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Johns Hopkins Director Dr. Ben Carson on the steps to improving the health-care system and reducing costs.
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Doctor Ben Carson set off a firestorm at last week's annual prayer breakfast with the president sitting right next to him.
Doctor Carson criticized their health care system tax policy.
He even said we're bound to the -- the Romans destroying ourselves from within.
Joining us with more.
Ideas in the conversation to have started doctor Ben Carson pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins hospital he's also author of the book.
America the beautiful.
-- by how much controversy this -- storm it stirred how many people are talking about this now did you.
Think about that when you made those comments to do expected.
Well I knew that there would be some I didn't expect the magnitude.
We've been just overwhelmed.
Deluge.
And it's 99%.
Positive.
Because it seems like people are just starving for some logic and some common sense and doesn't seem like we're getting a whole lot of that anymore.
No -- avenue wanting critics have said that maybe it wasn't the best setting to do this that it was -- appropriate -- a prayer breakfast is sort of go.
On the attack what do you think about that heavy respond.
Well I think a prayer breakfast we should be talking about.
-- spirituality.
Of our nation.
And one of the things that is contrary to spirituality.
Is unfairness.
Is mean this cruelty.
All of those are kinds of things that are happening in our society now and -- I think it's a very appropriate place to talk about.
Let -- one of the comments for you because it goes to what you were just saying it's about the flat tax let's listen and then we'll talk about on the other side.
You make ten billion dollars you put that a billion you make ten dollars you put in one course you gotta get rid of the loopholes.
Now have some people say.
That's that well that's not.
Because it doesn't hurt the guy who make ten billion dollars as much as the guy who made tent where does that say you know.
-- the guy he just -- a billion dollars in the pot.
Boy you know it's when you watch that I'm watching president Obama's -- because he is I -- mikes don't he's not giving any sort of reaction sort of doesn't want to give people anything to talk about.
Did you talk afterwards I mean I what was his response in person like.
Well he came over to me was very graciously said think it is a wonderful speech and I really admire you.
Who's who is very cordial.
So -- -- It it it wasn't present it as attacked an attack on him or attack on anybody it was present it.
As another way to look at things and we've reached a a stage in our society.
Where if you disagree what what's been put out there you're attacking someone.
And that's not -- wish that they we should be able to put all of our ideals on the table and have an intelligent discussion.
And ideologues.
Always feel threatened.
But people who are honest and really want to solve problems are very welcoming of different opinions.
-- to that point you have come up with a number of different so solutions I mean New Year's -- our pediatric neurosurgeon so you're very familiar and everything that is going on in health care debate and one of your ideas.
Is to set up a health savings account at birth that would allow patients.
To manage their -- would create incentives for you to put money away.
Over your lifetime tax free in order to pay for your health care.
In do you think this would work is anyone taking this idea seriously.
Yeah I think it would work extraordinarily well because.
It -- it's really based a little bit on the food stamp program.
You know people get monthly allocation when they get food stamps.
-- learn very quickly.
Not to go out and buy porterhouse steak the first five days and -- the rest of the month.
And people would learn very quickly if they have a health savings account.
When they have a problem to go to the place where they can get -- take care of and expend.
Less of their health savings account.
Also.
When you allow them to pass -- onto their prize and they at the time of their death.
They start thinking in a very different way they're not gonna be trying to spend Obama.
-- be very happy to pass that onto this on alluded to her grandson -- toward.
And and that's bringing personal responsibility into the whole mix.
We have to have another way take care catastrophic health care and and and that's something that certain that we need to sit down talk about.
But I think it won't work extraordinarily well.
You talked about all of that.
Also tort reform which is a popular theme the flat tax we heard you talk about is running for office here.
Well I've you know people have been asking me that for years and years and trying to press me into running for office and -- -- -- that.
Unless the lord grabs -- by the collar.
I'm I'm not really -- -- that in doing that.
But in I I certainly think that all of us because we the people.
-- what this whole country is all about and we should be able to weigh in on how it is yeah.
Run without being accused of attacking anyone -- -- creating problems.
Doctor -- we have to -- I think that might see a hand on your collar there you better be careful I don't know someone thank you and -- so much for coming -- we appreciate your time.
Thank you come.
