Thank you. Thank you very much. The general debate is now open. We need someone to offer clear advice. Otherwise, it is useless. Thank you. Thank you. Can we have a contributor from the southwest . Who do we have from the southwest . A woman waving her paper in the air. I am from plymouth. I would like to say that most people say it is achievable. I say hospital and i was refused work expense because i was under 18. I could not get the work i needed. I was refused because obviously there are risks like being around drugs or patience. But even filing paperwork and getting coffee, unit expense rather than being offered Work Experience such as [indiscernible] that do not work with my aspirations. I am proud to say that i regained Work Experience under 18 in my local [indiscernible] if i can can achieve altogether. Thank you. [applause] thank you. Can we have a contributor from the northwest . Thank you, mr. Speaker. One of the concerns i have about the lack of Work Experience is the lack of experience and the effect of launching young people into the world of work almost a prepared. They will of course get some preparation from their parents quick pat on the back, he will do well in the interview, smile and wave, just smiled generally. In my case, not smile at all. [laughter] this could lead young people to a hostile view of work. They have a hostile outlook from the beginning to the end. They will see other ways to get around doing work and that is not what we want. This needs to be reversed. Young people should go out and look for work ourselves. So what we are what we achieve his or own. Thats right, isnt it . We build our own house. We are expected to live in it ourselves. This is fine. But surely, we must all be prepared for the way on how to get that experience. That experience that enables us. We should all begin the foundation. What we do from that foundation is up to us. But right now, we are not being given that foundation. And that i believe is major cause for concern. Thank you. [applause] what about a speaker from the east midlands . There is a woman who left some inches, possibly even feet from the ground and she is sitting on the very back bench resplendent in her inked top her pink top. You are from the east of england . Im sorry. We may get to you. Are you from the east midland . [laughter] no . Ok. Fair enough. East midlands. Lets hear from you, sir. [applause] the process of Work Experience and internships and corruption in people being exploited in a free source of labor, over a quarter of businesses a interns generally nothing but sometimes just under the minimum wage. 82 of Senior Business makers admit that they perform vital tasks for their businesses. Is it fair that we are just going to watch our peers complete tasks . The burden is again past to us as a power of persuasion, the power as a pressure group, the power of future members of parliament that we are not ok with the exploitation of our colleagues, our peers, and our friends. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed. What about the southeast of england. Who have we got from the southeast . What about the young girl there. Let us hear your message. I am from the city of oxford. I think its going to be hard for me to imagine what speaking as a small person in a very large room. His is the house of commons. Of course, im afraid. But even unexpressed like this which is great, is something that im afraid of. What about people who are going into life . That is literally our purpose, to live. And we are going to be afraid of it. Dont we deserve a chance to see what its going to be like . Thank you. [applause] you may call yourself small or i were to use the word short, but you stood tall speaking in this debate. And for the avoidance of doubt i have said this many times. I have always been short, im 51 years old and i remain short and given the impact of aging physiognomy, i may remain short in the future. We short people should stick together. [cheers and applause] thank you for that contribution. How about summary from london . This is an explosion. We are going to hear from you. Please. Im sorry, there are so many of you but we will do what we can. Everybodys Life Experiences different. You leave feeling inspired and work really hard. Other experience however may not be so good. But have you ever thought that in work, are you always going to enjoy it . Are you always go to get the opportunity . No. Everybody reacts differently to different situations. Good or bad experience, it is what molds you in employable. These experiences are you can say that you have learned from them and gain from them, the good ones and the bad ones. [applause] thank you very much indeed. I know i keep asking this, but i dont want anyone to be excluded. Do we have someone, a contributor from Northern Ireland . We have not heard from you. I would remember that purple tie if you had. Please. My name is christopher harkin. I want to speak on behalf of youth action and i. They feel that one week Work Experience is great. Getting out good experience in work is good. But they think it should be more than that. They think that one week isnt enough to truly represent what the working life is like. So they thought that either you could have two block weeks where you see the development of projects across the time or you could try having a few hours a week for a period of several months or even a full school year which would allow you to see the full development of projects and all the different aspects of working life in all their different ways which would truly allow you to see how the job is done. Thanks. [applause] thank you very much indeed. I