As a CPA I am amazed at how few people know that social security tax applies only to the first $110,000 of earned income. Even though this "cap" will rise in 2013 to a little over $113,000, people don't realize that higher income earners are only taxed on this amount and that any amount they earn over the cap does not have to pay social security tax. Removing the "cap" and taxing all levels of earned income would go a long way to mitigating any shortages in the social security trust fund in the future.

Members of Congress salaries should be suspended the day they go over the cliff. Do not reinstate until an agreement is reached.

A bill to extend middle class tax cuts beyond December 31st, has passed the Senate and remains in the House of Reps, waiting on a vote. Speaker Boehner MUST vote on the bill before Christmas.

im a welder and in this field it is tuff to find a job becouse most companies have switched to a 90/10 work force. where 90%hire ons and 10% permanent temps. this does not sound like alot but it is becoming common practice to only hire the management/ suppervisors and have the workers as permanent temps. i have personally watched as companies would tell the temps (some of wich have been working at the companie for years) that there are no positions availabe as we watched a what i assume is a friend or familey member gets hired on off the street. this ruins what illusion of worker rights we have left and proves to be an unstable ground for working families to stand on.

Berkeley's local independent businesses are good for the economy, our community and the environment. Approximately 58 cents out of every dollar stays in the community when you buy from local stores (vs. 31 cents at a chain stores), they create good jobs in our community, and keep Berkeley interesting and unique. Nearby residents can walk, bike or take public transit to Berkeley's stores, reducing our carbon footprint. Your purchases at indie stores make a HUGE impact. Making a conscious effort to shop with Buy Local Berkeley businesses & artists this holiday season (and all year!) means more jobs, parks, libraries and public safety as well as the unique and creative neighborhoods we love. Also, it's FUN!

This is a petition for the elimination of "Daylight Savings Time", when we change our clocks, either forward and backward, 2 times a year, with no understandable reason for this to occur. It is a disruptive, and in many cases, a confusing change to humans, pets and others affected by this practice.

Stop waisting money thats not yours, its the taxpayer that has to pay in the end.

stop Corporate Welfare ! they are Outsourcing our jobs and making major attempts to bust Unions and pay and benefits for US workers !

Time for Speaker Boehner to listen to Americans. Raise taxes on the top 1%. Stop the Drama! Do some work for a change!

South Dakota teachers are some of the lowest paid in the united states. why? aren't our kids worth it??

President Obama is proposing to let the Bush Tax cuts expire for top income earners but keep them for the middle class. The growing disparity of income and wealth in our country are endangering our middle class, which is the strength of a democracy. Allowing the Bush Tax cuts to stay in place for the middle class will help keep the economy growing. The top 2% should consider it their patriotic duty to give back to the society that has given them the tools to prosper, and the small increase in their top tax bracket will not endanger their welfare.

A Financial Transaction Tax would apply to purchases and sales of derivatives, options and stocks above $100,000.00 per year and it would be small, half a penny on each dollar of the transaction value. It would effectively be a "speculation tax", because it would hit hard at short-term high volume trading as opposed to sober, long-term investment, which is what most small and institutional investors do. Such Tax was already in effect from 1914 to 1966, and a version of it was advocated by the late Nobel Prize-winning economist James Tobin as a means to curb foreign exchange speculation in the 70's. This tax could raise badly needed revenue, while having little effect on most American pocketbooks and reducing the devastation risk of of runaway speculative trading on Wall Street. According to a joint report from the Cent!er for Economic and Policy Research and the Political Economy Research Institute, it could raise as much as $350 billion annually.Therefore, the financial transaction tax should be an integral and important component of any "fiscal cliff" negotiations.