Millions of Americans remain unemployed but are no longer being counted in the common unemployment numbers typically broadcast. By looking instead at a more reliable statistic we see a drop of 5 percentage points in the percentage of the population EMPLOYED (over age 16) occurred with the economic meltdown. That percentage dipped from 63.4% to 58.5% and has only improved about 0.3 percentage points in about the last 3.5 years. In other words, we are not making progress in re-employing millions of Americans, we are only keeping pace with population growth with our limited level of job creation. Economists Paul Krugman and Dean Baker note that our unemployed or underemployed friends and family and other fellow Americans won't get full-time jobs back for even many more years without massive fiscal stimulus to restore normal demand levels in the economy. [Further explanation added 8/23/13, 8/28/13:] We need a wide range of (non-off-shorable) investments: from infrastructure construction (roads, bridges, rail, airports, harbors, canals); to rehiring of laid-off state and local employees foolishly laid-off (due to lack of federal emergency support to states); to design and manufacture of trains, spacecraft, and defense hardware; to broad-ranging scientific and technical research. The point is to get people back into productive work in the economy, spending money to fuel an upward spiral of increasing demand in the economy as more people can then buy more goods and services to fuel hiring of more and more people to meet the increasing demand. We have a skilled, energetic, intelligent citizenry to put back to work productively.

Religious institutions should be held accountable to the citizens who subsidize them. There is absolutely no good reason why churches, especially large and highly profitable ones, should not be paying taxes.

Owned by Dylan Lauren, daughter of famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Dylan’s Candy Bar is the largest unique candy store in the world, with $25 million estimated in annual sales. It is widely considered a ‘required stop’ for celebrities visiting NYC, such as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Katie Holmes, Janet Jackson, and Madonna. Yet, while our hard work has contributed to Dylan’s success, working for Dylan is no candy land. While Dylan Lauren is the 5th wealthiest heiress in the world, worth $4.6 billion, most of us associates started at less than $10/hour. In fact, at $13.99 per pound, a pound of bulk candy is worth more than our hourly pay. On top of the low wages, our schedules and hours change week to week. Nearly the entire sales staff is part time, yet they expect us to have open availability, making it nearly impossible for us to juggle other obligations such as second jobs, school, and family. They refuse to give us any guarantee of the amount of hours we will work each week, and yet they get angry with us when we look for a second job. The low pay and sporadic scheduling makes it hard for us to do what we do best – provide excellent customer service. We know that Dylan’s can do better, so we decided to get ourselves organized! Unfortunately, when we got together to deliver our own petition to management, they shrugged it off. Ignoring our concerns, they simply told us that any issues regarding compensation could only be addressed in one-on-one meetings with managers and not together as a group. Now we’re taking our petition to the public to show the company that we’re not alone! We are asking Dylan’s for: 1. A Living Wage: Increase hourly pay to $13.99 per hour, the price of just 1 pound of bulk candy 2. Just Hours: More stable scheduling with guaranteed weekly hours for all associates 3. End Favoritism: Establish a clear and measurable path for promotions so that advancement is based on hard work and not favoritism Let Dylan’s know you support our efforts to improve our workplace! To learn more about our campaign: • In These Times article: http://ow.ly/pQKE9 • Labor Press video: http://tinyurl.com/qgf5sgq • DNA Info article: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20131206/upper-east-side/workers-snicker-at-meager-payday-from-dylans-candy-shop

This affects every tax payer in the United States. Why should the U.S. Tax Payer subsidies multi-billion dollar corporations because they fail to pay their employees a DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING??

Our economy continues to suffer due, in part, because the US Senate refuses to vote on bi-partisan jobs bills that have been passed by the US House. It's time for the Senate Majority leader to allow those jobs bills to come to the Senate floor for a vote.

If you live in Montgomery or Prince George County in Maryland, are you tired of your water bill going up unstoppably? WSSC has been increased water rate charge for last 7 years (2007-2013) that lead to an eye-popping 160% increase of rate (from $8.45 to $13.52 per unit, and from average $1000 to $1600 per year.) In addition, for families with bigger size, the increase rates are even higher than families with smaller size, which results in double charging for big families. There is no any other public utility service carriers increase rates in such irresonpsible way. As a very conservative user and family, I personally see my bill from $60 per quarter (1 person) grew into $400 per quarter (4 persons), and will be $500 next bill with latest rate increase. Please join me to request 1. WSSC to operate more efficiently and stop the unstoppable rate hikes; 2. Revisit the anti-family-grow rate and change it to flat rate regardless household size. If you want mor information, you can google related topic, especially at www.stopwsscratehikes.org THANK YOU!

Currently, tipped workers in Illinois earn only $4.95 an hour and they haven't seen an increase in their wages in 4 years. These workers are forced to endure poverty, discrimination, wage theft, and exploitation. Increasing the minimum wage for tipped workers is an important step toward economic justice for all workers.

Fairness and equality in the workplace.

Give Nevada workers non-optional access to temporary disability benefits by mandating employers to deduct a percentage of a worker's wages to pay for the disability benefits. In California, a workers pays one percent of its wages to a disability insurance fund. Two of my offsprings have suffered non-related work illnesses that have forced them to temporarily stop working. They did not buy a voluntarily temporary disability insurance. This should not be optional.

Corporate profits are at an all-time high, and wages at an all-time low. Though productivity has increased 99% over 4 decades, wages have stagnated, increasing only 4%. Workers don't enjoy the rewards of their increased productivity, while corporate CEOs make out like bandits. Even as CEO compensation has skyrocketed over 900 percent, the minimum wage has lost one-third of its value over the past 45 years. Adjusting minimum wage for inflation since 1968, 30 million U.S. minimum wage workers would be making $10.56 instead of the current $7.25 per hour. Raising the minimum wage to $10.50 would provide important economic stimulus.

In America, people who work hard should be able to afford basic necessities like groceries, rent, childcare and transportation. However, if you make minimum wage in Arizona, you have to work 85 hours PER WEEK, just to get by. Many low-wage workers have to go on public assistance, despite working full-time. This just isn't right, especially when their employers are mega-corporations, raking in billions of dollars each year in record profits. Fast food companies are some of the biggest culprits. While their workers make a mere $11,000 a YEAR, a fast food CEO makes an average of $25,000 PER DAY! Fast food workers all over the country are standing up to demand they be paid fairly for their hard work. Sign on to show these brave workers that they are not alone and that, here in Arizona, we want living wages for all workers!

Responsible Homeowners like myself who have never been late on a mortgage payment have been waiting at least a year and a half since plans for HARP 3.0 were announced. With rising interest rates, refinancing with a conventional loan is now no longer possible. Refinancing with a FHA loan offers little relief and qualifying is difficult because homes must often appraise for higher than the market value. It is estimated that HARP 3.0 could potentially affect 7.5 million mortgages. Passing HARP 3.0 will free up the interest expense on millions of mortgages and move the economy and housing market forward. Passing HARP 3.0 should be a top priority. Let's end the logjam in Congress ASAP.