would like to hear from a representative from the east of england. The lady in the pink dress who has been famously patient. Your moment has arrived. [applause] thank you mr. Speaker. I have had two expenses. My First Experience was in secondary school. They gave me a piece of paper where i ended up in a academy. I can think of me of rugby being tackled. I was a bit hesitant but then they gave me advice. They gave me connections. They gave me the right people. And im going to tell you that those 10 days were the best 10 days of my life and i can tell you now that it has impacted me. You heard my name . I was a young person who was a good experience because people had heard of me. You are a young person. You deserve to be given that inspiration and a sparkle in your eye. We are here representing young people. We need to give them that steppingstone between employment and education. This is our chance to. [applause] thank you very much. You are certainly worth waiting for. I think the reaction testifies to that. Can we have a speaker from wales . Who have we got from wales . What about the chap waving his hand . Yes, you. Thank you. Indeed. One of the issues in wales, we are a very rural nation there are not plenty options there. I dont believe this issue you can solve in a year. So i will not be voting for remote experience. Thank you. [applause] do we have a contributor from yorkshire and humber . That is as demonstrative as they come. The young woman in the red dress. Yes. Thank you so much, mr. Speaker. Work experience is vital to us. We need the atmosphere of our career choices. We do not want to be an education for one decade or two decades or even three decades of our lives. Or walk lightly into a job. We shouldnt need to rely on internet research. We need to rely on physical, reallife experience to enhance our lives so we can live to the maximum of our potential. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much. Have we got someone interested from the northeast . Yes, we will hear from you. I am here to say that Work Experience is not just to get into universities. You need at least four weeks work expands to get into the university to do the profession you want to do. Work experience is not just important for just to get into the university to get those jobs in the end. It is a domino effect and you have to start in. Thank you. [applause] anybody else from london . This is something else. Ok. It will be difficult to accommodate everybody. This young woman has in try for some time. First and foremost, i believe Work Experience is crucial. In conjunction with your good grace, you need good Work Experience. How can we going to work without any idea or any help on how to go into it . It doesnt make sense. We need education system. Why is it not equipped well enough for work . Why arent thats why are you not directing us . Also, with the good grace, we need to work grace work expands to be you have Work Experience but not good grace. Why do we go into exams with 10 years of six of education . Must say that today has been characterized with a lot of punctuation issues. Thank you and well done. I wanted to hear from somebody from the west midlands. Yes. [laughter] the young person right in the back, the one with long blonde hair in the middle. I think from worchester sure if i remember rightly. We all believe in education and we work for about 50 years of our lives. At 15 and 18, we make choices. To take our chances and factors that are not equal to everybody, such as our parents, is unfair. Work experience should be compulsory. [applause] thank you, very much. Now, to conclude this debate, we have a couple of further debates to come. I call from london i beg your pardon. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Amir is a 22yearold who has been unemployed for 12 months. Daniel is a 16yearold who has eight grade qualifications but has great personal skills. Alex is a 10yearold who does not believe in the beauty of her dream and will never be sure who she wants to be. Mr. Speaker, i dont need to stand before the horse and say how everyone of these young people. We can get businesses to help us develop a national streamwork for quality Work Experience and why every young person should be entitled to it. Could this happen in the campaign where completely different areas have completely different circumstances . Not every area can say the same. How could we make this into a National Campaign . Maybe thats the point. No young person should be held back because of where theyre from. That is something we champion as a Youth Parliament. Why couldnt we champion this message of equality through a campaign . However, even if we did manage to get Work Experience for all young people, two weeks is no ones idea of productive. If we quit Work Experience in all schools wed be condemning young people and not benefiting them. It can be the reality of the work place. Not everyone who comes out with Work Experience feels motivated and inspired the same way not everyone finishes a day of work feeling motivated and inspired. That is life. I knew that would get the support of the staff. See . Thats life. Its essential to be honest with young people. You know, when i was 5, i was called stylish and i wanted to be the next james bond but there was no Work Experience opportunities related to that. [applause] so i decided id become the next speaker of the house. [laughter] you know, young people are the future because of the power to change their present. This is epitomizes after a campaign. Help amir, daniel, alice, and rest of our young people. We can show you the path. Only you can decide which way your vote goes. Choose wisely. Members of the Youth Parliament, we will come now to our last debate. All good things come to an end. I would love to have it over two days. [applause] who knows what might be possible in the future . I mean it because i will tell you something every day in the house, there are lots of people attending. They are not necessarily seeking to speak but it is in the nature of things that most people here today will want to speak. My pain and your pain is only a small proportion actually get to make speeches and am genuinely sorry about that. We will now consider votes for 16 and 17yearolds in all elections as printed on the order paper. To move the motion, from scotland, we are about to hear from mr. