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Last month, I met various American MBA students from top US universities. Top of the top. As we rode in cars and ate lunches, they chatted about Democratic pr

by PakG1 8y ago

Last month, I met various American MBA students from top US universities. Top of the top. As we rode in cars and ate lunches, they chatted about Democratic presidential candidates. They all didn't like Trump. This was about the time that a number of candidates had announced, and they were discussing who they liked or didn't like. I asked them what they thought of Andrew Yang, and they had no idea who he even was. It showed me how much of an uphill climb Yang has to even get name recognition. I'd like to see any American to walk into any coffee shop and ask, "Hey, so what do you think of Andrew Yang?" and see what kind of name recognition he really has. If these top MBA candidates from top schools who were so enthusiastic for discussing Democratic candidates did not recognize him, who would? As much as we might make fun of MBAs, I imagine them to still be more plugged in than average as to what's happening in the world, especially if they're Ivy Leaguers? Or does Andrew Yang really have good name recognition, and I just got unlucky in running into posers who have no idea about anything? Or are people really just not that plugged in after all?

beat 8y ago
If you'd come in at the same point in the cycle in 2015, you'd have gotten the same blank stares for Bernie Sanders. Or in 2003, none would have known who Howard Dean was. Of course, six months later, Dean completely dominated the Democratic nomination process, largely for standing up and plainly stating beliefs that most Democrats shared, which were being rejected by most Democratic politicians. UBI is widely popular among liberals (and libertarians), and the other candidates aren't even mentioning it. That's how Yang is getting a lot of interest and traction in Iowa and NH. And it helps that he has some characteristics that sell well in the retail-politics, highly personal world of IA/NH primary politics. He comes across as a pretty ordinary and totally sincere person, and those things always sell well. (Source: I lived in Iowa through four presidential campaigns.)
ncphillips 8y ago
> As much as we might make fun of MBAs, I imagine them to still be more plugged in than average as to what's happening in the world, especially if they're Ivy Leaguers? I'm not really convinced this is a solid assumption.

by PakG1 8y ago

beat 8y ago

If you'd come in at the same point in the cycle in 2015, you'd have gotten the same blank stares for Bernie Sanders. Or in 2003, none would have known who Howard Dean was. Of course, six months later, Dean completely dominated the Democratic nomination process, largely for standing up and plainly stating beliefs that most Democrats shared, which were being rejected by most Democratic politicians. UBI is widely popular among liberals (and libertarians), and the other candidates aren't even mentioning it. That's how Yang is getting a lot of interest and traction in Iowa and NH. And it helps that he has some characteristics that sell well in the retail-politics, highly personal world of IA/NH primary politics. He comes across as a pretty ordinary and totally sincere person, and those things always sell well. (Source: I lived in Iowa through four presidential campaigns.)

ncphillips 8y ago

> As much as we might make fun of MBAs, I imagine them to still be more plugged in than average as to what's happening in the world, especially if they're Ivy Leaguers? I'm not really convinced this is a solid assumption.