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Robert Ardini
Candidate's Website: www.robertardini.com
Family
My upbringing was somewhat conventional. My father was a sanitation worker and my mother was a German immigrant stay-at-home mom. My mother ‘came to America’ (as she would say) when she was about eight, so she was completely Americanized and had no accent. We lived in a private house in a good neighborhood within the New York City limits, and were very friendly with many of the neighbors. My father’s large extended family - to whom we were close - all lived nearby.
DEFENSE:
Defending Americans and American interests is one of the main responsibilities of the Federal Government. This includes maintaining a strong military, but hoping successful diplomacy never requires us to use it.
DOMESTIC TERRORISM:
Domestic Terrorism is one of the most crucial problems of the 21st century. We need to use all of the resources of government in an attempt to eradicate it and study its causes.
THE ECONOMY
The national debt is my primary campaign issue for good reason. Simply put, IT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR FUTURE, as we can’t keep printing money or borrowing it. I’ll explain. Every dollar we print, makes all our other existing dollars worth less. When the supply of money is increased, the demand for goods and services is greater; this allows manufacturers and service providers to get away with charging more, a.k.a inflation. In other words, inflation makes each dollar worth less, by requiring more money to make the same purchase. As for borrowing money, sometime soon, we will have run up too much credit; then, our risk of defaulting will be so high, no one will want to lend us money. That means our government won’t be able to sell bonds - not to Americans, not to foreign individual investors, and not to other governments. This is not just theory. It happened in Greece just a few years ago. The ramifications of our spiraling national debt include, not being able to afford defending ourselves if attacked on our homeland and, not being able to respond to a national disaster - like the predicted major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. However, the ultimate ramification of this debt is the fact that we are saddling the next generation with this problem. Just what will we say to them when, in the future, government can’t afford to provide the most basic of services, and they ask us “What were you thinking?”
EDUCATION
A number of factors have created so many layers in the system, that it’s now no longer possible to navigate. We need to scrap the whole system, abolish the U.S. Department of Education, and return full authority to the States. If you think this is an overreaction, I urge you to read John Stossel’s book, No, They Can’t, Chapter 9: Educating Children. As for the curriculum, we need to be more practical. For example, I never had reason to use the required geometry, trigonometry, physics and chemistry, but I sure would have appreciated learning a lot more about nutrition, exercise, and financial planning such as household budgeting, balancing a checkbook, etc. Even such basic things like personal hygiene and ‘keeping to the right’ should be included. And imagine the benefits of high school courses on the subjects of ‘Parenting’ or ‘General Safety Practices!’ Actress Raven-Symone once publicly called out the need for some of these reforms. I hope she uses her celebrity to draw attention to this important issue.
THE ENVIRONMENT
More of a global problem than a national one. We should first be looking to work with the United Nations on this issue.
GREEN NEW DEAL
Same answer as above: More of a global problem than a national one. We should first be looking to work with the United Nations on this issue.
GUN CONTROL
First deal with mental health issues by requiring health insurance companies to incentivize their subscribers to see a Personal Care Physician and Psychologist/Social Worker once yearly - as mentally sound people don't commit mass shootings
HEALTH CARE
Don't repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Instead, improve it. Please visit my website www.robertardini.com for my detailed solutions on how to accomplish this.
INFRASTRUCTURE
National Infrastructure. One of the primary purposes of government. Spend money on it, but wisely."
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
As a country we are to be commended for defending human rights worldwide, but doing so is an extremely expensive proposition. Some estimates state that nearly a quarter of our 20 trillion dollar debt is from our entanglements overseas. Although we’ve been able to shoulder these costs thus far, continuing to do so will eventually become unsustainable. Since we know that one day soon, we won’t be able to afford to police the world, we may as well stop now and save all of that money. Yes, I’m well aware of the ramifications. Senator John McCain so wisely said something along the lines about bad people filling a void left by good people not stepping up. I recognize that as true, but in the end, all of our efforts are for naught if we bankrupt ourselves in the process. I’m not suggesting we simply become isolationists and do nothing to promote peace and harmony around the world. Rather, we need to engage our enemies to find out what we could be doing differently to anger them less. In other words, we need to find out, specifically, why they want to bring us down. Of course, we’ve already done this to some degree and, more often than not, we find out that our enemies just want us to mind our own business. We generally reject that concept because we usually don’t like how our adversaries treat their own people, and feel it is our duty to intervene to defend human rights. In theory, this mindset would be viewed as commendable by most. In practice, it simply hasn’t worked well for a very long time. So, it’s time to stop.
IMMIGRATION
We’ve fallen down on the job in terms of enforcing our existing laws. We can’t correct that by simply deporting everyone. We must create a path to citizenship which is different (and more stringent) for those who entered illegally, than for those who went through the proper channels. And, I believe in granting the undocumented the ability to enroll in health care, obtain driver’s licenses, and any other right which, if not granted, would create a public safety issue.
