Ben Carson | Check 2016

What is Ben Carson’s tax plan?

Ben Carson supports a flat tax, a plan that would ask the same income percentage from everyone. Citing Biblical inspiration, Carson has put forward 10 percent as a possible figure. As Fox News’ Chris Wallace recently pointed out, that flat rate would have to be higher to make up for lost revenue. And this would leave the wealthy paying less in taxes and the poor paying more.

For much of the Republican base, that’s not a bad thing. Many candidates talk about broadening the tax “base” and lowering overall rates. Carson himself says asking less in taxes from the poor is akin to “condescending” to them. Regardless, his plan would leave low-income Americans paying a good bit more than they currently do.

That Navy stat is very wrong

Valid concern

Getty Images / Michael Smith

He has a good point on America’s nuclear arsenal. It’s in poor shape, and the Pentagon says it’ll take some $7.5 billion to fix it. In the last decade, the section of the U.S. Defense Department tasked with maintaining these weapons has seen security violations, personnel issues and, in 2007, even the temporary disappearance of six missiles in North Dakota.

Our military is far from gutted

It’s crowded at the top ranks

Ben Carson’s right: the Defense Department is slimming its ranks near the top. But there’s some debate over whether this is a bad thing. The U.S. has a higher ratio of officers to enlisted soldiers than at any time in its history. It’s become drastically more top heavy in the last decade, which can mean bureaucratic deadweight and a big cost to taxpayers.