Andrew Yang on Our Broken Political System (Encore)
May 21, 2024
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Former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang discusses his new book 'Forward' and the importance of structural reform in politics. He shares his teenage years and music interests, addresses money's influence in politics, the need for entitlement reform, and why politicians should be paid more. Yang advocates for universal basic income, open primaries, and ranked choice voting to combat political polarization and improve the system for all.
Andrew Yang advocates for structural reform to safeguard democracy through his political initiatives and book 'Forward'.
Andrew Yang shares his teenage experiences, including a passion for post-punk bands and the significance of music in his life.
Andrew Yang emphasizes the need for non-partisan open primaries, ranked-choice voting, and universal basic income to address political challenges and economic changes.
Deep dives
Discussing Andrew Yang's Ventures and Advocacy for Structural Reform
Andrew Yang, a former presidential candidate and founder of Venture for America and the Forward Party, advocates for structural reform to protect democracy. In the podcast, he delves into his book "Forward" to address the root issues in politics. Yang's discussion ranges from personal anecdotes about his teenage years to poignant topics like money's influence in politics, advocating for fair wages for politicians and discussing entitlement reform and universal basic income.
Andrew Yang's Teenage Years and Obsession with Post-Punk Bands
Andrew Yang shares insights into his teenage years, sharing an obsession with post-punk bands like The Cure and Nine Inch Nails. He reflects on the significance of music in his life during a mono-cultural era and how it resonated with his experiences of rebellion and a sense of community in counter-cultural settings like concerts.
Parental Expectations and Work Ethic
Growing up as a child of immigrants, Andrew Yang's parents emphasized the importance of hard work and academic excellence. Their approach instilled a belief in him that with effort and determination, he could achieve anything. From excelling academically at a young age to navigating the pressures of high school and prep school, Yang reflects on the varying expectations and challenges he faced.
Challenges and Incentives in Political System
Andrew Yang delves into the challenges within the political system, highlighting how incentives often drive behavior. He emphasizes the need for structural changes like non-partisan open primaries and ranked-choice voting to encourage more sensible policies and outcomes. By addressing the flaws in incentives and promoting a less polarized system, Yang advocates for a more productive and inclusive political landscape.
Impact of Automation and Universal Basic Income
Discussing the looming impact of automation and AI on various industries, Andrew Yang underlines the need for solutions like universal basic income (UBI) to counter underemployment and job displacement. He stresses the importance of preparing for the future by embracing adaptations like UBI, which can provide economic stability and empowerment amidst rapidly evolving job markets.
Preparing Children for an Uncertain Future
In light of the evolving landscape and challenges ahead, Andrew Yang shares insights on preparing children for an uncertain future. He encourages adaptability, resilience, and a positive mindset to navigate changing circumstances. Yang advocates for fostering an environment that promotes adaptability and the ability to work effectively in diverse settings to equip children for the dynamic future ahead.
Andrew Yang is a former Presidential and NYC mayoral candidate and the founder of Venture for America. He's also the founder of the Forward Party where he advocates for structural reform to safeguard our democracy. He lays all this out in his new book, ‘Forward,' which we discussed today. We also discuss Andrew's life as a teenager, his obsession with post-punk bands like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails, why he didn’t do drugs as a teenager, and how his parents felt when he got his ear pierced. More to the point of his political career, we talk about how money is the tail that wags the dog and both the GOP and the Democratic Party. He mentions why we should pay our politicians more, how gerrymandering and primaries forment polarization, and we talk about entitlement reform and universal basic income. Even if you don't agree with all his policy ideas, I think you'll agree that Andrew’s efforts to fix the machine of politics are worthwhile and something we should all think about supporting because the current polarized political system is making everybody freaking miserable. Andrew is the son of immigrants from Taiwan. He attended Philips Exeter, Brown University, and Columbia Law School. This episode oraingally ran in August of 2022.
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