|
| Crime & Justice |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?
"[Ben Carson] I think the death penalty is something that should be decided in a civil manner with the people in the area.
[Interviewer:] So in a state by state manner?
[Carson:] Absolutely."
Source: Real Clear Politics, "Ben Carson Responds To Pope: I Think The Death Penalty Should Be Decided State By State," realclearpolitics.com, Sep. 27, 2015
|
| Crime & Justice |
None Found
Should the United States Abide by Its Treaties with Native American Tribes?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Crime & Justice |
None Found
Should Private Prisons Be Allowed in the United States?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Crime & Justice |
None Found
Should Law Enforcement Be Allowed to Use Racial Profiling?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Crime & Justice |
Con
Should Supreme Court Justice Scalia's Replacement Be Chosen by President Obama?
"In an age where it is popular to subscribe to a 'living Constitution' and during a time when political and judicial leaders prefer legal decisions that are politically convenient, Justice Scalia always dutifully carried out his responsibilities to interpret the law, not to make new ones. Time and again, he ruled based on where the black letter of the law led him, not according to the politics of the moment. For that reason, he has angered Americans on both the left and the right, but he has never wavered in his dedication to the Constitution.
It is imperative that the Senate not allow President Obama to diminish Justice Scalia's legacy by trying to nominate an individual who would carry on the President's wishes to subvert the will of the people. Given the dire condition our democracy currently finds itself under Obama's lack of leadership, I call on the Senate to stop any attempts to fill this crucial seat until We The People elect a strong Constitutionalist this November."
Source: Ben Carson for President 2016, "Statement on Justice Antonin Scalia," bencarson.com, Feb. 13, 2016
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| Crime & Justice |
None Found
Should the United States Continue the War on Drugs?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Economy & Taxes |
None Found
Should Churches (Defined as Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.) Remain Tax-Exempt?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
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| Economy & Taxes |
Pro
Does Lowering the Corporate Income Tax Rate Create Jobs?
"Our corporate tax rate is one of the highest in the world. The only country with a high corporate tax rate like ours is Japan, which just so happens to also be the only country with a greater debt-to-GDP ratio than we have. Is that coincidence or evidence of cause and effect? I suspect the latter. By being shortsighted and greedy, our government is driving businesses to other countries, which deprives out people not only of jobs, but our government of vital income. If a low proportional tax rate is applied to everyone, including corporate entities, the flow of jobs and income would be into our nation rather than out of our nation. This is not complex economic theory, but rather common sense."
Source: Ben Carson, America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great, 2011
|
| Economy & Taxes |
None Found
Should the Federal Government Continue to Subsidize Oil Companies?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate’s position on this question.
Source:
|
| Economy & Taxes |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Any Federal Taxes Be Increased?
"Well, I like the idea of a proportional tax. That way you pay according to your ability. And I got that idea, quite frankly, from the Bible, tithing. You make $10 billion a year, you pay $1 billion. You make $10 a year, you pay $1. You get the same rights. That's pretty darn fair, if you ask me.
Now, some people say it's not fair because, you know, the poor people can't afford to pay that dollar. That's very condescending. You know, I grew up very poor. I experienced every economic level. And I can tell you poor people have pride, too. And they don't want to be just taken care of.
And also, if everybody is paying, it makes it very difficult for these politicians to come along and raise taxes. It's easy to raise it on 1 percent or 2 percent or 5 percent. It's very difficult to raise it on 100 percent."
Source: FoxNews.com, "Can Dr. Ben Carson Emerge from Crowded GOP Field? Plus Rep. Michael McCaul on Threat from Homegrown Terrorism," www.foxnews.com, May 10, 2015
|
| Economy & Taxes |
Pro
Should There Be a Flat Tax on Income?
"I am in favor of a flat tax. Everybody should be hit exactly the same… In order [to] have to, you know, remain revenue neutral, we would have to make that rate at about 15 percent, and eliminate all the deductions and all the loopholes."
Source: Reuters, "Presidential Candidate Carson Pushes 15 Percent Flat Tax, End to All Deductions," www.reuters.com, Nov. 9, 2015
|
| Economy & Taxes |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Glass-Steagall Be Reinstated?
