERED WITH?
MR. YANG: YOU WOULD NOT MOVE TOWARD SMARTPHONE VOTING UNTIL THE TECHNOLOGY IS READY FOR PRIME TIME, WHICH, RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT.
BUT THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES ON THE TABLE USING SOMETHING CALLED THE BLOCK CHAIN THAT YOU CAN TRUST INTRINSICALLY, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING CALLED A PUBLIC LEDGER.
YOU CANNOT TAMPER WITH IT.
EVERYONE CAN SEE IT.
YOU CANNOT TAMPER WITH IT.
THEN YOU COULD VOTE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE AND CREATE A MORE POWERFUL DEMOCRACY.
THE OTHER THING -- I WOULD MAKE ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY.
HOW IS IT NOT?
SO WE NEED TO EMPOWER VOTERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, AS A MODERN SOCIETY, THAT WE CAN BANK ONLINE AND PAY PARKING TICKETS ONLINE, BUT THEN WE HAVE TO STAND IN LINE AND PULL L EVERS ON THESE MACHINES THAT ARE
NOT TAMPER-PROOF.
IF YOU MOVE TOWARDS A VOTING SYSTEM WE CAN TRUST, THAT WOULD BE THE VISION, BUT YOU DO NOT MAKE THAT MOVE UNTIL THE TECHNOLOGY IS READY.
ADAM: I THINK YOU WILL HAVE A FUN CONVERSATION WITH BILL GARDNER AT SOME POINT BEFORE WE GO, YOU WENT TO PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY.
WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST MEMORY ABOUT THE GRANITE STATE?
MR. YANG: I LEARNED TO SKI AS A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I HAD NEVER SKIED BEFORE.
THERE WAS A SPEECH ABOUT EXIT HER.
I WAS LIKE, I WILL LEARN TO SKI.
SO I GOT ON THE BUS.
IT WAS A PAINFUL DAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THEN I WAS PROUD OF MYSELF THAT I MANAGED TO CATCH UP TO MY FRIENDS AND GO DOWN THE SLOPES BY THE END OF THE DAY.
I JUST SPOKE AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL TWO WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO BE BACK.
I STILL HAVE FRIENDS HERE, BECAUSE MANY OF MY FRIENDS' PARENTS STILL LIVE HERE.
ADAM: YOU TOOK YOUR BRUISING ON THE SKI TRAIL.
HOPEFULLY THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TREATS YOU MORE NICELY.
ANDREW YANG, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN CONVERSATION WITH CANDIDATES.
THANK YOU TO THE STUDIO AUDIENCE AND THE TOWN HALL QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ON WMUR.COM AND ON OUR MOBILE APP.
NEXT WEEK, JOHN DELANEY WILL BE OUR NEXT GUEST ON CONVERSATION WITH CANDIDATES.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
[APPLAUSE] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]

&#39;Conversation with the Candidate&#39; with Andrew Yang: Online exclusive

'Conversation with the Candidate' with Andrew Yang: Online exclusive