Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump is refusing to release his tax returns, claiming that “there’s nothing to learn from them.” But we think that’s up to the voters to decide. Before we pick our next president, voters should have a clear picture of every candidate’s background, experience, and business interests -- and if there are any potential conflicts of interest, we have a right to know. So today, we sent a letter to Donald Trump demanding that he release his tax returns dating back at least five years for public scrutiny. He wants to conduct the people’s business from the highest office in the land -- so we deserve to see how he’s conducted his private business too. Trump says he can’t release his returns because the IRS is currently auditing them -- but he didn’t have a problem doing that when his private business interests were at stake. And the commissioner of the IRS gave him the go-ahead too, saying “if you’re being audited, and you want to do something else, share that information with your returns, you can do that.” Even Trump’s predecessor as Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, thinks that Trump needs to come clean, saying: “It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service.” The other two candidates still in the race, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, have already released their tax returns. In the interest of transparency and a fully informed electorate, Donald Trump ought to join them.

A healthy democracy depends on every citizen having an equal right and opportunity to vote, yet every election cycle, millions of working class Americans find themselves having to choose between their job or their vote. It's time to honor our democracy and to protect the voting rights of working citizens. Make Election Day a national holiday.

It's time to take OUR VOTE back!

As a citizen of Allegan, I feel that we should be allowed to make the most economical, healthy, healthy and enriching decisions about the food we eat.

At Maine's recent convention, Democrats voted to change Maine’s system and require superdelegates to vote according to the proportion of the people's vote. This happened in response to the fact that just one of the state's five superdelegates (20%) committed his vote to the 2016 presidential candidate who won 64% of the caucus vote and 68% of pledged delegates at the convention. In numerous states, the current situation of superdelegates overwhelmingly supporting the candidate who lost that vote is unacceptable. It is undemocratic and disenfranchises voters. If the Democratic Party wishes to live up to its name, it needs to fix the superdelegates system so that the will of the majority of voters is represented in every state and territory.

Stop the Burn! Given the high probability that any delegate numbers will be insufficient for a Bernie victory, Given that apparently this fight is not about egos but the future of the Democratic Party, Given that the candidates’ difference between their democratic values and goals is relatively small, Given the history of the Democratic Party’s lack of unity and cohesion when needed most, Given that there is only one Democratic Senator to endorse Bernie, Given that the alternative to a Democrat in the White House is Trump, Given the enthusiastic wave of radicalized new Republican voters, Given the dire need for ALL Democratic voters to go to the polls to prevent a disaster in November, Given that the Republicans are enjoying every reduction of strength in the Democratic Party, Given that any attack on Hillary translates into added strength for Trump voters, It is time to stop the Burn! Let Republicans feel the New Bern! Klaus Roesch, Atlanta, Georgia

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have both said that they oppose a vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal during a lame duck session of Congress after the November election. [1] Secretary Clinton responded to a question on a lame duck session from the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign by stating: “I oppose the TPP agreement - and that means before and after the election.” Senator Sanders said: “Holding a vote on the TPP during a ‘lame duck’ session would be going against the will of the people.” Even former Bill Clinton policy advisor William Galston now concedes that "the 2016 presidential campaign already has undermined public support for trade agreements and should force supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership to reassess their strategy…It is difficult to see how an end-of-the-year push for the agreement can succeed when the president-elect, no matter the party, is sure to be dead-set against it." [2] Urge Democratic Senators to press the Democratic National Convention Platform Committee to stand with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and adopt a platform plank in opposition to a lame duck vote on the TPP by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clinton-does-not-back-obama-trade-vote-in-post-election-congressional-session/2016/05/05/ce94f76e-12d7-11e6-8967-7ac733c56f12_story.html 2. http://www.wsj.com/articles/rethinking-the-politics-of-trade-1462920193

Superdelegates should be required to vote in proportion to the popular vote, the same as any other delegate. The superdelegates should follow the will of the people.

I am starting this petition for Oregon because the Democratic Party elites and the political establishment should not have a veto over the will of the voters.

Superdelegates skew election results away from the will of the People. I believe this is undemocratic.

Maine Democrats have voted to require that, beginning in 2020, the state’s total delegate votes at the national convention must be awarded proportionately to the results of the state’s presidential caucus or primary. The proposal would urge but not require this year’s superdelegates to honor the outcome of the Democratic caucuses in March. Finally, it calls on the national party to eliminate the superdelegate system altogether. [1] Urge Illinois Democratic Party leaders on the State Central Committee [2] to follow Maine's lead by signing our petition. 1. http://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/07/maine-democrats-vote-to-change-superdelegate-system/ 2. http://ildems.com/illinois-democrats/state-central-committee

It seems as though our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., USA, have forgotten the true meaning of public service; of being a public servant. Public service or civil service is defined, in part, by Wikipedia in the following manner: "A civil servant or public servant is a person in the public sector employed for a government department or agency. The extent of civil servants of a state as part of the "civil service" varies from country to country." Such are elected or appointed by the People of the United States of America and belong to the People of the United States of America. Period. Because of this fact, stranger than fiction, it is our duty as Americans, as Voters, to remind them of this fact, every day if possible, for as long as they occupy elected or appointed office on behalf of the People of the United States of America. Kindly and respectfully pledge with me to remind them of this fact, stranger than fiction, by adding your name to this petition. Thank you....