"I'm not one of those people who say just get rid of all regulations. Some regulations are quite good. You know, Glass-Steagall, which kept the banks from playing fast and loose with money, which was one of the things that caused the crash in '29, that was a good regulation. We kind of did it in in the '90s and it took about twenty years for it catch up with us. So we have to be smart in what we regulate. But, again, we should be always thinking about how do we create a conducive environment."
Source: The Daily Signal, "As Presidential Contender, Ben Carson Vows to Fix Economy before Entitlement Programs," YouTube.com, May 4, 2015
|
| Economy & Taxes |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the US Return to the Gold Standard in Which Coin and Currency Are Backed by Gold?
"[T]he fiscal gap, which sits at over $200 trillion and is continuing to grow. Now the only reason that we can sustain that kind of debt is because of our artificial ability to print money, to create what we think is wealth, but it is not wealth, because it's based upon our faith and credit. You know, we decoupled it from the domestic gold standard in 1933, and from the international gold standard in 1971, and since that time, it's not based on anything. Why would we be continuing to do that?"
Source: Kai Ryssdal, "Full Interview: Dr. Ben Carson on the Economy," www.marketplace.org, Nov. 17, 2015
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| Economy & Taxes |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Social Security Be Privatized?
"When Social Security was first enacted, the average age of death was about 63 years. It is now approaching 80 years and rising. Obviously we have to adjust to a changing situation. The age at which benefits are distributed should be gradually raised. I stress the word gradually because people must be given a chance to adjust their plans and expectations. It must be forbidden by law for government to use any of the money that has been set aside for Social Security."
Source: Mike Patton, "Potential Presidential Candidate, Dr. Ben Carson on Social Security, Glass-Steagall, and Taxes," forbes.com, Jan. 29, 2015
|
| Economy & Taxes |
Pro
Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Agreement Good for America?
"There are things in the TPP I'm not enthusiastic about, certainly [including] disputes that are supposed to be looked at by, you know, a UN commission or a World Trade Organization. I don't like to subject anything in America to outside forces that might be able to impact our laws. That's a caveat. And I have to be assured that they don't have influence over us. But, I think overall it helps to level the playing field...
But the problem is when we begin to slap tariffs on things and get into these trade wars, who has to pay for that? It's the guy who goes to Walmart and Target. He's the one who gets slammed by that. So we have to be looking at things that will help the middle class and the poor to once again be able to have some buying power. This would help them—there's no question about that. So, I don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water. Would I prefer to negotiate a better trade agreement? Absolutely. If this is the best we can get, I would take it rather than allow the people of the country to be suffering further economically."
Source: Matthew Boyle, "Dr. Ben Carson Signals Openness to Obamatrade's Pacific Rim Trade Deal," www.breitbart.com, Nov. 10, 2015
|
| Education |
None Found
Is the Growth of Charter Schools Good for Education in America?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Education |
None Found
Are the Common Core Standards Good for Education in America?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Education |
None Found
Should K-12 Teachers Get Tenure?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Education |
None Found
Should Any Public Colleges or Universities Be Tuition-Free?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Elections |
None Found
Was the Citizens United Supreme Court Decision Good for America?
No position found as of Aug. 26, 2015
Source:
|
| Elections |
None Found
Should the Presidential Debates Include Third Party Candidates?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Elections |
None Found
Should Felons Who Have Completed Their Sentences (Incarceration, Probation, and Parole) Be Allowed to Vote?
No position found as of Sep. 18, 2015
Source:
|
| Elections |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Voters Be Required to Show Photo Identification in Order to Vote?
"I've made it my personal project, every time I visit a country outside the U.S., to ask what do they do to ensure the integrity of voting. There's not one single country anywhere — first world, second world, it doesn't matter — that doesn't have official requirements for voting.
My question to those people who say we're racist because we apply those standards: Are all the other countries of the world racist? I don't think so. Voting is an important thing. Obviously, you want to make sure that it's done by the appropriate people."
Source: Jonathan Shorman, "Ben Carson, GOP Presidential Candidate, Dismisses Idea Anti-Voter Fraud Measures Racist," cjonline.com, Oct. 21, 2015
|
| Elections |
None Found
Should US Election Campaigns Be Publicly Financed?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2015; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Energy |
None Found
Should New Fossil Fuel Leases on Federal Land Be Allowed?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Energy |
None Found
Should Fracking Be Allowed?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Energy |
None Found
Should the United States Build Additional Nuclear Power Plants?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Foreign Policy |
Pro
Is China an Economic or Military Threat to the United States?