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. This year is the centenary of world war i, 100 years. But did you know it has only been 96 years since women began to vote, 86 years since women gained equal Voting Rights and 45 years since the voting age was reduced to 18. We have not had to endure the same struggles, however we still have to see through that these parties actually deliver on their promise to stop over the past one year, as our National Campaign, more has been done that has been achieved in the past 15 years of the u. K. Youth parliament. On september 18, scotland put its fate in its young people giving all 16 and 17yearolds a democratic vote, a vote in one of the most crucial decisions affecting scotlands future and in return, 81 of scotlands 16 and 17yearold registered to vote. Certainly this reflects the maturity and seriousness that they are not attributed in our society. Today, i call on you, members of the Youth Parliament representatives drawn from the four nations of the United Kingdom to put your heart into it as we enter our 16th year of campaign to ensure voting becomes a reality across all referendums. To the welsh assembly, the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland simply make a change to the british democratic process. We must continue to move forward, striking what president has been set. Proving that 16 and 17yearolds are willing to engage. I urge you to put your faith one more time for one last push for one more year, lets ensure over the next year we do not lose the momentum built up so that finally we are able to see through the cause we all hold dear to our work in the u. K. Youth parliament. I envision a Youth Parliament standing in the house of commons, being able to stand and say our work is complete. Our National Campaign, so that finally at last, our dream can become a reality. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed for opening the debate in such a spirited and compelling fashion. And running to mr. Neil riley. [applause] thank you, mr. Speaker. Some of the arguments we hear time and time again are truly uninspiring. A list of well rehearsed rights like getting married, joining the army, etc. This does not begin to constitute an argument. This does not begin to engage with the question as to whether giving 16yearolds the right to vote now would benefit them or society at large. That is the question we should be asking ourselves. Many argue that vote that 16 would increase the dismal turnout figures we have seen a recent elections. It wont. Just because 16yearolds could vote, it doesnt mean they wont. What young people up and down these isles dont be leave in is that our political process can represented these opinions. It is clear that we have opinions. But all a vote seems to do is change the prime ministers time from blue to red and back again. Thats the problem. Thats what we need to address, the fact that the vast majority of young people find politicians as not worth their time. This policy doesnt even begin to address political disengagement. All it does is extend the broken franchise. Lets address the mistrust, the misunderstanding, the disgust at our political system and then let us consider lowering the voting age to 16. We have brought this fight. What more can we realistically do . If you believe the polls, we would have a party that would favor us immediately. Surely, our resources, our time, and are very limited money could be better spent fighting or the living wage, for the most disadvantaged in our society. When people working for a minimum wage jobs struggle to pay the bills, when young people in all our constituencies prostitute between a warm meal and a warm home, it is evident there is a problem. Its our duty to address that. I therefore urge each and every young person in this chamber to vote not for 16 buffer something that truly needs our support that helps the most vulnerable in our society and serves the people who elected us. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed. Hello from scotland would like to contribute . The gentleman here with the pink tie i think. Yes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. What could we really do that is likely to we could use that to sift through and push it and make sure that it happens because we dont know that four years down the line, it hasnt happened and we can really blame ourselves that we did not use the encouragement and we have to push it forward. Thank you. How about a contributor from yorkshire and humber side. The young woman three along whom i identified earlier. Yes, lets hear from you. Mr. Speaker, i am ever so proud to represent the constituency of course dale. 94 of your people use social media sites such as facebook and twitter. They witness political activity every day. Through pictures, through video, we witness political activity. This means that 94 of young people are engaged in some form of political activity. I