Ben Carson in Forbes Magazine 2016 Candidates

On Education: Our public education system has become a propaganda system

On his website, Carson says, "There has been a troubling trend of the U.S. Department of Education increasingly trying to dictate how children are educated in our primary and secondary schools. This must stop and Common Core must be overturned. Our education system must be run by involved parents and engaged teachers and principals. Any attempt by faceless federal bureaucrats to take over our local schools must be defeated."

In a 2014 YouTube video, Carson said, "The great divide in our nation right now is education. We have to do everything we can to bring it back to the level that it used to be in this country. We used to have the best public education system in the world. Now we have the best propaganda system in the world. We just have to change that."

On Social Security: Each person should be responsible for their own pension

On Social Security: Gradually raise the age of eligibility for benefits

On Social Security: Individuals responsible for pension; with federal supplement

Carson: There is no question that people need pensions, particularly given the extended lifespan we are now experiencing. By changing Fed policies to allow interest rates to rise and encouraging people to put aside some of their earnings, we can hopefully reestablish the idea that each individual is responsible for their own pension and that government programs like Social Security are only supplemental in nature. Each individual needs to determine for themselves how much is enough based on their lifestyle expectancy.

On Social Security: Raise retirement age gradually; & forbid raiding Trust Fund

Carson: 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.