"Russia is not the only country that has taken advantage of our preoccupation with the Middle East. Recently, China has been expanding its maritime boundary in the South China Sea. It also seeks to test our resolve to long-held security commitments we have with our partners in Asia. We must do more to let our Asian allies know that we will stand with them and confront China's territorial ambitions. China continues to threaten our country with cyber-attacks and is a repressive global power. We need to do more to support those people in China who long for democratic reform."
Source: Ben Carson, "Rudderless U.S. Foreign Policy," www.townhall.com, July 30, 2014
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| Foreign Policy |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the United States Maintain Its Embargo against Cuba?
"A university professor in Cuba makes little more than an unskilled laborer – and in some cases less. In addition, many of our waiters and waitresses had advanced education degrees, but found that they could earn more money waiting tables. The many street vendors and performers in the main city squares created a festive façade, but having spoken to many Cuban refugees, I could only sympathize with the masses of people and hope that someday they can experience true freedom. Although some people, such as the filmmaker Michael Moore, extol the virtues of Cuban society, the tide of illegal immigration is from Cuba to America, not vice versa. More people seem to prefer freedom with the opportunity to create security than security without freedom. If people could freely choose which type of society they preferred to live in, life would be very fair. Unfortunately, although Americans are free to leave this country any time they want to go live somewhere else, such privileges are not afforded to the average Cuban or those in many other countries where the government controls their lives."
Source: Ben Carson, America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great, 2013
|
| Foreign Policy |
Con
Is the Nuclear Arms Deal with Iran Good for America?
"The Iran deal announced today with fanfare and another heaping dose of false hope is almost certain to prove an historic mistake with potentially deadly consequences.
A careful review of the 100-plus pages is in order to fully understand the lengths to which the negotiators were willing to stoop to secure a deal at any cost with the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and a regime dedicated in word and deed to bringing death to America.
Without anywhere anytime surprise inspections, a full accounting of Iran's past secret nuclear arms pursuits, elimination of Iran's uranium stockpiles and the lifting of any sanctions only upon verification of Iranian compliance, this is not a good deal, but a recipe for disaster and the first fateful step toward a frenzied nuclear arms race in the Middle East."
Source: Fox News Insider, "'A Staggeringly Bad Deal': 2016 GOP Field Reacts to Obama's Nuclear Deal with Iran," insider.foxnews.com, July 14, 2015
|
| Foreign Policy |
Pro
Should There Be an Independent Palestinian State?
"We need to look at fresh ideas... I don't have any problem with the Palestinians having a state, but does it need to be within the confines of Israeli territory? Is that necessary, or can you sort of slip that area down into Egypt? Right below Israel, they have some amount of territory, and it can be adjacent. They can benefit from the many agricultural advances that were made by Israel, because if you fly over that area, you can easily see the demarcation between Egypt and Israel, in terms of one being desert and one being verdant. Technology could transform that area. So why does it need to be in an area where there's going to be temptation for Hamas to continue firing missiles at relatively close range to Israel?"
Source: David Weigel, "Ben Carson: Arm Ukraine, Expand NATO, Rethink Russia's Position on UN Security Council," www.bloomberg.com, Mar. 20, 2015
|
| Guns / Second Amendment |
Con
Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?
"The place where dangerous weapons are most likely to fall into the hands of crazies are crowded places. They are not likely to happen in some remote place. But in no way do I think we should restrict the rights, particularly the rights of law abiding citizens to have guns."
Source: Fred Lucas, "Ben Carson Is Ben Carson Is Talking About Guns Again, and He’s Clarifying a Very Important Point for Second Amendment Advocates," theblaze.com, July 21, 2015
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| Guns / Second Amendment |
None Found
Should Schools Be Gun-Free Zones?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate’s position on this question.
Source:
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| Guns / Second Amendment |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the Federal Government Study Gun Violence?
"I obviously want to know what was the rationale behind such a ban [on gun-violence research] because it doesn't make a lot of sense… But you know sometimes things that are presented on the surface that don't make sense when you find out what the rationale—you say, 'Oh, I didn't think about that.'"