will go as far to say as 100 of your people are engaged in some form of politics. It is inevitable that the whole world revolves around politics. Every single decision we make involves some form of political process. So why not, why not trust these people . Why not trust 16 and 17yearolds when witnessing all of this Political Action we form orals, form principles, opinions that we can identify in an election . I had the honor of listening to mr. Speaker speak up a halifax and i got to witness mr. Speaker engaging. Mr. Speaker himself said that young people are not disengaged in politics. That is a myth. Which im sure we all agree with. So i put to you, lets eradicate the enormous social divide this nation is witnessing between young people and adults and lets get everyone together, lets get people voting, lets show the world that 16 and 17yearolds are capable, are responsible, and deserve to vote. Get behind vote 16. Thank you. [applause] from the west midland. In this country, young people can marry at the age of 16 but we can not represent who can truly marry each other. We can i choose government. We are eligible to pay taxes at 16, but we have no influence on how they are spent. As citizens, we should be allowed to vote at 16. Not allowing us to do so process in the same category as visitors. It will improve the voter turnout which is imperative for our country. And let me finally say that the vote and 16 who say will never happen, theres nothing in this country that you cannot achieve. So i urge you to vote for this motion. [applause] thank you. British forces overseas was another person who wishes to contribute. At the moment, 1. 5 Million People are not allowed to vote because they are underage. Just because they were born after someone, they dont have a choice on how his country is run. You are allowed to join the army at 16. You are allowed to fight for our country. You are allowed to fight battles to protect us all but you have no choice on how his government is run. You dont have a choice on how education is run. Of course, voting at 16 wont solve youth disengagement overnight. It can definitely help solve the problem. Many teens feel disenfranchised from society which is perhaps why they caused such riots. 100,000 people over 100,000 people in the Scottish Referendum devoted which shows the interest in 16yearolds and 17yearolds voting. Thats why we should have a choice. [applause] what about the northwest . Let us hear from you. I, like most people, look like an adult and i think like an adult so i can vote like an adult. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed. Now, what about hearing from somebody from london. [laughter] thanks, mr. Speaker. At 16, you can leave home, you can have sex, you can even get married, you can even join the army. All these are applied to adulthood. Therefore, if you are an adult at 16, then why is the government refusing to lower the vote at age of 16 . We are old enough to have a baby. But not old enough to vote. It makes no sense. [applause] thank you very much indeed. Now, how about someone from the east. We are going to hear from the woman in the dark blue dress. [laughter] [applause] abandoning my impartiality for a moment, i hope you dont hear ive worship mr. Putin. I would have some worries about you if you did. [laughter] lets hear from you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Id like to say that we cannot adopt the vote on 16 on a defeatist what is the value in education when theres nothing to put what we learned into practice . How can you than justify the thousands of adults who may have not had school in their teens and get to vote in general elections . Do you deny them elections . We cannot delay this campaign. The vote held by people and not by others is a former power that can be held against others. This campaign is about giving the sound a voice. British soldiers who are under 18 died without ever having had the chance to cast their vote in the general election in a country that they died for. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed. What about the southwest of england . The gentleman jumping up and down in an eccentric manner. Yes, just here with the light gray suit. Yes, the David Beckham lookalike. Hello,. We are all young people here. Young people deserve a vote. I would have loved to have chosen the government i was granted. But i am not going to. We must take the initiative that we have the hand now. Ever heard the phrase that nothing is impossible . Well this is possible. We can do it. We have done many things before. How many people would love to turn around to their children as a, if it wasnt for us, you wouldnt be able to vote at the age of 16 or 17 . That is why i am 110 for this motion. [applause] thank you very much. How about someone who wishes to speak from the northeast of england . Are you from the northeast . Not from the northeastern yes, lets hear from the gentleman from the northeast. [applause] him from down to and from the note the east. We all know with so many campaigns. Think what so many people say to you that what you say is pointless. You are not going to make change. You sitting in this room right now are making a change. Think of the million and a half people who cant vote. On wednesday, i turned 15. My question, will i have to wait a year to vote or another three years . Lets have a revolution. Lets make britain great again. [cheers and applause] thank you very much indeed. Can we hear from somebody from the east midlands . Yes, what about this gentleman here . Yes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Vote at 16 is an issue that has received most attention from ourselves and organizations in the past years. It has become an issue that young people and old are passionate about. Do we feel to delay this a second year . Given the Youth Select Committee [indiscernible] especially when we can concentrate efforts on another issue. Thank you. [applause] anybody from Northern Ireland wishing to speak in this debate . