Since the mid 1980s, Republican leaders and politicians at every level of government have signed a pledge organized by lobbyist Grover Norquist to refuse to raise taxes under any circumstances. This pledge gives an unelected lobbyist unprecedented power over the GOP. There is a reason Republicans only want to cut spending, but won't consider revenue increases to reduce the deficit, pay for programs that help the needy, or make our environment safer. The reason is that Norquist will fund primary candidates against any Republican who votes to raise taxes. Yet the American people re-elected President Obama and Democrats who consider tax revenue part of solving our budget deficit and our economic problems. We must end the hold Norquist has over the GOP so that every option, including tax increases, is on the table when discussing solutions to America's economic woes and the federal budget.

Right now Obama and the Republicans are negotiating about how much to punish the poor and middle class and how little to tax the rich. Whatever compromise they come to will have significant negative consequences for most of us. We must do this immediately.

We must be FAIR to everyone alike: TAX ALL INCOME whether it is earned or won. We need not pick on the rich--right now they don't pay taxes on their capital gains! Anyone who lives on unearned income is getting away with stealing from the rest of us. Close this loophole! Income is income. Period!

In order to deal with the upcoming fiscal crisis, there should be no cuts to entitlement programs

The 2006 Congress undermined the financial stability of the Postal Service when it enacted a law that required the postal service to “pre-fund” retiree health benefits seventy-five years into the future, and in an unrealistic 10 year period. With $44 billion now in the fund, The Postal Service inspector general has said that program is already stronger than any other equivalent government or private-sector fund in the country. There already is more than enough in the account to meet all obligations to retirees, yet Congress has been unwilling to pass responsible legislation to keep it solvent. Rural Post Offices are being reduced & some closed. America's Postal Service is facing being dismantled and privatized as result of the inaction of Congress. This agency provides middle income wage earning jobs, many to our veterans returning home. Replacing these jobs with non-career, low- wage, support personnel is damaging to this already ailing economy and totally unnecessary. Mr. President, only the White House Administration can intervene to stop this.

Protect our senior citizens present and future and our poor!! Don't cut the Safety net to give more tax breaks to the wealthy!

The President must not bargain away what people need and are entitled to, a safety net. The cuts previously proposed we're too severe and would have hurt the people who need the help the most, the middle class and the poor.

Congress has given themselves a pay raise and shortened their work year... They need to do their job and BALANCE the BUDGET. They need to do it in a way that does not hurt the middle class. Large corporations and people who make over $250,000 need to pay their fair share.

The CEO of Hostess tripled his own pay, faced bankruptcy rather than agree for the employees (their average salary being $43,000) to have well deserved benefits. Then he, with the help of the media, blamed the failed company on the the employees and the union. I'm calling for the ex Hostess employees and their union to start their own bakery and share equally in the profits.

Tax fairness. Why do people who do not need to work but live very well on the money from their investments pay a tax rate of 15% while the working person pays 20% or 28% or more? Why is money taxed at a lower rate than labor? This was not the way the tax law used to be written. Closing this tax loophole would help reduce the deficit.

My nephew alone with other young black men have had their lives stop for long periords of time for the amount of time the court is giving young men for any type of drug they have, not use, have. The three strike law should go away. Prison has become a big business to take young men away from family, friends and life.

We need an economy that works for our world and will sustain ourselves and future generations for centuries to come. We cannot depend on huge global corporations to work in the best interest of our planet when the goal is to make more and more money. We need to find a new way, where people earn fair wages doing work that helps themselves, their families, their communities and moves us forward to making the world a better place for all.