Source: Maxwell Tani, "Ben Carson: Here's One Step We Could Take to Prevent Mass Shootings," www.businessinsider.com, Oct. 5, 2015
[Editor’s Note: In 1996, Congress passed a spending bill that included a little known amendment, known as the Dickey Amendment, which stated: "None of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control." Because of the amendment and later revisions, Department of Health and Human Services agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have not conducted gun violence studies for fear of violating the law.]
|
| Guns / Second Amendment |
Pro
Should People on the No-Fly List or the Terror Watch List Be Allowed to Purchase Guns?
"[George] STEPHANOPOULOS: ...How about this issue of the terror watch list? As I told Mr. Trump, under the current law, people on the terror watchlist are permitted to buy guns, have been permitted to buy guns and explosives. Would you continue that?
CARSON: Well, as you, I'm sure, know, there are a lot of people on that watchlist and they have no idea why they're on that list and they've been trying to get their names off of it and no one will give them information. You know, I am a big supporter of the Second Amendment, and I don't want to deprive people unnecessarily of that. There needs to be better due process.
And that's one thing that I'm very interested in finding a way to make government more responsive to the people. It's really unfair that people can't get a real hearing. And they get put on a list and nobody can tell them why they're there, and they go through for years and years and they have to be tormented. It just doesn't make any sense."
Source: ABC News, "'This Week' Transcript: Donald Trump and Ben Carson," abcnews.go.com, Nov. 22, 2015
|
| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
Con
Should Abortion Be Legal?
"CHUCK TODD: Definitively, do you want to see Roe v. Wade overturned?
DR. BEN CARSON: Ultimately, I would love to see it overturned."
Source: NBC News, "Meet the Press - October 25, 2015," www.nbcnews.com, Oct. 25, 2015
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| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
None Found
Should Any Vaccines Be Required for Children?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
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| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
Con
Is Obamacare Good for America?
"ObamaCare is a looming disaster.
We didn't need the monstrosity of the $1.2 trillion Affordable Care Act. Even after it is fully implemented for 10 years, 23 million people still won't have any health insurance.
We need to re-establish a strong and direct relationship between patients and their physicians. For instance, I strongly support Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) which empower families to make their own decisions about their medical treatment. HSAs will also drive down health care costs while protecting patient choice and freedom.
More freedom and less government in our health care system will mean lower costs, more access, and continued innovation."
Source: Carson America, Inc., "Ben on the Issues," www.bencarson.com (accessed Aug. 18, 2015)
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| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
None Found
Should Parental Consent Be Required for Pregnant Minors to Have Abortions?
No position found as of Jan. 20, 2016
Source:
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| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?
"It is very difficult to judge people who decide that they want to end their lives when they are afflicted with a terminal disease that is going to lead to a miserable death. Most people with terminal diseases can be allowed to die naturally if interventions are withheld and adequate comfort measures are taken. For example, people with glioblastoma (grade IV brain cancer) are usually on high doses of steroids. If the steroids are acutely withdrawn with the permission of the patient and family and sedation is administered, death follows quickly. We should never be too quick to judge others without spending some time in their shoes."
Source: Ben Carson, Facebook post, www.facebook.com/realbencarson, Oct. 9, 2014
|
| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
Con
Should Planned Parenthood Receive Federal Funding?
"Congress: Stop funding Planned Parenthood
I, like many of you, was sickened when I saw the video of Dr. Deborah Nucatola of Planned Parenthood secretly video taped discussing selling aborted baby parts. I was more than sickened, I was enraged.
Congress must act NOW! Please sign my petition to Congress demanding that they stop all public funds to Planned Parenthood.
I spent my whole life caring for children. What I see in this video is barbaric. Congress must ACT!
We the undersigned insist that our tax dollars not be used in any way with Planned Parenthood in light of their Baby Organ Harvesting Programs.
Please act immediately to stop the transfer of federal dollars to Planned Parenthood."
Source: Ben Carson for President 2016, "Congress: Stop Funding Planned Parenthood," www.bencarson.com (accessed Dec. 5, 2015)
|
| Health Care, Abortion, & End of Life Issues |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should All Americans Have the Right (Be Entitled) to Health Care?
