Yes, mental stress, when they refer to Social Security and Medicare as a entitlement it makes me feel like I am asking for a handout. It lowers my self esteem.

James Finley, VCU women’s volleyball head coach’s contract was not renewed after an astounding season, with 25 wins, 6 losses, and a trip to the A-10 Tournament Semifinals. Mr. Finley believes that his contract was not renewed due to him being openly gay. Unfortunately, this has not be the only incident. Pat Stauffer, who is a lesbian, has worked in VCU athletics for 30 years, was demoted from Senior Women’s Administrator to Senior Associate AD for Sports Administration in October.

In addition to most of it's language, our country should use most of Britain's political campaign financing laws. Currently, we go about elections as if we don't WANT to have a democracy. If we had a campaign and voting system that was truly democratic and some party tried to change it to what we have now, people would "riot in the streets." I am personally appalled by our current system.

As a legally married gay male in NY State while I can file a joint State tax return, I cannot carry that over to my Federal tax return. In addition I must claim his portion of medical insurance covered under my employer as income. Furthermore, if he dies I am not entitled to his SSDI as he is presently battling lung camcer and upon his death I will have to pay estate taxes on his half of our house. EQUALITY FOR ALL or NO TAXES AT ALL!

Enable early voting in Virginia to make it easier for all voters to cast their ballots and at the same time ease the buildup of lines on voting days.

We must work together and our state Legislators need to help US fix or rewrite the law to end/stop modern-day slavery. The issue drew the attention of President Obama at former President Bill Clinton's Clinton Global Initiative on Tuesday (Sept. 25), where Obama said the estimated 20 million victims of human trafficking would become a major focus of his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "Like that Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho, we can't just pass by, indifferent," Obama said. "We've got to be moved by compassion. We've got to bind up the wounds."

We must work together and our state Legislators need to help US fix or rewrite the law to end/stop modern-day slavery. The issue drew the attention of President Obama at former President Bill Clinton's Clinton Global Initiative on Tuesday (Sept. 25), where Obama said the estimated 20 million victims of human trafficking would become a major focus of his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "Like that Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho, we can't just pass by, indifferent," Obama said. "We've got to be moved by compassion. We've got to bind up the wounds."

Before 2012, the citizens of the Town of Kensington voted at the Town Hall for municipal, county, state and federal elections. This helped foster a sense of community and improve voter turnout. Because of school board redistricting, the Town has been split into two polling locations. Please support MC 1-13 to restore voting for all at the Town Hall!

The Declaration of Independence says there will be for "Liberty and Justice for All" but women of color have been marginalized and made invisible at the bottom of our society since 1776. Only 44 women of color have ever been in Congress (1 in Senate; 43 in House of Representatives) and not yet in every state legislature. We will be unrepresented until the rest of the nation does the right thing.

In this time of struggle for so many Americans, a credit check does not offer a correct reflection of how an applicant will perform their occupational duties. I have worked HARD for 35 years, and now have to change my occupation due to a work injury almost 2 years ago. My credit has suffered horribly during this time, and although I am well qualified for several occupations, I continue to get letters of decline after prospective employers use my credit as a reference. I know I am not alone in this situation; whether job loss is from injury or business foreclosure, credit checking is not a fair practice.

We must work together and our state Legislators need to help US fix or rewrite the law to end/stop modern-day slavery. The issue drew the attention of President Obama at former President Bill Clinton's Clinton Global Initiative on Tuesday (Sept. 25), where Obama said the estimated 20 million victims of human trafficking would become a major focus of his Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "Like that Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho, we can't just pass by, indifferent," Obama said. "We've got to be moved by compassion. We've got to bind up the wounds."

In the past few years our nation and the great state of Wisconsin has been hurting with the lack of jobs and the national and state deficit. I propose, in order to create a multitude of jobs and a way to gain a national/ state surplus of money instead of a deficit we legalize the use of marijuana and control it in the same manner as alcohol and tobacco. Just recently over 300 economists stated that the legalization and taxation on marijuana could save the U.S. $13.7 billion a year. Imagine how that would help our nation and our state grow! I myself personally do not use or condone the use of marijuana, but with that said the use or consumption of marijuana whether someone wants to believe it or not, the acts are there and are presentable. Marihuana does indeed have beneficial uses. Just as alcohol or tobacco it to does have some negative draw backs, but statistically shown by many doctors and scientists that its use isn't anymore harmful to your body than that of consuming a can of soda or a drinking a glass scotch or even taking over the counter aspirin. The research and answers are out there to the benefits of marijuana. The question is, are you as a human being able to put aside your personal convictions or even religious beliefs on this subject matter, then look at those facts and make a well informed decision whether its use and legalization would benefit our state and our nation? Millions of people including myself think so. Please consider it. Thank you!