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I have no doubt in my mind that the time will come when the vote is to be lowered. The recent success in scotland and the High Percentage of 16 and 17yearold vote out turnout, vote at 16 is inevitable. It was recently stated that vote at 16 is a manifesto of a total disbelief in parties. I urge you, please do not fall into the same trap we did last year. Vote for something that can make a real difference. Vote against this motion. [applause] thank you. What about the east of england . Yes, you have been chomping at the bit for some time. Lets hear from you. Thank you, mr. Speaker. At age 16, you can have sex, starting family, join the army and im sorry to fall into your stereotype, mr. Riley, imagine if you had a baby and you could not vote for your child. I would be distraught because i want the best for my child to i wouldnt want someone else deciding its future. I completely agree with those who say that 16yearolds are not mature to vote. But what about those who are mature enough and those who are politically minded . Think about those people. [applause] thank you. I think we could usefully hear from somebody from wales. Yes, the young woman here with the flowery dress. Thank you mr. Speaker. Young people not able to vote takes the right front man people. Young people can commit to sexual relationships. Surely they can vote for their choice. Thank you. [applause] anybody else from london . Good heavens. Im sorry, this is very difficult. This gentleman has been trying for quite some time. Please, lets hear from you. Thank you. Of course, the main idea is that this issue affects every Single Person sitting in this room presently paradigm going to quickly skim over some of the things. As teenagers, we like to state what is unfair. We can work despite where this money is going to we can fight for this nation and not decide how affairs are being run. I dont think it is fair that you can have sex with your local mp but you cant vote for who they are. [laughter] [applause] what do they say . They say we are not mature enough. So on my 18th birthday and wake up and say, oh, im 18 now and i mature. Now i can vote because when you wake up when you wake up on your 18th birthday, doesnt happen . We cant make enough difference. Look at where we are. Look at what we are doing. We are making a difference already. Just because we dont have a voice now doesnt mean that we want have one in the future. It is important that we persist because we represent young people. We need to push this through to the end. Lets stick together and show the world that we are more than just kids. [applause] i will take one more speaker from Northern Ireland. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I know my opinion is going to be probably an unpopular opinion but i believe that 16yearolds are not ready for the vote just yet. [applause] 16yearolds are very impressionable at this age. We vote our parents have voted. We know no other way. We are just beginning to become our own independent person. How can we expect to vote for somebody and we dont know what they value from another time apart from election time. A bring their promises but they dont actually act on them. If we take those at face value we could end up altering the system in a way that doesnt benefit either of us. While its true that voting increases with age, this will happen with the younger years sibley dont want to vote. If we can get the vote, yeah, we can vote. Thats it. It doesnt guarantee that we are going to actually go out there and vote. It is all well and good to support vote at 16 because we are interested in politics. But go on the street and ask somebody who they will vote and most of them will have no clue. We dont have enough education and knowledge about the parties. In schools, physical education is not open until you can spoil your vote. With the election that just happened, when my mom and my brother and all were picking their candidates, they asked me and i had no idea and i am 16. Maybe we are not ready for the vote just yet. But maybe another generation can do. But we have to set the motion on something more worthwhile. [applause] thank you. To conclude this debate, r. Aden ray from the northwest of england. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Chill. [laughter] thank you. This is not by far the first time we have heard this debate and i know many here have strong feelings towards the subject should 16yearolds have the vote. Last year, we decided to make this our Campaign Based on our passion and duty toward young people we represent with a Youth Committee formed to act upon this. One, pugin does not approve. 