The irony of technological advancement
Yang talks about the concept called 'The Great Displacement' that has left many Americans jobless over the years. Technology is good and must be embraced because it significantly reduces production costs and enhances efficiency. Ironically, the same technology that enhances efficiency results in massive job losses.
The satire of job recreation
The author is categorical that millions of Americans are losing jobs due to improved technology and artificial intelligence. Since the author is a presidential aspirant, he convinces the electorates that he can recreate the lost jobs. The biggest question is 'How?' can one achieve such an ambition? Technology keeps on changing, and employers are striving to further embracing technology to reduce their production costs.
The Irony of the Universal Basic Income (UBI)
According to Yang, he wants to reverse the impact of technology on people by initiating a paid program called UBI. To achieve this objective, Yang aims at adding 10% VAT on all goods and services. The irony of this strategy is that adding value-added tax will burden the same people that the author intends to help.
The irony of the title ‘The War on Normal People’
The title suggests that normal people are battled by external forces which make their lives hard and unsustainable. The author is using the title as a campaigning tool to clinch into the presidency. Ironically, the author later realized that this campaigning tool was inefficient when he lost his political bid.
