#235: A Quick Review: The Yang Candidacy
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Whether you agree with his signature policy proposal, the 'Freedom Dividend' ($1,000 a month for all Americans, 18 or older), you have to admit that Yang has identified what may be our economy's big problem: the loss of good-paying jobs to automation and offshoring.
So, let's take a look at his big picture answer, and the many other proposals he makes [for this, I quote from a New Yorker article by Emily Witt--in black; my thoughts in blue]:
Supreme Court Justices and congresspeople will have term limits of eighteen years. This would require Constitutional Amendments, which are all but impossible. So, unfortunately, Yang's agenda slips a bit into the 'unlikelihood' chasm.
Federal laws will automatically sunset after a determined period of time. If a law is just, it should be universal and last indefinitely. The Endangered Species Act, for example, would be hard to pass a second time.
Each American will receive a hundred “democracy dollars” to donate to the candidate of her choosing and a hundred dollars to donate to the nonprofit organization of her choice. Here's a winner, though why not a more modest $25, each, say?
Free financial counseling and free marriage counseling. Hmmm, that's more good-paying jobs taken over by government-backed robots (that's right, robots--see the article). But, who knows, maybe worth it.
A government hotline to report robocalls. Would imagine the other candidates could all get behind this one.
Voting age will be sixteen. Ok, though I doubt it could pass.
Opioids will be decriminalized. Would advise removing this from his agenda, and instead, working on incremental steps that are possible. Too scary for most.
Every cop will wear a camera. Most candidates advocate this.
N.C.A.A. athletes will finally get paid. Sure.
Mixed-martial-arts fighters will be protected by law from exploitation. Pass.
Ceremonial events will be attended not by the President of the United States, who has better things to do, but by the “Head of Culture and Ceremony,” who would be a Presidentially appointed famous person, like Tom Hanks, the Rock, or Oprah. Ok, sort of like multiple veeps, then?
High-school students will do exchanges to other parts of the United States to learn about their fellow-Americans. Ok, if this is an offer, rather than dictum.
A local journalism fund will finance the regional news. Like public radio/TV? A very good idea, but likely hard to pass (Republicans would be ag'in it).
Malls emptied by Internet commerce will be revitalized as public spaces. At the national level?
Companies will be forced to reduce their plastic packaging. Tax? Ban? Incentives for bio-degradable alternatives? The latter might be doable.
Airlines will not be allowed to drag their customers from overbooked flights. Ok, though ticket prices would probably rise slightly.
Tax Day will be a holiday. Why not voting day? Who does their taxes on tax day, anyway? Surprised this proposal isn't more disruptive in nature, like, maybe 'government-does-your-tentative-taxes-for-you', so that all you need to do is review and digitally confirm.
Puerto Rico will be a state. Most other candidates are on board--assuming Puerto Ricans still want this.
The penny will be eliminated. Does scratch an itch, but why not 'nickel' as well, and drop a decimal point?
New government agencies, such as the “Legion of Builders and Destroyers,” which will be tasked with updating the nation’s infrastructure. I humbly suggest that we have too big a government framework, and that consolidation of functions/downsizing is an easier sell.
Voting, using our phones. I've written extensively about the problems and solutions on this blog: security concerns can be overcome by polling of online opinion at each representative's website, as voters offer advice on randomly selected issues to their elected Reps.; this squares the direct democracy circle--until blockchain figures out the fundamental security issues with voting online.
Big Picture: the world Yang sees is one in which automation, climate change, and Internet commerce have transformed capitalism beyond the point where it sustains humanity. He calls the necessary corrective—universal basic income—a turn toward “human-centered capitalism” [$1,000 per adult per month]. There's something very appealing here--aside from the free money--as $24,000 a year is getting close to enough for a couple's subsistence livelihood (eating rice and beans, home-grown veggies, handicrafts, play-your-own games and instruments). Honestly, though, implementing a enormous Value Added Tax is just not possible given the US Senate's conservative bias. Is it worth fighting for, anyway? Maybe.
Evaluation: As I see it, Yang has some good ideas (Democracy Dollars, RoboCall Hotline, local journalism fund like Public Radio), some no-brainers that most other candidates support, along with some ideas probably best dealt with at the state level (free counseling, decriminalization/legalization), plus a grab bag of unlikely, pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking, and finally, his Universal Basic Income, funded by an enormous new tax--which is either impossible to pass, unsustainable (too much subsistence living and not enough tax paying) or a good wedge issue to defeat Red State senators. On that final point, a first step might be Cory Booker's Baby Bonds payout once underprivileged kids reach adulthood. This could then be expanded, gradually, as increased opportunity leads to a healthier, more productive workforce. In other words, deal with inequality, then automation, with opportunity generating the new jobs needed in the meantime.
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