Democrats in congress must show all their supporters that they have a spine and decide that they are ready to go "Off the Cliff". The cliff comes into place on December 31, 2012 when the Bush budget tax cuts are set to expire and the Defense budget is automatically set to be reduced by $500 billion. As I watched Lawrence O'donnel yesterday carefully explain why Democrats in Congress and Senate must call the Republican bluff by allowing the Bush Tax cuts to expire and the Defense budget cut to take effect, I was reminded that these are critical areas of interest to Republicans. Where these actions to take effect Republicans they will find themselves in a bind. As Republicans have always claimed, by allowing the Bush Tax cuts to expire, Congress will in effect be allowing a tax increase on all Americans because tax rates will go back to what the rates during President Clinton's presidency. And we know how resolute the Republicans are regarding any tax increase. Secondly, The Department of Defense Budget has always been a sneaky way for Republicans to direct government spending to their friends and allies in the military industrial complex. By allowing the Defense budget cut to take effect, Republicans will come under from their allies. President Obama has presented a tax bill to maintain the Bush tax cuts for all Americans except those 2% of Americans making in excess of $250,000 a year. But the Republicans have indicated that they will not allow tax cuts for 98% of Americans unless Millionaires also get the tax cut. The strategy outlined by some Democrats in the Senate to counter the Republican bluff is for Democrats to do nothing and just sit on their hands and allow the Bush Tax cut to expire and the Defense budget cut to take effect as of January 2013. After that they can represent the President's tax bill once again and challenge the Republicans to vote against tax cut for 98% of Americans. As much as this is a brilliant strategy, my fear is that some democrats in the Senate will play chicken and not stick with their other colleagues to call the Republican bluff. Please send the following simple message to all Democratic elected officials to let them know that we are taking a pledge that is even stronger than the pledge that their Republicans colleagues made to Grover Norquist: " Democrats all over the country will be watching and keeping a score of the actions of Democratic Representatives in Congress. Anyone of them who refuses, or bows to pressure against the President or the Democratic strategy to combat the Republicans in this latest Strategy to "go over the cliff", will find themselves a target for a brutal attack and determined opposition to their reelection". It is about time that Senate Democrats grow a spine and stick together.

Take the power from the global elite.

My petition is about the Flag of the United States of America. Our military personnel fight for our country using the stars and stripes of the USA flag as their banner for freedom and liberty for all. Citizens of the USA pledge their allegiance to the flag. Don't you think that Flag should say "made in the United States of America"? It is time to take back our outsourced manufacturing jobs and our USA Flag should be our number one priority.

We need to repeal the capital gains exemption in the federal tax code. The capital gains exemption reduces the tax rate of income from capital gains. This raises the value of money and reduces the value of people's labor. This tax exemption distorts values by inflating the value of capital items and diminishing the value of labor.

See Lawrence O'Donnell's "Last Word" segment that aired last night (July 18). Get ready to support the "Off the Cliff" Campaign. It has growing support from even the veteran Repubs! Can you believe it? Finally COMPROMISE! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755883/vp/48235591#48235591 Contact your Democratic congressperson and senator now. Let them know that you support this initiative and willing to take their hand and GO "OFF THE CLIFF" WITH THEM!!!

If we let the Bush tax cuts expire, congress can reinstate the middle class cuts with out the Republicans having to worry about the pledge to Grover Norquist.

It is time for the U. S. Congress to pass a Wall Street speculation tax, both to shrink the amount of speculation and to raise funds to offset the downside of their risky behavior. A .03 per cent tax on all trades as proposed by Iowa Senator Harkin and Oregon Representative DeFazio would generate $350 billion in the first nine years. It is time for Wall Street to be responsible for itself and its effect on the country.

All voters in the upcoming November elections, should hereby agree to NOT vote for any politician that takes the Norquist pledge.

After admitting that the foreign manufacturers and assemblers contracted to make its devices engage in inhumane labor practices, Apple has done little to definitively address the problem. Granted, such inaction may have to do with the limited influence Apple has over the labor policies of its contractors and the regulatory regimes of foreign countries. However, this is no excuse for Apple's continued use of what effectively amounts to slave labor to make iPhones, iPads and other gadgets, especially as millions remain jobless in the United States, whose consumer market is largely responsible for making Apple so successful. We are calling upon CEO Tim Cook to make good on his promise to address Apple's labor problems - and reinvest in the consumers of its products - by bringing those jobs back the United States, where labor protections and industry regulations will prevent the ongoing abuse that is rampant in overseas labor markets.

Commodity market speculation is driving the price of fuel through the roof. We are paying the highest sustained price for gasoline and diesel fuel in history. These prices are killing the economy and are, for all practical purposes, a tax being paid to Big Oil, primarily by the poor and middle class, two groups who can least afford it during these hard times. Commodity market speculation is a major component of these sky high prices that can and should be regulated!!!

The unemployment percentage will not be solved under the Industrial Revolution Economy..We must move to the High Technology Economy.

Our nation is in desperate need of infrastructure repairs, upgrades, and modernization to move our economy into this new century. Our economy, for both the long-term and to kick-start growth now, depends on our leaders putting America before politics.