"And when you take the most important thing that you have, which is your health care, and you put that in the hands of government bureaucrats, I think you have done the wrong thing. This is not what America is about. Do I believe in health care for everybody? Absolutely. But I think there are much better ways [than Obamacare] to get there, which leave the care in the hands of patients and of doctors."
Source: Meet the Press, "Meet the Press Transcript – May 18, 2014," www.nbcnews.com, May 18, 2014
|
| Immigration |
None Found
Should the Federal Government Use Raids to Enforce Immigration Laws?
No position found as of Jan. 21, 2016
Source:
|
| Immigration |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Checking Employee Immigration Status (as in the E-Verify Program) Be Mandatory for All Employers?
"We have to reduce the incentive for people to want to come here. That's how you fix the problem. I guarantee you that if you remove all the goodies, people will find a way to get out of here just like they found a way to get in here. And one of the most important parts of that are the employers. As far as I'm concerned, the second offense, if you hire someone who's not here legally, should be a criminal offense – and they should be treated as such. Absolutely."
Source: Michael W. Chapman, "Ben Carson on Illegals: 'Remove the Goodies,' Charge Employers Who Hire Illegals," cnsnews.com, July 23, 2014
|
| Immigration |
Pro
Should the United States Continue to Build the Fence/Wall along the US-Mexico Border?
"This [fence] is a nice small impediment that certainly wouldn't keep anybody out... You need to have agents. This will slow them down, agents will stop them. A wall or a fence is a good thing, but not in isolation."
Source: Matthew Boyle, "Dr. Ben Carson: Current Border Fence 'Certainly Wouldn't Keep Me Out,'" www.breitbart.com, Aug. 21, 2015
|
| Immigration |
Con
Should Undocumented Immigrants in the United States Be Allowed to Become Legal Residents?
"As long as we reward people who break laws, they will continue to break laws. We do need a continual flow of immigrants, but choosers need not be beggars. We make decisions based on our needs. People who refuse to comply with the rules must forfeit chances of legalization in the future. Anyone caught involved in voter fraud should be immediately deported and have his citizenship revoked. The point is this: We must create a system that disincentivizes illegal immigration and upholds the rule of law while providing us with a steady stream of immigrants from other nations who will strengthen our society. Let's solve the problem and stop playing political football."
Source: Ben Carson, "As Long as U.S. Leaders Game the Immigration System, Illegals Will, Too," www.washingtontimes.com, June 17, 2014
|
| Immigration |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Sanctuary Cities Continue to Receive Federal Funding for Law Enforcement?
"Many Americans have reached out to me to share their concern about sanctuary cities and the seemingly insurmountable problems on the Southern border. One of my top priorities as president would be to seal the border with Mexico to stop the flow of drugs and violence into the United States. Furthermore, I would end federal policies that have permitted cities to harbor criminal illegal immigrants. The tragedies that have occurred due to such criminal illegal immigrants are completely avoidable and should never happen again."
Source: Ben Carson for President 2016, "Securing the Southern Border – Sanctuary Cities," bencarson.com (accessed Feb. 22, 2016)
|
| Immigration |
Con
Should the United States Allow Syrian Refugees into the Country?
"Given the tragedy in Paris last Friday [Nov. 13, 2015], the U.S. simply cannot, should not and must not accept any Syrian refugees. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has pledged that the U.S. would accept an additional 45,000 new refugees, mostly from Syria, from 2016 to 2017. This must not happen. Instead of half talk and feel-good promises, the U.S. must defend itself with sound security measures."
Source: Ben Carson, "Ben Carson: The U.S. Must Not Accept Any Syrian Refugees," time.com, Nov. 17, 2015
|
| Labor & Wages |
None Found
Should the Federal Government Guarantee Paid Family and Medical Leave?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Labor & Wages |
Now Con
Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?
"[Ben Carson:] As far as the minimum wage is concerned, people need to be educated on the minimum wage. Every time we raise the minimum wage, the number of jobless people increases.
It's particularly a problem in the black community. Only 19.8 percent of black teenagers have a job, who are looking for one. You know, that — and that's because of those high wages. If you lower those wages, that comes down.
You know, I can remember, as a youngster — you know, my first job working in a laboratory as a lab assistant, and multiple other jobs. But I would not have gotten those jobs if someone had to pay me a large amount of money.