2, Public Opinion supports voting at 18. Three, there is issues surrounding the vote at 18 to make the transition as smooth and democratic and beneficial as it truly should be. Four is a direct quote from the report. We are proud of our democracy in which we live and its history and traditions. We are absolutely convinced that 16 and 17yearolds have the aptitude and the appetite to take a full part in our democracy, not only to take full decisions in our society but to have a more informed and engaged generation to take our democracy into the future. However, i must emphasize that the question that has been asked here today is not whether or not we support the voting age at 16. It is whether we truly believe that spending another 12 months actively pushing for it will be in the best interest of those who sit in this very chamber to represent. Will 12 months may not want to this campaign . It is now the center of discussions on health or to giving young people a Stable Foundation to not only build their own futures but the futures of us all in a return to a practical work expenses to him or the ability to reset our most core subjects . Or are we going to see this through, show the drive and determination that each and every one of us here are capable of. Last year, we were told to strike down but it is us when it was proposed here in 1999, the vote was defeated. 36 votes for. 444 votes against. Now, with the backing of to go Major Political parties, wales scotland, and Northern Ireland is proof of a monumental change achieved on the hard work of young people and organizations across these isles. So i ask you, is this Mission Accomplished . Is it time to move on to pastures new, to lead another glorious crusade to stick it to the man . Perhaps. No matter what we decide to campaign for, this parliament will have one Lasting Legacy democracy and innovation, the progress that has made britain truly great. Thank you. [applause] thank you very much indeed for that. I fear you know that i am going to tell you that that sadly concludes the debate for today. It is never possible to accommodate everybody and i say a heartfelt sorry to people who wanted to contribute and word able to do so. I would love to hear from everything the one of you but time sibley doesnt allow. They have been superb debates. Some invigorating, informative for you, but also usually valuable to members of parliament and to Civil Society as a whole. The more people who hear from you, the more impressed they will be. The Youth Parliament will now divide to vote on which of the five subjects debated today to select as its National Campaign issue. In the lobby, numbers of the Youth Parliament, you will be given to the real ballot papers. One for the two reserved, that is to say u. K. Wide subjects and one for the three devolved issues. You should place and ask for each that you vote for him the doorkeepers will be visibly obvious to you. Just in case anybody doesnt know who they are, would they care to identify themselves . Ok, hands up. I think you can see with the doorkeepers are. Thank you indeed. Afterwards, when you have voted, please return to your place in the chamber. Those of you on my right should leave the chamber by the door behind me and turn left into the i lobby behind you. Those on my left should leave by the doors on the far end and turn left and turn left into the lobby behind you. Members of commons staff will be on hand to assist you. I shall disappear for a short period while you are voting could i look forward very much to returning. Weve got further observations to be made in store for you. And i can now declare that the Division Lobbies are open. [applause] the British Parliament has been in recess for the holidays. They returned this week. Prime ministers questions errors live on cspan2 wednesday at 7 00 a. M. Eastern and sunday night on 9 00 p. M. Eastern. Watch any time at cspan. Org where you can find video of past prime ministers questions and other British Public affairs programs. In 2006, cspan aired a documentary entitled the capital, which gave viewers an indepth look at its history. We took a tour of the house chamber. The symbols that are there are very important. There is a cornucopia next to the clock, a traditional american symbol of a abundance. There are stars. Of course, the new star the firmament, the united states. There are lots of other things. All of these little rods were bound together in ancient rome. Each rod you could individually snapped. Put them all together, and they are strong. They are traditionally a sign of the roman government, a republican government, so they those are there to the. You are in the chamber, and you race your eyes up to the incredible select of an eagle with its wings spread. It is rather like a skylight, although it is covered from behind. It is not open to the heavens. The wonderful eagle the thing i love most about it is the sense that spreading its wings over the daytoday work of the congress are our great aspirations. Foremost among them, the american bald eagle. When the congress is in section session, the mace is also there. It is a bundle of ebony rods topped by a terrific silver eagle standing on top of it. I think traditions are important. When you forget about the traditions, you forget about the flavor of this place. The mace is an interesting thing. Every time i see the speaker of the british house of commons, i accuse him when the british for the capital down, they also stole our mace. If you read the stories of former speakers, when this place got rowdy or people got out of hand or there was a fight, you had to present the mace. It is a symbol of what this country has vested in the congress, the power of the congress the power of people coming together and getting things done. The 114th Congress Gavels in this tuesday at noon eastern. Watch the senate live on cspan2 and track the gop congress. New congress, best access on cspan. Up next, a Senate Hearing on how americans are financially preparing for retirement. Then a discussion on some of the economic stories of 2000 15. Later, a conversation with elena kagan. A Senate FinanceCommittee Hearing on Retirement Savings and the tax code. Topics included policy experts. They talked about the gap between how much americans are