With a President starting a second term in office, with no potential for another term at stake, this is the perfect opportunity to put politics aside, and make the tough choices necessary to balance our federal budget. This is no just about "avoiding the fiscal cliff," it is about taking a long-term view of the challenges our nation is expected to face, (healthcare/retirement needs of aging baby boomers, exponentially growing cost of higher education, debt crisis at state and local government level, etc.), and working in a united way to make the tough choices to ensure that we are not simply "kicking the can down the road" for the generations of Americans (our children and grandchildren) to deal with.

The "fiscal cliff" is a hoax perpetrated by wealthy and powerful private interests. Our country is not broke!

We are not at a Fiscal Cliff. Wall St. & the plutocrats are still trying to call the shots in spite of the voters rejection of Mitt Romney. Over 70% of the voters believe that the wealthy should pay more in taxes. Instead of reducing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, let's tax the rich. Lowering the taxes on the rich will not create more jobs. We tried that since 2004 Bush tax cuts.

I will be retiring in the not-too-distant future. I worked hard to be able to do so. I want to rest assured that the money I earned will be working for me as it was intended; I want the same for anyone who earned their retirement. Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid have nothing to do with the deficit and are in good enough shape to benefit from a bit of tweaking to remain solvent for a long time.

President Obama is too conciliatory. This last term he needs to stand strong, not surrender. He must force the GOP to follow his lead, and require the wealthy to pay their fair share--that is, after all, the reason he won reelection. The 1% have been getting a free ride on the backs of the middle class too long.

I believe most people making over $250,000 are willing to pay 3.9% more in taxes to help the country at this time. Republican leaders aren't representing those making over $250K (even most Republicans making this much) well by refusing to compromise. Let's give the message to Congress that wealthy people do care and we want them to give up being stubborn on this issue.

THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS AFFECTED BY IT.

Our nation -- citizens & businesses -- thrived under the comparatively high income taxes of the Eisenhower era. More recently we did well under Clinton era tax levels. Let's begin a move toward income tax fairness again.

We have now lived about a dozen years with the error of the Bush Tax cuts. They did not bring prosperity, except to the top 1 or 2%. They were what the so-called "job creators" wanted; they got them, and look at the job creation 2001 to present--Bad! Mr. President, you are sometimes too nice a guy. Please do not continue your track record of giving more than half in compromises; your adversaries only continue to disrespect you anyway. End the Bush tax cuts. Sure, find a constructive compromise where the affluent pay their fair Clinton era share if you can, but embrace the fiscal cliff and leap happily over it if that turns out to be the only way to end this destructive policy of your predecessor.

The tax cuts for the wealthy and middle class are soon set to expire. Let's stand together and refuse to give the Republicans the ability to hold the People and the President hostage with this issue. Let them expire...die a natural death. Then let the President and Congress come together from a new beginning and take it where compromise will lead. What a concept!

To ensure South Dakota voters support this bill or one like it and provide this information to the South Dakota Senators.

Current foreclosure laws in California do NOT require lender to prove they have the Note or Deed to foreclose. Require lenders to prove they have the right to foreclose. New law only covers modification protection, but does nothing requiring ALL assignments be recorded and most are fraudulent via MERS. New law should REQUIRE proof of valid ownership and proof assignee owns both Note and Deed before it can assign it.