NATIONAL SECURITY
I want to secure our borders in whatever way is most practical. In many places that may be a wall, and in other locations that may be some type of technology, physical presence, or something else.
MUELLER REPORT
This is a non issue. As a country we've fully fleshed it out. Time to move on to other things.
REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY
Right now the government can't afford to pay Reparations to any group. After we clean up the national debt, perhaps we can re-visit our affirmative action programs and have a conversation about what more can be done to help level the playing field for all Americans.
OTHER ISSUES
My Ultimate Vision for Our Country: I want our Country to explore THE UNIVERSE, far more aggressively than at present. I want science to tell us precisely how we evolved, and if we are alone in our solar system. In other words, I want to expand our total body of knowledge and discover the meaning of life. However, this is a VERY expensive proposition. In order to have the money, we first need to better address our needs here on Earth; so, I want to be in the best possible position to implement my bipartisan solutions to our nation's problems. THAT'S why I want to be President. Just imagine, where would we all be if Spain never funded Christoper Columbus' voyage to the New World in 1492?
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My other hero is Stephen Biko, a young medical student in South Africa during Apartheid who spoke to what he believed in and became a role model in terms of building cultural and political power. Sadly he was killed for his activism, but I wish his story were told more.
We're living in a time right now where people aren't being very kind to each other. I think part of what makes people unkind is when they look at another person and they don't see a person – they see a category. They see the other, they see the unknown. Books do such a great job of helping us understand one another. So even now that I'm in government, I still think English is one of the most important things, literature is one of the most important things that you can study.
The core of American foreign policy has to be built on the relationship between American values and American interests. Any time we've tried to sell out our values to advance our interests, it's caught up to us as a country. And so what we need to do is make sure that we have an authentic commitment to human rights, to democracy, to freedom, and that we support that in various ways around the world.
We cannot keep America safe from this threat to the American people if we are not prepared to name it and confront it. We need an administration that is ready to do that, and we can't keep pretending that this is just random, or that this is something we can't confront. What you have here is two things coming together: one, the weak gun safety policies of this country, and two, the rise of domestic terrorism inspired by white nationalists. So I will invest $1 billion in combatting radicalization and violent extremism, work to stop the spread of violent extremism online, and enact policies to stop guns from falling into the wrong hands.
Under my plan, we take a version of Medicare and we make it available to everybody. I believe the public alternative we create under "Medicare for All Who Want It" will be better than all of the private plans and will put us on the glide path to Medicare for All. I trust the American people to be in charge of their own health care and make that decision for themselves rather than ordering them to switch plans when they don't want to.
The good news is a majority of Americans support common-sense immigration reform — Congress, not so much. We’ve been talking about this issue since the 80s, and Washington hasn’t been able to do anything about it — but the consensus is there among the American people across both parties. The deeper question is one of the atmosphere around this debate — and the biggest concern to me is the dehumanization that’s going on. People have been told immigration is the problem. But very rural and conservative areas are much more open on immigration when they personally know immigrants — when it isn’t this fear of the unknown. That’s why I’ve proposed Community Renewal Visas. These place-based visas will provide opportunities for people who want to move to America and will be targeted to areas that are in need of workers, so immigration can be seen as a source of strength — and something to compete for — not something to be feared.
I support HR 40, which would create a commission to examine reparations. But I also believe we need to intentionally invest in health, in home ownership, in entrepreneurship, in access to democracy, in economic empowerment. That’s why I’ve proposed the most comprehensive vision to tackle systemic racism in every one of these areas, marshaling as many resources as went into the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe, but this time a Douglass Plan that we invest right here at home to make sure that we’re not only dealing with things like the over-incarceration of Black Americans, but also black solutions, entrepreneurship, raising to 25 percent the target for the federal government to do business with minority-owned businesses, investing in HBCUs that are training and educating the next generation of entrepreneurs.
I’m running to be the president for that day after – a president who will gather up the pieces and help put this nation back together.
I’m running because I believe that we must make bold changes to meet the urgent crises we face. But I also insist that the best way—the only way—to do that is to do it together.
The future doesn’t have to be a dark place. America has overcome tremendous challenges before and we can do it again. If we’re willing to break with the past, if we can enlist the energies of every American, then we can be proud to tell our kids what we did to leave them a better future.
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Family Widower(married 54 years) - 4 adult children - a daughter who died in the hospital before coming home.
Education
Academy High School, Erie Pennsylvania, Diploma Wesleyan University, B.A. Harvard Graduate School of Education, M.A.T. Carnegie Institute of Technology, M.A. History Numerous other graduate credits
Experience
Social Studies teacher at Hanover (NH) High School 1961-present. frequent teacher of history, government, and current events, but have covered all subjects at one time or another. I directed a summer school for Upper Valley students for many years. I was New Hampshire Teacher of the Year in 1988 and led the state Teacher of the Year organization for many years. I was selected as Lyme's Citizen of the Year in 2008.