But what I did gain from those jobs is a tremendous amount of experience, and how to operate in the world and how to relate to different people, and how to become a responsible individual. And that's what gave me what I needed to ascend the ladder of opportunity in this country.
That's what we need to be thinking about. How do we allow people to ascend the ladder of opportunity, rather than how do we give them everything and keep them dependent?
[Neil] CAVUTO: So, sir, just to be clear, you would not raise it?
CARSON: I would not raise it. I would not raise it, specifically because I'm interested in making sure that people are able to enter the job market and take advantage of opportunities."
Source: Time, "Transcript: Read the Full Text of the Fourth Republican Debate in Milwaukee," time.com, Nov. 11, 2015
|
| Labor & Wages |
None Found
Do Labor Unions Provide an Overall Benefit to Their Workers in the United States?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Marijuana & Alcohol |
None Found
Should the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Marijuana & Alcohol |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?
"Well I think medical use of marijuana in compassionate cases certainly has been proven to be useful but recognize that marijuana is what's known as a gateway drug. It tends to be a starter drug for people who move on to heavier duty drugs—sometimes legal, sometimes illegal—and I don't think this is something that we really want for our society to heathenistic [sic] activity and you know, it's just, we're changing so rapidly to a different type of society and nobody is getting a chance to discuss it."
Source: FoxNews.com, "Dr. Carson: Americans Need to Talk about Ramifications of Legal Marijuana," www.foxnews.com, Jan. 2, 2014
|
| Marijuana & Alcohol |
Con
Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal?
"Well I think medical use of marijuana in compassionate cases certainly has been proven to be useful but recognize that marijuana is what's known as a gateway drug. It tends to be a starter drug for people who move on to heavier duty drugs—sometimes legal, sometimes illegal—and I don't think this is something that we really want for our society to heathenistic [sic] activity and you know, it's just, we're changing so rapidly to a different type of society and nobody is getting a chance to discuss it."
Source: FoxNews.com, "Dr. Carson: Americans Need to Talk about Ramifications of Legal Marijuana," www.foxnews.com, Jan. 2, 2014
|
| Military & War on Terror |
None Found
Should the United States and Russia Collaborate to Combat Terrorism?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Military & War on Terror |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the United States Continue Its Use of Drone Strikes Abroad?
"I don't like war. But if you are facing an enemy whose goal is your annihilation, you need to annihilate them first... It's pretty simple."
Source: John Solomon, "Ben Carson Joins 2016 Race, Supports Flat Tax and $2 Trillion Stimulus Plan," www.washingtontimes.com, May 3, 2015
|
| Military & War on Terror |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the United States Send Ground Troops to Fight ISIS?
"We have to destroy their caliphate because that gives them legitimacy to go ahead with the global Jihad... But also, you know, this whole concept of boots on the ground, you know, we've got a phobia about boots on the ground. If our military experts say, we need boots on the ground, we should put boots on the ground and recognize that there will be boots on the ground and they'll be over here, and they'll be their boots if we don't get out of there now."
Source: New York Times, "Transcript: Republican Presidential Debate,"
www.nytimes.com, Dec. 15, 2015
|
| Military & War on Terror |
Con
Should the United States Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp?
"Well, if it was such a good idea [closing Guantanamo bay] I guess it would have been done seven years ago. Obviously it's not a great idea and I don't support it. And, you know, the assumption is that all Presidents coming after him [President Obama] will also think it's a good idea. It's, I think, ill-conceived if you think it is better to kill people, rather than to capture them and obtain information from them, then I guess you like this idea [to close Guantanamo]."
Source: MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts, "Carson: I Don't Support Closing Guantanamo Bay," msnbc.com, Feb. 23, 2016
|
| Military & War on Terror |
None Found
Should the US Have Attacked Iraq in 2003?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
Source:
|
| Military & War on Terror |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should the US Military Budget Be Increased?
