‘Democracy Dollars’: Andrew Yang’s New Campaign Scheme Yields Comedy Gold
Presidential contender Andrew Yang endorsed something called “Democracy Dollars” as a way to reform elections in the U.S., but mainly everyone zeroed in the bizarre name.
Yang was asked how he would get money out of public elections and commit to campaign finance reform.
“The answer is to wash the money out,” Yang responded. “With people-powered money. My proposal is that we give every American 100 democracy dollars that you can only give to candidates and causes that you like. This would wash out the lobbyist cash by a factor of 8 to 1. That is the only way we will win.”
Immediately people latched on to the admittedly very catchy name, but others noted that it isn’t clear how the program will work or if it will even be real money.
How many Democracy Dollars equal a Shrute buck?
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) September 13, 2019
Full disclosure: I laughed out loud when Yang said “Democracy Dollars.”
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 13, 2019
Give me Democracy Dollars. I will spend them at Olive Garden.
— Emily Jashinsky (@emilyjashinsky) September 13, 2019
What is the conversion rate of Democracy Dollars to Shrute Bucks?#DemDebate
— Charlotte Clymer?️? (@cmclymer) September 13, 2019
Dispatch from future me in the year 2024: “Well, once again, I’m very sad to say, I spent all of my Democracy Dollars on shots of Jägermeister at the battle of the bands.” https://t.co/EQ1fzQFlfB
— Ryan H. Walsh (@JahHills) September 13, 2019
Whoa, I already got my Democracy Dollars! pic.twitter.com/YXcKU5UJ0X
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 13, 2019
this but democracy dollars pic.twitter.com/r9TyopFXfD
— Samit Sarkar (@SamitSarkar) September 13, 2019
Marianne Williamson holds her cup of warm oat milk up and toasts her 1999 Mitsubishi rear-projection TV. “Democracy Dollars? I like the sound of that.”
— bobby finger (@bobbyfinger) September 13, 2019
DEMOCRACY DOLLARS pic.twitter.com/XEYJcic5cX
— Erick Payne (@ErickPayneTV) September 13, 2019
oh now yang speaks out in favor of democracy dollars. i dropped them in level two so i could make room for medkits. this inventory system is broken
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) September 13, 2019
democracy dollars might be the biggest fake money innovation since mr salvador introduced class cash to west vine’s fourth grade classes
— Matt Collette (@matt_pc) September 13, 2019
Yang unveiling his Democracy Dollars pic.twitter.com/dHRNx5lFzp
— Joe Colangelo (@Itsjoeco) September 13, 2019
Yang’s “Democracy Dollars” have the same monetary value as Chuck E. Cheese’s tokens. #DemDebate
— Ford O’Connell (@FordOConnell) September 13, 2019
Despite the amazement at the plan, it doesn’t appear to be new to the 2020 campaign. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a similar plan to give voters “Democracy Dollars” to help clean up elections before she ended up dropping out.
Watch above, via ABC News
