On The Issues: Ben Carson

Politics are confusing. With a playing field this big, it’s hard to know where each of the 2016 presidential candidates stands on the issues.

But the choices these rich old people make directly impact the country we live in, so it’s important to be informed about who you’ll vote for when the election rolls around in November of 2016.

That’s where I come in: No frills, no bias and no bullshit. Just the issues and where each candidate stands.

Ben Carson’s Platform

EXPERIENCE: former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital; published author; served on the boards of Kellogg and Costco; running for president as a Republican

ECONOMY
-Says debt is poised to “destroy” the nation
-Critical of the modern welfare state, but supports “a safety net for the people who need a safety net”
-Wants a flat tax rate
-Favors “fiscal responsibility”

OBAMACARE
-Carson hates Obamacare, calling it “the worst that has happened in this nation since slavery.”
-Has also criticized for-profit insurance companies and called for stricter healthcare service and price regulations
-Advocated for a nationalized insurance program in the event of a need for catastrophic care

FOREIGN POLICY
-strong supporter of Israel
-critical of Obama’s foreign policy
-He has criticized the U.S. for being too quick to go to war in the past

IMMIGRATION
-Wants to install strong Southern border security and enforce strict immigration laws
-Wants to reduce deportation by creating a guest worker program

SOCIAL ISSUES
-Claims race relations have actually gotten worse under Obama
-Emphasizes “family values”
-Opposes same-sex marriage because he believes being gay is a choice, citing inmates as evidence: “Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight and when they come out they’re gay. So did something happen while they were in there?”
-opposes abortion

CLIMATE CHANGE
-Carson’s stance on this issue is not yet clear, but he has said that protecting the environment is “logical for capitalists and socialists.”

MARIJUANA
-support medicinal marijuana but strongly against legalization for recreational use

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
-He has indicated that while the system is not perfect, it is the best we have

To read up on other presidential hopefuls’ stances on the issues, click here.

 Feature photo courtesy of  ABC News

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