dadudemon
Ben Carson seems interesting. He seems like he could be a strong GOP candidate.
Here are some of his policies and my opinions on them:
Evolution:
Ben Carson: does not support evolution. He seems to be against the idea but he has not strongly opposed to it, either.
My opinion: that's a negative against him. Evolution is almost assuredly a fact. There are only minor issues to work out, now. It should not be something we discuss in 2015 as a matter of debate (on whether or not it exists). It's not really debatable.
Homosexuality and Marriage
Ben Carson: he opposes same-sex marriage and thinks marriage should be between man and a woman. While he did say that homosexuality is a choice, he also admitted that he cannot pretend to know the situation of every single person.
My opinion: that's a negative against him. Human sexuality, which includes homosexuality, is a very complicated set of characteristics which includes genetics, epi-genetics, environment, and choice. Gay-marriage should be legal across the board. As well as any consenting adult civil unions.
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Ben Carson: strongly opposes it. Thinks it is one of the worst things America has done since slavery.
My opinion: I agree with Ben but not as strongly. It's a piece of shit legislation that did not go anywhere far enough to establishing a Universal Healthcare option: that's largely the GOP's fault. It's bad legislation. But there are definitely far worse things the US Government has done such as experiments on humans a la Nazi Germany. ACA needs to be scrapped and a true universal option worked.
Gun Control
Ben Carson: thinks semi-automatics need to be more closely regulated in big cities and areas with high crime. Supports the Second Amendment interpretation of the right to bear arms.
My opinion: I largely agree. Cities and high crime areas (not mutually exclusive sets) should be slightly more regulated. But I strongly support the right to bear arms.
Income Taxes
Ben Carson: advocates a flat tax.
My opinion: I agree. The short term fix for our tax problem is a well-designed flat tax solution. Long term would be something more akin to Texas' tax system (I like it).
Religious Perspective
Ben Carson: is a Christian and thinks: "As a Christian, I am not the least bit offended by the beliefs of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, and so forth. In fact, I am delighted to know that they believe in something that is more likely to make them into a reasonable human being, as long as they don't allow the religion to be distorted by those seeking power and wealth."
My opinion: I largely agree with that. In fact, it is almost exactly what I believe. But I also believe the a-religion can be good, too. It's what you do with your beliefs (which can include atheism and so forth) that make it good or bad. I'm all for religious freedom and I love almost all religions.
Separation of Church and State
Ben Carson: believes there should be a separation of Church and State. Does not support government sponsored Prayer, for example.
My opinion: love it.
Economy and Jobs
Ben Carson: believes grooming our youth for success is key to a healthy job market. Believes that people should take 'even minimum wage jobs' to help people see success.
My opinion: I largely agree. But I would like to see something akin to a "guaranteed living wage." This is a libertarian concept. Something like every American is guaranteed at least 25k a year. My opinion is based on actual research. Ben seems to be 50-75% of the way there.
Unions
Ben Carson: thinks Unions are largely outdated.
My opinion: that's almost my exact opinion.
Abortion
Ben Carson: supports access to options but ideologically is against "convenience abortions." His words do not seem to be very strongly against "convenience abortions" meaning I don't think he openly opposes Roe v. Wade.
My opinion: I largely agree. But I still struggle with "convenience abortions." I support abortion, for sure, in cases of rape, incest, and medical necessity. But I am still on the fence about who has more rights on their body: the woman's or the unborn baby. So I have settled at 20 weeks being a nice cut off because we cannot seem to support babies outside the womb much sooner than that.
Affirmative Action
Ben Carson: seems to not support Affirmative Action and thinks programs like those should be directed at SES rather than race.
My opinion: I largely agree. I have seen and enforced AA, firsthand. It feels outdated and actually wastes money.
Marajuana Legalization
Ben Carson: opposes it except for medicinal use and calls MJ "a gateway drug."
My opinion: very much disagree. Legalize it for personal use. Treat it just like cigs.
