Andrew Yang: I'm Focused On The Policies That Got Trump Elected In 2016

2020 Democratic hopeful Andrew Yang explained his proposal to give $1,000 per month to Americans over the age of 18 in an interview with FOX News' Martha MacCallum on Thursday.





MARTHA MACCALLUM, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: So, as the 2020 Democratic field grows, candidates are out there running on platforms that they are trying to set themselves apart with.

Watch this.



(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)



SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, we will pass a Medicare-for-All single-payer program.



SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: To make sure that we never get in this mess again on student loan debt and that is to make college universally available with free tuition and fees.



ANDREW YANG (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My flagship proposal which many of you have probably heard of is a freedom dividend of $1,000 per month of every American adult starting at age 18.



(END VIDEO CLIP)



MACCALLUM: You heard that last one right. 2020 hopeful Andrew Yang says that if he is elected, all Americans between the ages you have 18 and 64 will receive $12,000 a year, no exceptions. And he joins me now.



Andrew Yang, welcome. Thank you very much for coming to the story tonight.



YANG: Thanks for having me. It's great to be here.



MACCALLUM: So, this universal basic income is based on the fact that you see our country going through technological transformational change and that we need -- everyone is going to need this money as a buffer to get through that. Correct?



YANG: Yes. That's exactly right. If you look at the facts on the ground, we automated away 4 million manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa. And my friends in Silicon Valley know we are about to do the same thing million of retail jobs, call center jobs, fast food jobs, truck driving jobs --



MACCALLUM: That’s right.



YANG: -- and on and on through the economy.



So, we need to get our heads up. We need to help millions of Americans transition more successfully in this economy.



MACCALLUM: So, what makes you think it will work? Where has a system like that worked?



YANG: Well, the great thing is you need to look very far. We have had a dividend in effect in Alaska for almost 40 years. It was passed by a Republican governor. Everyone in Alaska gets between $1,000 and $2,000 a year, no questions asked from oil money.



And what I’m saying to the American people is that technology is the oil of the 21st century. And what they are doing for people in Alaska with oil, we can do for everyone around the country with technology.



MACCALLUM: So, you know, the typical things would be that when the economy is changing dramatically, which I think a lot of people agree with that part what you are saying, that you need to do a transition. I’m wondering is this to prevent, you know, unrest in the country? Because, at some point, if these jobs are taken away, and robots and, you know, A.I., and all of this takes over, are you trying to sort of apiece the country with money?



YANG: Well, if you look at our life expectancy, it's declined for the last three years because of surges in suicides and drug overdoses. And a lot of that is happening in communities that have lost manufacturing jobs. So, if you project that happening to truckers in the next 10 years, there are 3.5 million Americans who drive a truck for a living right now. And if you think that they would take losing their livelihood very easily or gently, then you probably live in a different country than I do.



MACCALLUM: You know, it's $2.4 trillion annually. And I know you have been asked before, you know, how are you going to pay for it you? You believe that giving everybody $12,000 is going to juice the economy. How?



YANG: Well, it you imagine everyone getting $1,000 a month, where does that money go? It goes into car repairs and tutoring and food for kids and trips to the hardware store. The money circulates over and over again through the economy. It’s called a trickle up economy.



And it would create over 2 million new jobs. It will grow the consumer economy by 10 percent to 12 percent, because the money doesn't disappear. It doesn’t go anywhere. We have it, we spend it and it makes our families stronger and healthier.



MACCALLUM: So, when you get up on that debate stage and right now it looks like you will qualify, right?



YANG: Yes.



MACCALLUM: OK. What are you going to say up there besides this because this is sort of your thing to stand out? You know, how are you going to stand out in this pack?



YANG: Well, I’m laser-focused on solving the problems that got Donald Trump elected in 2016. And most Americans are very smart. I’ve been around the country.



They know that 30 percent of the malls and stores are closing because Amazon is soaking up $20 billion in business. And they know that Amazon is paying zero in taxes and that they’re not getting anything in return.



So, I’m just going to make the case to the American people that we’re going through the greatest economic transformation --



MACCALLUM: So, like, it's all going to stink. You are going to lose your job. You’re not going to have anything, so we’re going to give you a big handout.



I mean, I don't know that's going to be inspiring to a lot of Americans --



YANG: Well --



MACCALLUM: -- as a way to deal with this change.



YANG: If you look at Alaska, the oil check is one of their favorite things that government does. This is the freedom dividend. We can completely afford it. It would, again, create millions of jobs and give millions of Americans a better chance to pursue the work that they want to do.



It would also recognize the sort of work that my wife does. She’s at home with our two boys, one of whom has autism. And there are millions of women around the country that are doing work that right now our market does not recognize.



MACCALLUM: So, why should rich people get $12,000?



YANG: Well, using Alaska again as an example, then it's a right. There’s not -- there is no stigma attached to it. It’s not, oh you are getting it. You are not getting it. Then, you know, and then everyone can breathe easy saying, look, everyone deserves a dividend.



MACCALLUM: All right. I want to ask you one unrelated question that's likely to come up. There is a huge abortion debate in the country with the new Alabama law.



Where do you stand on that? Are you in favor of -- you know, what are you in favor of? Where do you stand on that?



YANG: Well, I think it's a deeply personal decision that each woman has to undertake and to me, the government should not have a heavy hand saying what that choice should or should not be. I think that male legislators in particular should step back, let women decide what they want to do with their own reproductive rights and freedoms.



I have a feeling I know how women would come out. But you can tell from what I’m saying right now that I do not think that the laws that are being passed in Alabama and other states are the right direction at all.



MACCALLUM: You are very mild mannered and calm.



(LAUGHTER)



MACCALLUM: How are you -- if you were to go up against President Trump, are you too nice?



YANG: Well, you know, they say the opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math and that the goal is to try and get the American people excited about how we can all get a piece of all the innovations and progress that some Americans are enjoying but some Americans are rightfully feeling left out of.



MACCALLUM: Interesting. Andrew Yang, thank you very much for coming in tonight.



YANG: Thanks, Martha.



MACCALLUM: Good to meet you.