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So far with the Trump administration, there's really not enough concern to go around for all the things that are concerning. I'm sorry to put even more onto your plate, but now it's time to discuss why Ben Carson's confirmation as the HUD Secretary should also concern you — and it's not just because he always appears to be asleep. Sure, his confirmation went through largely without hitch, which almost makes it appear normal after the furor that surrounded Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions — but don't be fooled.
Ben Carson may have been a hugely respected and successful doctor, but having the steady hands of a pediatric neurosurgeon still doesn't give you experience in running any part of government. I used to play lacrosse — does that mean I can step right into a high ranking post at the State Department? I certainly hope not. But apparently when this president likes you, you don't run into the same sorts of resume troubles that we mere mortals tend to have. And while his lack of experience is a big reason to be a bit trepidatious of what Carson might do with his new post, it's certainly not the only one. Here are a few more.
6
His Primary Run Was Less Than Convincing
He didn't do well in any of the primaries, and the SNL versions of his debate performances were far more memorable than his actual debate performances were. And yet, somehow he's the only one of Trump's former challengers to get a spot in the Cabinet. Not that Ted Cruz necessarily would have agreed to it, but maybe he would have liked to be considered.
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Millions of People Will Be Relying On Him For Housing
This is really the biggest problem with Carson's confirmation as HUD Secretary. HUD's programs directly serve about 5 million people just through Federal Rental Assistance — and that's just a fraction of what they actually do. Individuals and communities rely on HUD for a lot, and now they're relying on a guy at the top who has no experience managing a government apparatus. We're talking homeless veterans, children born into poverty, elderly people struggling to live on their pensions — whose homes and communities are now, in many cases, in Carson's hands.
Maybe Carson does deserve the benefit of the doubt, and he'll prove to be an effective and compassionate head of this department. Yet based on his background and all of the things listed above, there are a lot of reasons to be worried.