Energy Independence
Ben Carson: strongly supports energy independence and heavy investment into renewable sources. Supports safely exploring more energy sources. Supports protecting the environment and being responsible with our energy ventures.
My opinion: that's my exact opinion. However, he seems to be a big supporter of the EPA. I think the EPA needs an overhaul.
Immigration
Ben Carson: supports a guest worker program like Canada's to help immigrants succeed. Thinks we need to better "control" our borders. Feels that the extreme "deportation" measures are not only offensive but also economically destructive.
My opinion: I largely agree. I like Canada's guest worker program. It seems pretty good. We could benefit from adopting a program more like that. I agree with his statement about the economy. I do not agree about getting tougher on the border. That's a waste of resources and power.
Foreign Policy
Ben Carson: thinks we need to have a more bi-partisan stance on our Foreign Policy. Thinks our foreign policy should be far less "political motives" and more about American's best interests. Has a very very strong "interventionist" perspective on foreign affairs. Is very quick to interfering with aggressive and violent factions like ISIS or the Taliban.
My opinion: I am 50-50 on this. I think we need to stop policing the world and do the exact opposite of what he suggests. However, I do think we should have more of a bi-partisan stance on our foreign policy. We also need to act more in American's best interests. I think this is better realized by less global policing, less wars, and less violence. So we have the same idea about acting in America's best interests and having a bi-partisan foreign policy, but he goes the exact opposite direction of me with his conclusions on what to do.
Military Size and Power
Ben Carson: thinks we need to have a good military force. But that we need to stop interfering and warring so much. This contradicts his foreign policy, in my opinion.
My opinion: I agree. This is almost my exact opinion. I think we need to reduce the military size and budget.
Sources:
http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Ben_Carson_Principles_+_Values.htm
http://www.2016committee.org/issues
Please, post your opinions and thoughts on his positions. He seems like he could be a big contender from the GOP side. The GOP does not have much to put up against Hillary. I do enjoy competition. Maybe Ben will provide it?
I would not vote for him because we disagree on too many things. It would be great if someone made a thread exactly like this for Hillary Clinton.
Here are some of his policies and my opinions on them:
Evolution:
Ben Carson: does not support evolution. He seems to be against the idea but he has not strongly opposed to it, either.
My opinion: that's a negative against him. Evolution is almost assuredly a fact. There are only minor issues to work out, now. It should not be something we discuss in 2015 as a matter of debate (on whether or not it exists). It's not really debatable.
Homosexuality and Marriage
Ben Carson: he opposes same-sex marriage and thinks marriage should be between man and a woman. While he did say that homosexuality is a choice, he also admitted that he cannot pretend to know the situation of every single person.
My opinion: that's a negative against him. Human sexuality, which includes homosexuality, is a very complicated set of characteristics which includes genetics, epi-genetics, environment, and choice. Gay-marriage should be legal across the board. As well as any consenting adult civil unions.
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Ben Carson: strongly opposes it. Thinks it is one of the worst things America has done since slavery.
My opinion: I agree with Ben but not as strongly. It's a piece of shit legislation that did not go anywhere far enough to establishing a Universal Healthcare option: that's largely the GOP's fault. It's bad legislation. But there are definitely far worse things the US Government has done such as experiments on humans a la Nazi Germany. ACA needs to be scrapped and a true universal option worked.
Gun Control
Ben Carson: thinks semi-automatics need to be more closely regulated in big cities and areas with high crime. Supports the Second Amendment interpretation of the right to bear arms.
My opinion: I largely agree. Cities and high crime areas (not mutually exclusive sets) should be slightly more regulated. But I strongly support the right to bear arms.
Income Taxes
Ben Carson: advocates a flat tax.
My opinion: I agree. The short term fix for our tax problem is a well-designed flat tax solution. Long term would be something more akin to Texas' tax system (I like it).
Religious Perspective
Ben Carson: is a Christian and thinks: "As a Christian, I am not the least bit offended by the beliefs of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Mormons, and so forth. In fact, I am delighted to know that they believe in something that is more likely to make them into a reasonable human being, as long as they don't allow the religion to be distorted by those seeking power and wealth."
