Sargis Sangari: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: SkokieWebsite: http://votesangari.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/VoteSangariFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/votesangari/Office sought: 9th District U.S. Representative Age: 48Family: My family and I live in Skokie, Illinois. My wife Helen and I are parents of four young (but fast-growing!) children, two boys and two girls. They are active members in our community and love the public schools, which they attend in our district.Occupation: CEO Near East Center for Strategic Engagement and Founder and President of the United Assyrian AppeaEducation: Political ScienceCivic involvement: President and Founder of United Assyrian Appeal. The United Assyrian Appeal provides aid to the Assyrian military families of soldiers who are fighting against ISIS and other forces of evil, struggling to save themselves from the eradication of their people, their religion, their culture and history.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What do you think is the government's responsibility in assuring that citizens have health care? To what extent does the Affordable Care Act address this responsibility? What, if any, changes are needed in the act.The Constitution has no provision for the federal government to provide health care and health care insurance to the public. It's the government's job to regulate and to ensure fairness and equal access to health care, but not to provide single payer coverage. A basic level of healthcare should be available to every citizen regardless of his/her financial ability to pay. There should be reasonable constraints on the cost of healthcare delivery services for those whose lack the financial means to purchase such services on the open market. Those individuals should have the services provided for them via government programs that would pay the costs for them. As an example systems like the current Medicare system would be appropriate. Concerning the Affordable Care Act: its clear that its not only unaffordable to perspective user, citizen, but to providers and insurers as well. As a result a significant number of Americans have chosen not to participate in the program, which has only compounded ACA's inherent affordability problems. The way the ACA was written and mandated is a good example of how a system of systems approach is needed to understand the long-term affects of political decisions. The ACA will continue to add to political party friction points given that any efforts at tax reform will affect ACA mandates. Again, an approach to at least addressing the underlying costs of health care should be investigated and legislation should be developed for lowering the present astronomical costs of drugs and medical technology.What immigration policies do you support? Where, if at all, do you see room for compromise to produce an effective policy on immigration? What, if any, responsibility does the government have toward immigrants referred to as Dreamers who were brought to the United States illegally as children and are now adults? How will these policies affect your district?It is inappropriate for politicians to use undocumented persons as leverage in unrelated issues. It would be constructive if we provided a path to citizenship for those undocumented persons who potentially would enrich our country with their talents and who will demonstrate respect for our Democracy. Immigration debate can move forward by neutralizing the political friction points between the political parties by giving contingent-based immunity to possible DACA recipients. Immunity is different from amnesty in that it acknowledges responsibility for committing a crime, in this case, coming into the United States of America illegally. If we are to be a nation of laws we have to respect the existing laws in place. The courts could be empowered to granted immunity to those persons they deem appropriate. There should be a very thorough vetting process on a case-by-case basis, and once the appropriate agencies have signed off on allowing a person to enter the program, the courts can provide temporary immunity contingent upon a variety of different merit-based conditions. This may include a minimum four-year mandatory military service where the recipients could earn their right to citizenship. On compassionate bases we can also extend Permanente residency to the parents of the persons who have earned their right to citizenship. The parents should also be required to contribute some form of public service to a governmental agency and or entity.What military or diplomatic roles should the United States play to promote peace and stability in the Mideast? Under what circumstances should we have military forces actively operating?The Win-Win scenario for the United States is when it can meet its international objectives without ever having to resort to the use of military force. The use of force should result only when all other options have been exhausted. Israel provides us with an excellent example of a Win-Win for the United States, in the Middle East. Today we play no military role in the defense of the State of Israel. In that area of the Middle East, Israel has proven that despite being a reliable ally of the United States they are 100% self-sufficient and can take care of themselves. We need not invest blood or treasure in maintaining Israel's integrity as a sovereign nation. However, there is a significant political contribution that we can make which will serve our countries self-interest, and that is to advocate for policies that will sustain Israel and encourage her Arab neighbors to cease and desist from their historical efforts to destroy the Jewish state. At the same time, we should engage all parties to the conflict in an effort to facilitate communication and encourage them to understand that their self-interest resides in the development of their own respective countries and not the destruction of one.What should the United States be doing to reduce the threat of potential nuclear conflict from North Korea?The U.S. has a history of dealing with these problems going back to the Cuban missile crisis and the cold war stand-off with the Soviet Union. The U.S. has the world's strongest military and must keep all its options on the table as it has done historically in these cases. America's strongest alliance is with South Korea. We must stand with our allies to include Japan. I support negotiations as a way of avoiding war but I we must retain our ability to strike if and when military action is warranted or needed.How would you describe the effectiveness of Congress today? If you think Congress needs to be more effective, what would you do to promote that?Congress as an institution is designed to be effective and if the members of Congress do their job in a mature responsible manner they will be effective. Politicians must understand that they are not sent to Congress to support a political party. They have been elected to Congress in order to serve the best interest of the nation. If our politicians understand this basic principle, they will exhibit the highest level of integrity. Politicians must work for America and not for their party. If they follow this guiding principle, they need not be concerned about the next election cycle, as their constituency will show their approval in the recognition of their honorable service, regardless of Party affiliation. Given all Representatives to Congress are concerned with their impending election, their Party's imperative should not be their mandate, but decision making or service in the best interest of the nation as a whole. Accordingly, Congress will function ineffectively. However, if one party demonstrates such intransigence and lack of integrity that it becomes impossible for Congress to function effectively, the system simply will not work. I would recommend voting for politicians who make their decisions in the best interest of the Nation and not in deference to a Party agenda or a compromise in ordered to succeed at being re-elected. I would suggest that more retired ex-military officers who have been schooled and trained to have respect for the values of honor, integrity, and self-sacrifice be encouraged to run for elected office.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?How I can more effectively work with other members of Congress, in particular those Democratic members, in order to more effectively work in the best interest of not only my constituents in the 9th Congressional district of Illinois, but our nation as a whole. By working together we can demonstrate a sense of responsibility, honor, and integrity, which the citizens of our nation deserve of their elected officials.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.N/AWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?N/AIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?N/AWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?N/AIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?N/A