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.

Every year millions of Medicare beneficiaries must change Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to find a plan that will cover their prescribed medications and determine what their projected cost will be for each plan researched. The beneficiary is often given a new prescription during the year, only to discover their current plan will not cover the new prescription. They either return to their doctor and ask for a different medication (often not as effective) or sometimes go without the necessary medication growing more seriously ill, increasing their overall medical costs.

Recently, our water bills have increased because the city has added a $11 trash. Maxine Johnson is a plantiff in a suit against St. Louis City disputing the fees. Under the Hancock Amendment, the city should have asked the voters to approve an increase in revenue via a Proposition on an election ballot. Please support us in bringing this situation to our elected officials.

The looming sequester mandated by the inability of US Congress to reach a deal on spending cuts and raising tax revenue by at least 1 trillion will raise everyone's income taxes and reduce spending across the board by far more than 1 trillion. That will send the country's economy into recession again. Congress must act soon and come up with a plan by years end.

Over the past decade, most Americans have seen their income plummet and many have lost jobs and fallen into poverty. Meanwhile, the wealth of the top 2% has skyrocketed, thanks, in large part, to huge tax cuts. Enough! It's time for the top 2% to pay their fair share.

There should be restoration of Military Retired Pay for Soldiers retired under US Code Title 38 Chapter 61 who served less then 20 years' time in service and are in receipt of VA Compensation.

We must get the Republicans to take compromise seriously. The people of the United States have spoken - loudly - in the recent election, that the Republican agenda is not popular. We are sending this petition to the Republican Congressional members.

Solution to our hemmhoraging Debt-Crisis

Mr President, and Representatives of the People--House & Senate, Please accept our bread and butter request to continue to support us with unemployment benefits that are due to expire December 29, 2012. Unemployment is not an entitlement; it is an insurance; a fund we paid into! The latest report is that the extensions will create 300,000 jobs! One dollar of unemployment is re-invested in the community $1.60. Some of us will end depending on other social support, the end result of which will be the government still paying. We need a profound solution and not band-aids. The meager payments end up spent on survival bills and are still helping the economy! A fellow person affected explains to me that she is going to college for special ed and she was cut off at her last semester; these cuts are affecting a lot more people than just the unemployed. Personally, if I do not land a job by the end of the year, I will be homeless. Please ask your information services how much I have contributed to our beloved nation!!! Or look me up in Who's Who or the 100 Most Prominent Women in the U.S.A.! Respectfully, Alkistis Von Gizycki

Congress has until December 31 to make a critical and historic choice. They can ask the richest 2% of Americans to pay their fair share, or they can put more money in wealthy pockets at the expense of the struggling middle class.

You represent the people of the United States. Stop political posturing and make reasonable compromises to avoid the so called "fiscal cliff". This equivocation prevents businesses from planning expansion and, if not solved, will lead to another recession or depression.

We seem to be making enemies the world over with our aggressive and arrogant attitude. Let us give peaceful strategies a chance.