Other (hobbies, interests, etc.)
I like to walk while listening to books and college lectures. I have coached varsity boys and girls basketball, varsity softball, and JV baseball. I have been involved with quiz bowl for about 30 years. I have played basketball and baseball/softball for most of my life.
Who is your personal hero and why?
My wife, Kay, who was able to provide the direction and stability for our family for many years. She preferred a behind the scenes role, but my family knows that nothing was achieved without her support. On the other hand, if I were to select a. historical figure, it would probably be John Adams. He was very highly principled and worked very hard to achieve goals that were good for the country
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
History has always been my favorite subject. As the name implies, it is about stories. The stories tell us who we are. History gives us perspective on today, so we can try not to repeat the same mistakes
What is your favorite book or author and why?
The next one. I recently finished The Pioneers by David McCullough, and anything he writes is a good read. But I also enjoy local history and reading about people from New Hampshire and Vermont.
What is your favorite movie and why?
I like the film Major League because I am a big fan of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. I use the film Lord of the Flies in class because it is so rich with symbolism and messages for today. I also like to show Glory in my history classes because it can be dissected in many ways with lessons for today. Most students get more history from media than their teachers, so the student must be a critical viewer.
Who is your favorite musician (or type of music) and why?
I like the folk music that was rediscovered in the 50s and 60s. One of the popular singing groups was composed of my fraternity brothers, so their music has a special appeal to me
EDUCATION
All students should be educated to their level of competency at state expense. At present we are tying a ball and chain of student debt around the legs of our most precious resource, our young people. If so desired, students would owe one year of service for every two years of subsidized education beyond high school. The service would take place in the military, Peace Corps, Vista, Teach for America, or similar service organizations
THE ECONOMY
We should reduce the normal work week from 40 hours to 35 hours. Automation will continue to take away jobs, so reducing the work week gives more jobs and more leisure time to support people in the leisure industry. I don't think any corporation should be larger than the average American state, so I would oppose any future growth or merger that takes a company beyond the "too big to fail" standard
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Peace is Possible. I advocate for a Peace Academy to stand beside the military academies. The Peace Academy would train diplomats in international affairs. I would convene a conference of leaders of faith communities. We have military and economic organizations that meet regularly, but where are the peace advocates? All of the major problems that America faces today are international problems and cannot be solved by an America First mentality
DEFENSE
I would work to maintain our standard of excellence, but I would also work to invigorate the United Nations to change the charter to allow a rapid response military to head off minor conflicts before they become genocide. The UN should become the world's policeman, not America. I am an internationalist and in the same way that representatives met in Philadelphia in 1787, we need to have a similar world convention
HEALTH CARE
I believe in The Golden Rule, and since I have insurance as do my Representatives in Congress, everyone should have universal health care. I do not advocate a specific health program but challenge the Democratic Senators to go back to the Senate and pass a health plan and I will approve it. I will not threaten a veto and expect a majority of Congress to do their work.
IMMIGRATION
We should build bridges not walls. We should take the money that would be wasted on walls and apply it to improving the conditions in the country of origin. I do not believe that people want to leave their homes, but are being pushed out. We need to assist other countries in improving local environments.
THE ENVIRONMENT
In the same way that I say to my students that they should leave the classroom better than when they entered, we should leave the world better than when we were born. Global warming is a fact and it doesn't matter whether it is a natural cycle or human causation; we need to improve our environment.
GUN CONTROL
In general, gun owners have a right to their guns for hunting, protection, and recreation. But they also have the responsibility to see that that gun is not used inappropriately. If the gun is misused, regardless by whom, the owner is an abetter of that crime. Military style weapons do not belong in the home. Gun rights advocates can use their weapons at approved shooting ranges run by the NRA or other responsible organizations.
OTHER
Please make a brief statement about your position on any other issues important to you.
1. Character Counts; The current President is contrary to everything I teach regarding civic virtues; he is dishonest, a bully, a name caller and an abuser of women; he has antagonized our international friends and grown friendly with those we do not trust. 2. I'm opposed to the Imperial Presidency. Too much power is being given over to the executive branch. In the same way that Rome lost its Republic, we are a cause for concern today. I will work with Congress to legislate, and I will administer.
Please make a statement to New Hampshire Students about the importance of voting and being civically engaged
It cost me $1,000 to put my name on the presidential ballot. That is A LOT of money to a teacher, but I did it because it was important for me to make a statement. It was a sacrifice and it may be necessary for students to also sacrifice if the cause is important to them. We have many challenges today, and I'm running for President to indicate to my students that civic engagement is critical to meeting these challenges
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