Candidate Full Name:
Simon Ribeiro
Race:
US Congress
District:
5th Congressional District
Party:
Green
Email Address:
Candidate did not provide
Web Site:
www.simonribeiro.com
Campaign Name:
Simon Ribeiro for Congress
Campaign Office Mailing Address:
510 Sheridan Road # 211
Evanston, IL 60202-3112
Phone:
(773) 620-8768
Question 1
Please tell us about yourself, your background and why you believe you are qualified to hold this office.
Answer 1
I have lived in and around the 5th District for over 22 years.
My family moved to Evanston, when my father accepted a full professorship at Northwestern University's School of Music. Being a world-renowned violinist, my dad traveled a lot, and I had the great privilege of visiting many far-away countries with him. Almost every summer, my family would travel to Europe. In all, I visited 13 nations all over Europe and the Americas.
This world experience and the fine art culture my family showed me gave me a rich understanding to the wider world and its great culture.
Currently, I am an elementary school teacher at Evanston/Skokie School District 65, and am teaching Kindergarten.
In the summers, I substitute teach for Chicago Public Schools, Evanston Township High School, and Evanston/Skokie School District 65.
I love working with kids and have often been told that I am a great teacher. I also served as a high school swim team coach and lifeguard at the Chicago Public Schools.
I also tutor on the side. I was employed by Kaplan when they learned of my 98th percentile score on the ACT.
Three years ago, at 24, I became the youngest Congressional Candidate in history. I ran for U.S. Congress in 2006, earning 2nd place with 2400 votes in the Republican Primary and winning 3rd place as an Independent Write-in Candidate in the final election for Illinois' 9th Congressional Seat.
In 2005, I passed the rigorous U.S. Foreign Service written exam and became a candidate for the U.S. Diplomatic Corps. Unfortunately, I did not pass the final oral assessment due to the subjectivity of the interviewers.
In May 2005, I graduated Northeastern Illinois University with a B.A. in political science and Oakton Community College with an A.A. in Liberal Arts.
In 2000-2001, I attended Drake University on scholarship and trained in Army ROTC. Currently, I am enrolled in the Graduate School in political science at Northeastern Illinois University and am taking History courses at Oakton College.
In 2004, I interned on the staffs of Chicago's 39th Ward Alderman Margaret Laurino and Democratic Committeeman Randy Barnette, and Illinois' 15th Legislative District State Representative John C. D'Amico (all part of the 5th Congressional District). This public service experience granted me the necessary insight into the dealings of public administration for the community.
On the side, I teach and coach swimming and fitness, and lifeguard. I am a private swim instructor at Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University among other places.
As a school teacher, I am uniquely qualified on the issues of public school education. And as an athletic coach and trainer, I am qualified in the Health and Wellness field.
The call to run for U.S. Congress is the need we as Americans and Illinoisans have- a better society.
We need a first-class, national school system, healthcare system, court system, and economic system that truly leaves no one behind. Life is not fair and it is not just, but a truly great society can make life that much closer to the fairness, justice and compassion we deserve. I will be an advocate for protecting the global environment, bringing about world peace, and spreading prosperity to all the people.
There is an absence of leadership in Congress and in our government as a whole. Politicians and their corporate sponsors have over-worked us, over-taxed us, over-indebted us, and over-embarrassed us.
Americans should stand up tall and elect someone that will be an advocate for a better society and fight hard to make it happen.
Question 2
Please tell us your general views about the role of government and some of the most important things you would like to accomplish in office?
Answer 2
Government is the protector and servant of the people. National security and economic prosperity are the chief priorities in any nation. I believe universal healthcare, universal pre-school, higher-ed, and vocational training are intrinsic parts to a strong national security and productivity agenda. If Americans are called to battle in war, it is better they are healthy, strong, and ready. If Americans are competing in the global economy, it is better they are healthy, trained, and ready. American Government needs an innovative approach to its war on crime, drugs, terrorism, disease, and poverty. Law enforcement and the court system must be focused on rehabilitation more than punishment. Welfare should be targeted on preventing poverty, dependency, and addiction rather than enabling it.
