Democrats just had a real debate about automation on stage

During Tuesday’s 2020 Democratic debate, candidates from Andrew Yang to Elizabeth Warren were forced to address how they would support workers whose jobs are threatened by automation.

Automation is entrepreneur Yang’s pet issue and one that he’s pushed into the mainstream presidential policy discussion over the past few months. His proposed remedy has been a universal basic income (UBI) of $1,000 for each person living in the United States over the age of 18. He’s argued that this monetary guarantee would allow people to spend more time engaging in hobbies or providing a basic level of financial security when the jobs of auto manufacturers or semi truck drivers may be insecure.

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