"Well, not only the submarine fleet, but the entire Navy, as you probably know, is at a state that is the smallest that it's been since 1917. We are now in the process of not cutting out fat, but cutting into the muscle and cutting into the bone. And the question is, is that going to continue? And the answer is yes, if we continue with the current rash of sequestering. So I believe that Congress is going to have to intervene, because I think the President is perfectly happy to continue with the cutting into the flesh and the bone of our military strength… We need to look around the world and see what our needs are. It's not necessarily the kind of thing that you can say $600 billion dollars is going to take care of this, or $700 billion, you know, that it may well. But you first of all have to ask yourself what your goals are, what are you trying to accomplish, and how critical those things are. And we look at, you know, things that are Level A critical, things that we absolutely must do. Those cannot be compromised. And we look at Level B, things we'd like to do, and Level C, things we may or may not do sometime in the future. Level A things, we must take care of, so I would be willing to sit down with the budgetary analysts to figure out what that amount has to be to accomplish those things."
Source: Hugh Hewitt, "Dr. Ben Carson on Foreign Policy and National Defense Issues," hughhewitt.com, Mar. 18, 2015
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| Military & War on Terror |
None Found
Should the United States Have Mandatory National Service (Military or Civilian)?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
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| Military & War on Terror |
Con
Should the National Security Agency (NSA) Continue to Collect Phone and Email Metadata on US Citizens?
"The court's [US Court of Appeals] decision [disallowing the NSA's bulk collection of data] confirms the mass collection of data is an intrusion of the Fourth Amendment rights of all Americans. There is no reason to monitor the activities of everyday Americans… There are currently ways for our government to monitor the activities of suspicious individuals. You can get a court order very quickly when necessary. The security and privacy of our citizenry is paramount—one of the central [tenets] of our Constitution. But we can protect our national security without invading the rights of law-abiding citizens."
Source: Ken McIntyre, "Should the NSA 'Spying' Program Be Illegal? What 2016 Contenders Say," dailysignal.com, May 20, 2015
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| Military & War on Terror |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Interrogation Techniques That Some Consider Torture, Such as Waterboarding, Be a Legal Option?
"STEPHANOPOULOS: ...And I do want to get your response to some of the things we've talked about with Donald Trump on how to respond to ISIS.
Number one, he said we should bring back those enhanced interrogation techniques, which President Obama discontinued like waterboarding. Do you agree?
CARSON: I agree that there's no such thing as political correctness when you're fighting an enemy who wants to destroy you and everything that you have anything to do with. And I'm not one who is real big on telling the enemy what we're going to do and what we're not going to do.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you would do that even though many consider waterboarding torture?
CARSON: As I said, I'm not real big on telling them what we would or would not do. I just don't think that's a -- I don't see where that accomplishes anything for us."
Source: ABC News, "'This Week' Transcript: Donald Trump and Ben Carson," abcnews.go.com, Nov. 22, 2015
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| Military & War on Terror |
None Found
Should the Veterans Health Administration Be Privatized?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
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| Military & War on Terror |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Women Be Allowed to Serve in Military Combat Positions?
"You make decisions based on evidence and not on ideology, so yes I would be willing to sit down with people from both sides and examine the evidence. And make decisions [about women in combat roles] based on what the evidence shows."
Source: Eliza Collins, "Carson Open to Reconsidering Ban on Women in Combat," politico.com, Jan. 4, 2016
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| Race |
Con
Should Colleges and Universities Use Affirmative Action for Admissions?
"I think if we give somebody, you know, an extra nod, it should be based on their circumstances. So, for instance, let’s say I have a son who’s applying to Yale, and he's got a 4.0 average, and 1600 SATs, and is the best thing since sliced bread, and then there's a kid from Appalachia whose father was killed in the coal mines when he 5 years old, he's been all that time, but still has managed a 3.85 grade point average, and 1500 SATs, I think I would perhaps like to give him a little extra consideration. It shouldn't have anything to do with race It should have everything to do with consideration. We have always rooted for the underdog. We have always given them an extra leg up, and that's going to help to strengthen our society if we find ways to give them extra consideration... I don’t think affirmative action is appropriate, but I do think that compassionate action is. And of course, you know, it may vary from time to time who benefits the most from it, obviously, whichever group happens to be most disadvantaged would probably be the ones that would benefit the most."
Source: Ian Hanchett, "Carson: Replace Affirmative Action with 'Compassionate Action,' Approach Immigration with 'Eyes Open,'" www.breitbart.com, Sep. 11, 2015
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| Race |
Con
Is the Black Lives Matter Movement Good for America?
