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| Affiliation | Americans Elect |
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2011-12-01 |
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| Name | Mike Ballentine |
| Address |
, , Vietnam |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
April 04, 1963
(61 years)
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| Contributor | Craverguy |
| Last Modifed | Bob
Jun 14, 2012 08:16am |
| Tags |
Caucasian -
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| Info | Hi, I am Mike Ballantine, and I would like your support in our attempt to take back control of our nation from the multi-nationals that have put their needs before the needs of the American people. Currently, I am a school Principal and teacher of English in Vietnam. I have been living in Vietnam for the past 6 years in a self-imposed exile from the United States. You see, I believe that if one pays taxes to a government, then one is consenting to the policies of that government. In 2002, when I realized that the Bush Administration was going to attack Iraq, I lost faith in my country. The first thing I did was change my party affiliation from Republican to the Green Party. As a “Rockefeller” Republican from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I found the Green Party’s ideals to be in line with my own. Their opposition to any action against Iraq cemented my resolve to support them. I admire Ralph Nader for his tenacity and strength of character and was quite comfortable changing my affiliation. Once our nation attacked Iraq, I resolved to stay outside the United States to avoid paying taxes that ultimately support the American war machine. First, I lived and worked in Madagascar, then Singapore, and finally Vietnam. Many of you may wonder why Vietnam, that’s relatively straight forward. My second wife was born in Saigon and I felt that because I was leaving my nation because of war that I would try to do something to atone for my nation’s previous war. Call me old fashioned, call me naïve but I actually believe all those things one learns in organizations like the Boy Scouts of America.
I was born in Abingdon, PA on April 4, 1963 at about 5 am in the Holy Redeemer Catholic Hospital to Charles Boileau Ballantine, Jr. and Karen Lois (Marthens) Ballantine. I grew up in Philadelphia and when I was 12, we moved to Lancaster, PA. Due to unusual circumstances, I attended the Milton Hershey School where I learned the meaning of compassionate capitalism until 1980, when I graduated. I went on to graduate from Dickinson College with a Bachelors in Jewish Studies, Economics, and Anthropology. I worked in finance and banking and attained a Diploma of Business Administration from Elizabethtown College at night. In 1989, I began working for Shank’s Extracts, Inc and worked there for 16 years. I am currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix for my Master's in Teaching English as a second language and Curriculum while simultaneously completing my MBA at Delaware State University in Hanoi. During my time at Shank's, I traveled to 27 countries and worked in various capacities from accounting to production. I managed overseas facilities and lived for various periods in Indonesia and Madagascar. I learned much about the problems of capitalism when taken to the extreme and developed an appreciation for finding a balance between capital and labor. Most of my political views were developed during my years at Shanks and then during my first years living in Vietnam. I am a Progressive, although most would not say that I am a Liberal. Instead, I am somewhere undefined between Liberal and Conservative.
My team and I believe that our nation is going in the wrong direction and we ask you to support our efforts to change not only the way we govern but change the way we engage one another. The hate and bile that has entered the American dialogue is unworthy of a civilized nation. We hope to return self-respect and equality for all beliefs, opinions, and personal choices. Join us in our efforts through the Americans Elect primary challenge to not only win in 2012 but to change the way we choose our leaders, not for us but for America.
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