Presidential hopeful Andrew Yang targets automation at rain-drenched NYC rally

[Sherman A1]

Andrew Yang, one of the Democratic presidential field's least-known candidates, held one of his campaign's biggest rallies Tuesday at Washington Square Park in New York City, sharing his signature plan to give every American $1,000 per month before a young and diverse crowd that appeared to stretch into the thousands.

Yang, whose "Humanity First Tour" has already attracted large audiences in several major cities across the country, despite his lack of name recognition, identified automation as a major issue threatening the United States' economy, but promised that his proposed "Freedom Dividend" -- the name for his universal basic income payment -- could create new jobs and provide its recipients with the flexibility to live more productively.

"Think about what $1,000 per month would mean in your hands. How would you spend it?" Yang asked the crowd, which was dotted with umbrellas as a steady rain fell over the city. "It would make our children stronger and healthier. It would make us all mentally healthier and less stressed out. It would create more than two million jobs because most of the money would get spent right here in our communities."

The rally Tuesday came as interest in Yang in recent months has steadily risen. The entrepreneur recently qualified for the first Democratic debate in June, after he reached the donor and polling thresholds.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democratic-presidential-hopeful-andrew-yang-hold-rally-nyc/story?id=63034490

[Blue_true]

1. Yang is right about the effect of automation.

I have said over and over that one day, maybe 3 decades away, only 10-15% of people will have jobs. Society must find a way to deal with what I believe is the coming reality. We can't continue to allow wealth concentrate into the hands of those that can afford artificial intelligence aps and robots. There has to be some sensible system for distributing the gains that robots and AI will bring to society. It is great to see that Yang is making the connection. I think Senator Warren gets it also, although her focal point is somewhat different.

[Sherman A1]

2. Having seen various flavors of computerization and automation

through my work years, each and everyone of them costing jobs and or chipping away at work hours I really find Yang to be the only one addressing this issue (others may be as you mentioned, but none with the focus that he is bringing to the argument). I don't see this as being a 3 decades issue, but one of less than 10 years before a goodly portion of our people are replaced by AI in some fashion.

We have transitioned long ago to computerization of back offices, to pumping our own gas, checking out our purchases at grocery and hardware stores, banking online, purchasing online and more and more will be coming in ways we could never have imagined just a few years ago. I cite the mail in colonoscopy kit advertised on TV as a prime example.

This is the main reason I support Yang although his many policies simply make sense to me.

[Blue_true]

3. The mailin colon test kit has been around for years. It requires that you "catch" some of your

feces. The newer method is you clean yourself out overnight and go into a clinic the next day to be scoped inside.

On machines replacing people, you are likely right that it will be less than 30 years, likely closer to 15.

Yang clearly has a better grasp on what is coming at society than his rivals do, although I repeat that Senator Warren seems to be thinking along the same lines, except not as clearly or explicitly as Yang.

I think today that young people of the future will have challenges and opportunities that we can't dream of, a lot more challenges than opportunities though.