Target has been scrambling to respond to the company’s massive data breach, which affected up to 110 million consumers. But so far, they’ve fallen short. Instead of working to make sure data breaches never happen again, they've announced a $5 million "financial education" plan and are offering customers a "ProtectMyID" service that does nothing to prevent fraud on existing accounts and may give consumers a false sense of security. Thieves got away with card numbers, expiration dates and security codes. That's a mother lode for fraud on existing accounts. In fact, JPMorgan Chase has decided to re-issue two million cards that are at risk from the breach. They’re taking this threat seriously. So why isn’t Target? Target needs to do a better job of taking responsibility and protecting consumers from the threat they created. First, they should agree to provide full restitution to all of their consumers who actually become victims of fraud or identity theft as a result of the breach. Second, they should inform consumers that they have a legal right to place a security freeze on their credit reports – that’s the only real way to stop identity theft. And third, they should promptly upgrade their systems to meet the highest industry standards for security.

Amendment: Section 1 [Corporations are not people and can be regulated] The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. Section 2 [Money is not speech and can be regulated] Federal, State and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, for the purpose of influencing in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure. Federal, State and local government shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment. Section 3 Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

An appeals court just dealt the latest blow to the open Internet. The court struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order because of the questionable legal framework the agency used when it adopted its Net neutrality rules in 2010. This ruling means there is no one who can protect us from ISPs that block or discriminate against websites, applications, or services. But there’s hope: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler can correct the agency’s past mistakes and truly protect our nation’s communications infrastructure. The agency must take the necessary steps to make broadband networks open, accessible, reliable, and affordable for everyone. We need to tell the FCC to start treating broadband like a communications service, and to restore its Net neutrality rules.

AT&T has plans to install a cell tower at the corner of Retford and Kettring. We need to oppose this move for several reasons a. Spoils the look of the neighborhood there by affecting home values b. Might affect the health of residents c. There is already a cell tower on Cherry road near Stonewater that houses T-mobile and seems like it should be able to host AT&T equipment as well. Why build multiple towers?

Corporate lobbyists are influencing & lining our politicians' pockets. Instead of doing what is best for their constituents, they are acting in their own best interests by accepting campaign donations. Stop the greed!

I am dismayed by the ability of special interests and their lobbyists to undermine the influence of average Americans, and control information broadcasted to the public. When we allow special interests to spend money individuals can’t match, we implicitly give them permission to drown out the voice of the public, creating an imbalance in the electoral debate. Citizens United vs. FEC Supreme Court decision overturned over a century of precedent and opened the floodgates for unlimited amounts of corporate money to flow into our political system. With the Citizens United decision, large corporations have the power to spend unlimited amounts of money from their general treasuries to buy elections. What's more, Citizen United opened loopholes that allow corporations to hide their campaign expenditures by laundering the money through non-profit advocacy organizations. We need a government of, for and by the people. We need a constitutional amendment to undo the worst aspects of the Citizens United decision.

Citizens United was a disaster. It opened the floodgates for corporations to write big checks to fund right-wing special interest attacks, helping them pour $719 million into the 2012 elections. The question is, what are we going to do about it? How are we going to stuff this "corporations are people, elections are auctions, democracy is for sale" mess into the Dumpster of Bad Ideas? Here's how: A constitutional amendment that puts power back in the hands of the people. The actual, human people. Sign the petition to join me in calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

I am tired of being held hostage over benefits we have paid for so millionaires can have massive tax breaks only to then have the benefits watered down and sequestered. Why aren't we sequestering those tax breaks? Citizens United shush funds, that's why. Cork the slime fund and it's immoral goals today. Pass a Constitutional Amendment blocking CU and any attempt to do an end run around human rights of One Man, One Vote (One Woman, One Vote) even if it's a media based brainwashing run.

Clear Channel has a virtual monopoly over radio news and public information. Consequently, this private corporation has far too much influence and control over the public air waves. It has nearly eliminated all sources of AM progressive broadcasting in southern California. This is a major threat to democracy, where a broad range of news, opinion and information is important and necessary.

Unregulated money in politics makes the government answerable to the rich and powerful corporate employees, not the citizens that the representatives and senators are supposed to answer to. It is time to take our government back from the oligarchs. Please sign. the state of Illinois has already passed a bill supporting this! Our federal representatives need to follow suit.

Utah Valley University, and likely others, are claiming that they own 100% copyright to students work regardless if the student used any of the Universities resources or assets. If you submit it for a grade, you are surrendering your copyright. This is wrong, students work hard on their projects and it should be up to them to commercialize it (so long as they don't use University resources). They shouldn't have to go through the University to license their own product and be forced to give 10% (or more) just because they are a student there.

We’re sending around a petition calling for Governor Perry to ask the Chairman of the Texas Finance Commission to step down. Here’s why. The Texas Finance Commission is charged with ensuring that Texas financial institutions, banks, creditors and payday lenders act responsibly and “enhance the financial well-being of the citizens of Texas.” But just recently, William White, Chairman of the Finance Commission, told the El Paso Times that payday loan customers are at fault for falling victim to predatory lending practices -- not the lenders themselves. Payday lending is a real issue for Texans, and we need real solutions to this problem. But Mr. White also happens to be the vice president of Cash America, a large payday lender that has a history of preying on Texas consumers. Can we really rely on him to watch out for our financial well-being at the same time? We can’t stand by as this clear conflict of interest continues. We can end it, but we need your help. Tell Governor Perry to ask William White to resign his Chairmanship of the Texas Finance Commission. Just last month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sanctioned Cash America -- the same business where Mr. White is vice president -- for providing predatory loans to hundreds of U.S. soldiers and their families. The CFPB ordered Cash America to refund $14 million to their customers, and another $5 million for violating federal regulations. If Mr. White’s company cannot follow laws designed to protect our servicemen and women, how can we trust him to protect Texas consumers? Sign this petition calling for Governor Perry to stand up for consumers. Thanks, Sara E. Smith TexPIRG Advocate