"The 'BlackLivesMatter' movement is focused on the wrong targets, to the detriment of blacks who would like to see real change and to the benefit of its powerful white liberal funders using the attacks on Sanders for political purposes that mean nothing for the problems that face our community.
The notion that some lives might matter less than others is meant to enrage. That anger is distracting us from what matters most."
Source: Ben Carson, "Ben Carson: #BlackLivesMatter Misfire," www.usatoday.com, Sep. 3, 2015
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| Race |
None Found
Is the Criminal Justice System Unfair to Black People?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
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| Science & Environment |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Is Human Activity Primarily Responsible for Global Climate Change?
"Whether we are experiencing global warming or a coming ice age, which was predicted the 1970s, we as responsible human beings must be concerned about our surroundings and what we will pass on to future generations. However, to use climate change as an excuse not to develop our God-given resources makes little sense. Expanding our wealth of energy resources, as well as encouraging development of new renewable energy sources, can provide an enormous economic lift with obvious benefits, but it can also bolster our role as a formidable player in the struggle for world leadership."
Source: Ben Carson, "CARSON: Expanding Our Energy Resources Serves Peace," www.washingtontimes.com, Mar. 25, 2014
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| Science & Environment |
Not Clearly Pro or Con
Should Genetically Modified (GMO) Foods Have Mandatory Labeling?
"I actually like for people to know what they're buying. I like for people to know what they're eating. And I think it's only fair for them to be able to see that, because people have different impressions about what they want to eat… As far as GMOs are concerned, you know, there are a lot of GMOs. Like broccoli. Broccoli is a GMO. It's a hybrid between two different vegetables. So, you know, there's a whole spectrum of what is a GMO, and there's a lot of hype, quite frankly, and propaganda surrounding GMOs. The fact of the matter is, as science progresses, and you know, we learn how to, you know, inject a gene for instance that will make a plant very unpalatable for certain pests, we'll probably use that technology. That technically is going to be a GMO. And there's going to be a lot of things. So what we really have to do is be logical about it, and not be hysterical about it, and recognize that we do make progress. The foods that we eat today are actually different than a lot of the foods that people ate 100 years ago, because of the modifications that have occurred naturally, through farmers learning different ways to do things."
Source: RFD-TV News Staff, "Complete Transcript: RURAL TOWN HALL with Dr. Ben Carson," www.rfdtv.com, Aug. 25, 2015
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| Science & Environment |
Pro
Should the United States Authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline to Import Tar Sand Oil from Canada?
"It's [the Keystone XL Pipeline] perfectly safe, so I can't really see a good reason not to do it."
Source: John McCormick, "Ben Carson Not Convinced on Global Warming," www.bloomberg.com, Nov. 26, 2014
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| Science & Environment |
None Found
Should the United States Transition Away from Fossil Fuels and Towards Renewable Energy?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.
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| Sex & Gender |
Con
Was the US Supreme Court Decision Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage a Good Decision?
"[M]arriage is between a man and a woman... It is a well-established, fundamental pillar of society… And no group—be they gays; it doesn't matter what they are—they don't get to change the definition… It's not something that’s against gays... It's against anybody who wants to come along and change the fundamental definitions of the pillars of society. It has significant ramifications."
Source: Todd Beamon, "Ben Carson: 'Marriage Is between a Man and a Woman,'" www.newsmax.com, Mar. 26, 2013
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| Sex & Gender |
Pro
Should Religious Liberty Give People the Right to Deny Goods and Services for Gay Marriage?
"The first amendment is incredibly important. It talks about freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, but freedom of religion. And we have got to encourage all the branches of the government to work effectively with checks and balances. What we’ve seen recently is the legislative branch, which is the branch that represents we the people, has more or less been acting like the peanut gallery, which means that the executive branch and the judicial branch are overstepping their boundaries and we're going to have to have a president who is willing to work with the legislative branch to put things back in order again. Specifically, we need legislation to protect religious freedoms of people who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman."
Source: President A 2016, "Full Speech: Ben Carson at Liberty University Convocation (11-11-15)," youtube.com, Nov. 11, 2015
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| Sex & Gender |
None Found
Should Transgender People Be Allowed to Use the Bathroom of Their Choice?
Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate’s position on this question.
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