Signers of this petition want the Democratic Party leaders to know that if they want to count on our contributions, volunteer activities, and votes, they need to respect rank and file participation in the decision making process. These decisions should not be made by a handful of party elites.

The recent election of Donald Trump has produced a huge wave of distress and anxiety both in our own country and around the world. I feel that we, who are not in collusion with the Trumpets, need to speak out now and often, and need to organize and act, now and often. Let us pledge ourselves to action.

On November 8, 2016, New England voted unilaterally for Secretary Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States, either in favor Madam Secretary or simply against President-elect Donald J. Trump. Unlike other parts of the country, in which Trump's win has sparked attacks upon Latinos, Muslims, African-Americans, and the LGBTQ community, New England appears to be in solidarity against the egregious tone Trump's candidacy and subsequent win have set. Currently, New England wanders in a daze, Dresden the day after Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany. Residents of Providence, Rhode Island, have actually been kinder to each other in recent days, bound by fear that our hopes for the future will be stripped and set aflame in mere months. Please allow the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and - if their citizens and legislators are willing - New York to secede from the United States and form a new Free Republic of New England so that we may peacefully govern ourselves.

Democrat Doug Jones just won the Alabama Senate special election--a stunning rebuke to Trump and the GOP, which had endorsed an accused child sex predator, Roy Moore, as their candidate. Democrats are on offense, and if we all work together to take back the House and Senate in 2018, we can keep Trump and the GOP in check.

The popular vote went to Hillary Clinton. She should be our President. The Electoral College is unconstitutional in that it does not represent the people and denies equal rights. It is also outdated given technology, ability to travel, etc. MoveOn with appropriate plaintiffs (including me) should bring suit for injunctive relief to prohibit the Electoral College from voting on the President. This is urgent, before the Electoral College meets in December.

The last election proves how horrible the two-party system is. As a poly sci major in college, I studied Ranked Choice Voting, and was excited to learn how it could create a multi-party system. Now Maine has adopted this system at the state-wide level, proving it can work. And thanks to the 2016 election, more people than ever are ready to finally end the 2 party system! Lets make 2018 the year the America finally ended the 2 party system. We have to get Ranked Choice Voting on the ballot in more states, to replicate the success in Maine. This is the ONE issue that can unite Independents, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens and even some Conservatives. We all stand to gain by breaking up the 2 party system.

The Supreme Court impacts us all in very personal ways. Please consider signing a WhiteHouse.gov petition on the same issue: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/appoint-garland-now-senate-has-waived-its-rights

Bernie Sanders [1], Elizabeth Warren [2], and MoveOn [3] agree: The next head of the Democratic National Committee should be Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison. Chuck Schumer agrees too. [4] We agree too, because Keith Ellison has been a champion against the TPP and failed U.S. trade policies like NAFTA that have especially hurt workers in Midwest states which Trump carried on Election Day [5]. We also agree because Keith Ellison has been a strong supporter of diplomacy with Iran, while Howard Dean, who has also announced his candidacy for DNC chair, opposed diplomacy. [6] Dean even took money from an Iranian terrorist group - it was on the State Department's terrorist list [7] - to support U.S. advocacy for regime change in Iran. [8] Urge Senate Democrats to support Keith Ellison for DNC chair and oppose Howard Dean by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/305435-sanders-endorses-keith-ellison-for-dnc-chairman 2. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/11/scoop-schumer-backs-ellison-for-dnc-trump-world-begins-to-float-cabinet-secretaries-schock-indicted-targeted-victory-splits-in-two-bday-tucker-bounds-217350 3. http://commondreams.org/newswire/2016/11/10/moveon-statement-dnc-leadership 4. http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/11/scoop-schumer-backs-ellison-for-dnc-trump-world-begins-to-float-cabinet-secretaries-schock-indicted-targeted-victory-splits-in-two-bday-tucker-bounds-217350 5. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/latest-tpp-peril-presiden_b_12883024.html; http://fair.org/home/the-final-bill-for-tpp-may-include-trump/; http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/economy-budget/305330-dems-need-alternative-to-four-decades-of-neoliberal-failure 6. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/237593-howard-dean-obama-should-walk-away-from-iran-talks 7. https://thinkprogress.org/giuliani-dean-paid-to-advocate-for-terrorist-group-9c316a06c50 8. http://www.salon.com/2015/04/02/howard_deans_iran_secret_famously_dovish_dem_is_paid_shill_for_iranian_regime_change_group/

In the days since the election, I have been among older Americans voicing their disgust with the election, with the awful man elected, and the Republicans who want to dismantle the health and welfare institutions we and our families depend on to get by. We are thought to be old and quiet, with no power because of our age. But we will be heard. We are Americans. It is our right to be heard and we claim it.

The voters of the United States, by popular vote, have chosen HIllary Clinton. Missing and uncounted ballots in Durham, NC and 800 mail in ballots in Florida, not received, would have made her the winner in these states. The orders of Federal Judge ruling WI was ignored! An investigation is demanded by the voters of these United States, to rectify this issue to a satisfactory resolution, giving Secretary Clinton the votes cast for her, and a response to voters before the Electoral College votes December 19, 2016.

There have been multiple reports of children, teens, and adults being verbally and/or physically abused or harassed since President-Elect Trump won the election. We believe our leaders need to cast aside their political agendas and stand together against this sort of behavior for the good of the country. It's time to publicly state an intention to stand up for those being targeted and vow to protect those who can't protect themselves.

THIS IS A CALL FOR ACTION BY PRESIDENT OBAMA. Please share as you see fit. The GOP actions in the defeat of Al Gore -- by election tampering in Florida and calling for the decision by the SUPREME COURT -- is the precedent. The Senate has abrogated and excused itself from its duty to advise and consent on President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court. The President should immediately appoint Merrick Garland to the vacant seat on the Supreme Court since we are in a time of national crisis. A full Court is needed to guide the nation in the difficult days ahead. The President has been given that right by the decision of the Senate to withhold its required Constitutional action to advise and consent on the nomination. The Senate leadership has stated that their decision is final. Following the appointment, the President and a legal team of prominent Americans, must submit to the Court that Donald Trump is UNIQUELY UNQUALIFIED and of dubious character, with many lawsuits pending, including one for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The decision of the Court would be final, just as it was in the decision where Al Gore was denied the Presidency. Proudly submitted, BAYARD CHANNING HILLWAY, PhD