I'm tired of our government and the press using the word "entitlement" when referring to Social Security and Medicare and/or even talking about reducing or eliminating payments. These programs are paid by workers and employers and not funded by the Wefare Program, which is commonly referred to as an entitlement.

There are now more than 2 million people who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. There are millions more set to join them over the next year. These are people who are unemployed through no fault of their own. And we know - based on the numbers - that there are not enough jobs for these people. Without extension of unemployment benefits to help those who have exhausted their benefits, these people will undoubtedly lose everything. Their entire life savings, their homes, their medical insurance - everything. Not only is helping the long-term unemployed the decent and moral thing to do, it makes economic sense. Mark Zandi of Moody's estimated that each dollar spent on extending unemployment benefits generates $1.61 in economic growth. Extending unemployment benefits is among the most stimulative measures available. We urge Congress to immediately pass legislation that will extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Petitions the president to force infrastructure rebuilding through the National Infrastructure Protection Plan

America's huge deficits are not only financial; we have enormous backlogs of unattended infrastructure that hold back modern transportation, energy production, water and power distribution, and a host of other work that is essential for American businesses and workers to succeed in world competition; Ever since the Bush/Cheney economic policy - borrow and spend, radically reduce essential revenues even during their trillion-dollar unprovoked military aggression - produced the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, the private sector has fallen far behind the demand for living-wage jobs; Millions of people need and want jobs, but are out of work now and many have been out of work for years even as recent graduates are entering the job market and finding little prospect for hope;

A cost-free program to open up good jobs - no subsidy required from the government - by allowing people who would retire except for the lack of health insurance to buy into Medicare, paying a fair price similar to what they would pay for COBRA insurance, but without the 18-month limitation. The only requirement is that they retire from their current job. No "shovel-ready" requirement - this could be done right now and some good jobs would become available almost immediately.

We need to provide a livable wage to the people in this state. Big corporations are making record profits and hoarding all of it except for a select few. Having a tiered minimum wage will stimulate the economy and help level out the playing field for small businesses.

Bill Maher, on Apple: "... if they made everything here in the United States, they'd still make 50% profit, which is like what cocaine dealers make." Apple was just named the most valuable company in the nation, and is wealthier than the United States government. I'm calling for a nationwide boycott of their entire corporation until they show their support for our country by restoring their manufacturing jobs to the US. They can easily afford it, it'd be fantastic PR, and it would help our country in a way that's desperately needed.

It is within our US Congress's power to correct the injustice to the American people. The poor and middle classes bear the brunt of an unequal and unfair tax burden, while the very rich are left untouched to acquire ever more wealth.

There is a solution to the jobs problem and it could quickly put hundreds of thousands of people back to work. It is not pro left or right. It is not from any corporation, it's outside the government control, it's totally voluntary, works in about one week, and helps all with little sacrifice from anyone. National Hiring Day - This is a day that corporations are encouraged to hire new employees. Corporations are called on to put patriotism first and help their country in hard times. Those corporations that cannot hire, are asked to stop firing for that month. http://wp.me/p5S9X-nv Political bickering doesn't buy groceries. Let' go beyond a wish list for a stale mate congress, and get the jobs people need in a win win for everyone.

According to Binyamin Appelbaum and Helene Cooper, writing in the New York Times, "White House Debates Fight on Economy" (published: August 13, 2011): "Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, David Plouffe, and his chief of staff, William M. Daley, want him to maintain a pragmatic strategy of appealing to independent voters by advocating ideas that can pass Congress, even if they may not have much economic impact. These include free trade agreements and improved patent protections for inventors. "But others, including Gene Sperling, Mr. Obama’s chief economic adviser, say public anger over the debt ceiling debate has weakened Republicans and created an opening for bigger ideas like tax incentives for businesses that hire more workers, according to Congressional Democrats who share that view. Democrats are also pushing the White House to help homeowners facing foreclosure." Our goal is to persuade President Obama to listen to the advice of economists who have sound ideas about putting this country back on the path of prosperity. In order to achieve this, he must be willing to fight for what is right instead of persistently caving in to those whose primary adenda consists in nothing more than appealing to "independent voters" (read: those who don't have a clue about what needs to be done).

Power corporations could sell 30 year bonds to pay for installing solar power and solar water systems on homes to be paid off by current power bills. As noted by one of the signers a version of this has already passed in New York State recently, and in smaller communities in different forms. http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/06/23/new-york-passes-historic-green-jobs-financing-law/ We need the political demand to supply the answers to our economic and energy challenges. Government should mandate this happen. Current 30% government incentives could help pay for this. A program called PACE in California finances energy upgrades through property taxes. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Renewable-Funding-Solves-Solar-Financing-Problem/ Many States are adopting this type of approach to make it easier for homeowners to adopt clean energy. http://www.dsireusa.org/solar/solarpolicyguide/?id=15 Maybe now what we need most is a massive public education campaign to enlist homeowners to take advantage of the programs like this that already exist, and to continue to encourage Local, State and Federal officials to adopt more user-friendly ways for homeowners to create jobs by applying for clean energy upgrades.

Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is proposing two bills that will go far in helping the middle class and poor get jobs. The "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" would create 2.2 million jobs needed in our communities. It would be paid for by Schakowsky's proposed "Fairness in Taxation Act," which creates higher tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires and eliminates subsidies for Big Oil and tax loopholes for corporations that send American jobs overseas. We can get on the right track starting in Illinois--support the "Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act" and the "Fairness in Taxation Act."