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