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  • >> "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

>> "CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATE" CONTINUES.

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