My opinion: I largely agree with that. In fact, it is almost exactly what I believe. But I also believe the a-religion can be good, too. It's what you do with your beliefs (which can include atheism and so forth) that make it good or bad. I'm all for religious freedom and I love almost all religions.
Separation of Church and State
Ben Carson: believes there should be a separation of Church and State. Does not support government sponsored Prayer, for example.
My opinion: love it.
Economy and Jobs
Ben Carson: believes grooming our youth for success is key to a healthy job market. Believes that people should take 'even minimum wage jobs' to help people see success.
My opinion: I largely agree. But I would like to see something akin to a "guaranteed living wage." This is a libertarian concept. Something like every American is guaranteed at least 25k a year. My opinion is based on actual research. Ben seems to be 50-75% of the way there.
Unions
Ben Carson: thinks Unions are largely outdated.
My opinion: that's almost my exact opinion.
Abortion
Ben Carson: supports access to options but ideologically is against "convenience abortions." His words do not seem to be very strongly against "convenience abortions" meaning I don't think he openly opposes Roe v. Wade.
My opinion: I largely agree. But I still struggle with "convenience abortions." I support abortion, for sure, in cases of rape, incest, and medical necessity. But I am still on the fence about who has more rights on their body: the woman's or the unborn baby. So I have settled at 20 weeks being a nice cut off because we cannot seem to support babies outside the womb much sooner than that.
Affirmative Action
Ben Carson: seems to not support Affirmative Action and thinks programs like those should be directed at SES rather than race.
My opinion: I largely agree. I have seen and enforced AA, firsthand. It feels outdated and actually wastes money.
Marajuana Legalization
Ben Carson: opposes it except for medicinal use and calls MJ "a gateway drug."
My opinion: very much disagree. Legalize it for personal use. Treat it just like cigs.
Energy Independence
Ben Carson: strongly supports energy independence and heavy investment into renewable sources. Supports safely exploring more energy sources. Supports protecting the environment and being responsible with our energy ventures.
My opinion: that's my exact opinion. However, he seems to be a big supporter of the EPA. I think the EPA needs an overhaul.
Immigration
Ben Carson: supports a guest worker program like Canada's to help immigrants succeed. Thinks we need to better "control" our borders. Feels that the extreme "deportation" measures are not only offensive but also economically destructive.
My opinion: I largely agree. I like Canada's guest worker program. It seems pretty good. We could benefit from adopting a program more like that. I agree with his statement about the economy. I do not agree about getting tougher on the border. That's a waste of resources and power.
Foreign Policy
Ben Carson: thinks we need to have a more bi-partisan stance on our Foreign Policy. Thinks our foreign policy should be far less "political motives" and more about American's best interests. Has a very very strong "interventionist" perspective on foreign affairs. Is very quick to interfering with aggressive and violent factions like ISIS or the Taliban.
My opinion: I am 50-50 on this. I think we need to stop policing the world and do the exact opposite of what he suggests. However, I do think we should have more of a bi-partisan stance on our foreign policy. We also need to act more in American's best interests. I think this is better realized by less global policing, less wars, and less violence. So we have the same idea about acting in America's best interests and having a bi-partisan foreign policy, but he goes the exact opposite direction of me with his conclusions on what to do.
Military Size and Power
Ben Carson: thinks we need to have a good military force. But that we need to stop interfering and warring so much. This contradicts his foreign policy, in my opinion.
My opinion: I agree. This is almost my exact opinion. I think we need to reduce the military size and budget.
Sources:
http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Ben_Carson_Principles_+_Values.htm
http://www.2016committee.org/issues
Please, post your opinions and thoughts on his positions. He seems like he could be a big contender from the GOP side. The GOP does not have much to put up against Hillary. I do enjoy competition. Maybe Ben will provide it?
I would not vote for him because we disagree on too many things. It would be great if someone made a thread exactly like this for Hillary Clinton.