Question 3
The current economic crisis is squeezing the middle class. What should Congress do about it? What specifically would you do if elected to Congress?
Answer 3
The stimulus package that just passed may be too little too late to jump-start the economy. Congress should pass another stimulus package that would be more of a bottom-up solution rather than the less-effective top-down (Trickle-Down) strategy. Funding should subsidize struggling home-owners, small-business owners, eliminate taxes and tolls, and help fund community projects and infrastructures.
I will strongly propose a law to my colleagues in Washington and their constituents- the people- that Congress' Constitutional re-assertion over the monetary system be restored. In this proposal, Congress would take back its Constitutional duty as "Coin Maker" by presiding over the monetary production and distribution by nationalizing the central bank and the banking industry as a whole and setting up the National Bank, as the government bank for all the American people. By nationalizing the bank system, the U.S. will never have to "borrow" money because it will be making it. Therefore, the national debt will be paid off. And future funding will never be a financial problem. The government will stop selling bonds and other securities and will eliminate taxes. Rates of inflation and deflation would be stabilized by heavy Congressional oversight of price-gouging and other unethical business schemes.
Question 4
What are some of the main things you would do to help create jobs in Illinois?
Answer 4
Illinois job creation will grow very quickly with significant tax reductions on both consumers and producers, and increased funding for struggling businesses and community projects.
Question 5
What do you think can be done to bring short-term stability to gas and energy prices? Also, what do you think is the best strategy - to both affordably and responsibly - provide for the nation's future energy needs?
Answer 5
The Government must jump-start the conversion of fossil-fuels to clean and/or renewable
energy. Hydrogen-powered cars have proven successful in efficiency and are clean to the
environment.
A new electric grid with plug-in installations is in the near future, and will greatly lower the dependence on petroleum.
4th generation nuclear power plants are showing signs of producing little to no nuclear waste and these plants can run on already existing nuclear waste.
Solar, Wind, Tidal, Hydro, Geo-Thermal, and Bio energy are going to take over the energy industry and greatly reduce costs to the consumers and the environment.
Question 6
Is there anything that can be done to make health care more accessible and affordable in Illinois? If so, what would you do?
Answer 6
I believe we need a single-payer healthcare system. But if we can not get to that, Congress
should consider President Obama's proposal of a healthcare plan that is has higher levels of
quality and comprehensiveness, and much more affordable.
Question 7
Please state your general views about the war in Iraq.
Answer 7
America's War in Iraq was a great mistake. The war took the lives and health of thousands of American military and contract people, and it took the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people. The war was justified under false pretenses- weapons of mass destruction. It devastated Iraq as a stable, secular country and made it a hot bed of war, extremism, anarchy, and terrorism. Iraq and Afghanistan's regime changes and occupations have emboldened Iran, a potential antagonist to Middle East peace. Congress should launch an independent investigation on the Bush Administration and the past Congresses that allowed this war.
Currently, American forces are trying to stabilize Iraq. American forces should leave soon, but only when stability is achieved by the Iraqi forces.
Question 8
What are your thoughts on how to deal with illegal immigration? Also, what do you think should be done about illegal immigrants who are already here in the U.S.?
Answer 8
The borders must be protected by high-tech means that are cheaper and more efficient. Illegal immigrants who are productive members to society should be given legal work visas as guest workers.
Question 9
What ideas do you have for improving our education system and for making our colleges and universities more affordable?
Answer 9
More college grants and creating a single-payer higher education and vocational training system.
Question 10
What are your highest priorities for protecting the environment in Illinois?
Answer 10
We will try to accelerate the conversion of traditional dirty energy to clean energy. Also, we will try to increase recycling.
Endorsement(s)
None provided by candidate
