i am tired of organized violence between states and the absolute waste of resources that we can ill afford for the manufacture,purchase and usage of military weapons of any and all kinds...

Requiring every registered voter in a state to prove their right to vote and/or purging voter rolls is a violation of the Fifth Amendment because it deprives citizens of the most basic liberty without due process of law.

The Social Security Administration, having an independent funding source via payroll deductions, has no impact on our National Deficit or National Debt. However, in past debates over the budget, President Obama has proposed adjustments to Social Security Benefits, such as changing CPI to “chained-CPI” calculations. This would reduce Social Security Benefits for retired citizens, disabled individuals and veterans and deceased workers' survivors. Budget discussions must not include changes to Social Security benefits. A Public Policy Poll (PPP) in August indicated that significantly more that 50% of Americans are opposed to using the “Chained-CPI” method to calculate inflation adjustments. The Strengthen Social Security Act of 2013 addresses this issue and others to sustain Social Security and improve the economic and retirement security of millions of Americans (36% of Soc. Sec. recipients receive 90% of their income from Social Security benefits). The Strengthen Social Security Act of 2013 would: Strengthen Benefits by Reforming the Social Security Benefit Formula: The Act would change the method by which the Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates Social Security benefits. This change will boost benefits for all Social Security beneficiaries by approximately $70 per month, but is targeted to help those in the low and middle of the income distribution, for whom Social Security has become an ever greater share of their retirement income. Ensure that Cost of Living Adjustments Adequately Reflect the Living Expenses of Retirees: The Act changes the way the Social Security Administration calculated the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). To ensure that benefits better reflect cost increases facing seniors, future COLAs will be based on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). Making this change to Social Security is expected to result in higher COLAs, insuring that seniors are able to better keep up with the rising costs of essential items, like health care and prescription drugs. Improve the Long Term Financial Condition of the Trust Fund: Social Security is not in crisis, but does face a long term deficit. According to the most recent Social Security Trustees' report, the Trust Fund will be able to pay full benefits through 2033 (after which, benefits would only be reduced). To help extend the life of the trust fund, and decrease the 75 year actuarial deficit, the legislation would phase out the current taxable cap of $113,700 and instead ask the wealthiest Americans to contribute to the program the same share of their income as the middle class. A comprehensive graphic analysis of these issues was produced by Democracy for America, Social Security Works, MoveOn.org and GHERGICH & Co. Please view it at this link: http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/social_security_infographic/?akid=4145.922777.Fz4UDL&rd=1&source=em.socsecinfo.20131108&t=1 (copy & paste) Americans cannot afford to have their Social Security benefits cut. The Strengthen Social Security Act of 2013 needs to be enacted to protect our retired, disabled and surviving citizens. Please sign this petition to influence our senators to stand up for the strengthening of Social Security.

House Democrats have broken Speaker John Boehner's deadlock and introduced an immigration bill with a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million without papers. So far, over 180 House Democrats have signed on as cosponsors! But in order to get this bill past the finish line, we're going to need Republican support. The good news is that it's there. Your district's representative in the House, Congressman Gary Miller, is part of the group of House Republicans who are open to immigration reform. His support for this new bill could be the tipping point for our movement. If he becomes a part of the growing group of Republicans who have already cosponsored this bill, we know more of his colleagues in his party will build up the courage to follow. We know Rep. Miller is ready to listen to you and our movement. While he's expressed sympathy for DREAMers, we need him to extend that to the rest of the 11 million aspiring Americans—and to turn “sympathy” into concrete support for citizenship. We already have a good bill waiting in the House, and we just need to get Rep. Miller to stand by all immigrants -- not just some. He needs to join the more than 180 House members and cosponsor this new immigration bill! We need you and other advocates in your district to pressure Rep. Miller into supporting this bill. If we get Rep. Miller on board, your district could make all the difference for the millions without papers across the nation. The momentum is on our side because enough votes exist in the House to pass reform today. But instead Speaker Boehner hides behind excuses, delays, and flat-out refuses to give us a vote. We've come too far to stop now. Tell Rep. Miller to stand up for all immigrants by cosponsoring this new immigration bill in the House and passing the path to citizenship for the 11 million!

In these difficult times when many are struggling, voters would be appalled to learn that the Los Angeles City Council is actually considering raising the limits on gifts given to them by special interests that do business with the city The LA City Ethics Commission proposed to ban all gifts from bidders, contractors, and others with a financial stake in city decisions -- a sensible extension to the ban on contributions from them that voters overwhelmingly passed with Measure H in 2011. Alarmingly, City Council voted to not only ignore that recommendation, but to propose actually INCREASING the limits by 50%, from $100 a year to $150 a year. Los Angeles City Councilmembers are already the highest-paid in the country, receiving just under $180,000 a year. As Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times said, "Seems to me that if they want a gold watch, the cigars, or tickets to a ballgame or concert, they can use their own money." Sign and share this petition to tell LA councilmembers to vote NO on accepting bigger gifts now!

I am a government contractor who was furloughed during the government shutdown. I am a recent college graduate that has considerable student loan debt, and lives mostly paycheck to paycheck. I cannot afford to miss a paycheck. I am now forced to choose between paying my rent on time or buying groceries. I know there are a lot of other government contractors and consultants that are in my shoes. It isn't fair that our livelihoods are affected because Congress cannot get their act together! The possibility of another government shutdown in January is looming in the back of our minds. How will we make ends meet if we are furloughed again? We work for the government, so why shouldn't we receive back pay?! This Huffington Post Article offers some more insight into the issue: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/government-contractors-shutdown_n_4117963.html

Starting this petition because the senator has abused the powers granted to her to influence the contract to be given to her husband for tremendous financial gain. These abuses can no longer be tolerated.

This is the most important political issue today in America that will have significant impact on the world for decades to come and there is no better time that now to bring it to the forefront. Mr. Obama has nothing to lose by making it matter in the minds of the public and everything to gain for us all if he can move us a little bit closer towards making it happen.

We are starting this petition to put an end to this unnecessary government shutdown. Thousands were out of work and still looking for their pay. Even though the government is temporarily shutdown we are months away from a total government shutdown.

Growing up in Germany, I have seen the benefits of a strong social safety network for a resilient economy (and that economy was helped by the US Marshall Plan - this is my thanks - let the same generosity be returned back home)

We've always been told that spying on the citizens is a prerogative of the totalitarian states such as Communist or Nazi regimes. And we always thought and been told that this could not happen in US. That was before we learned a true scope of the NSA programs, including spying on heads of our allies among other 35 states, as well as monitoring phone calls and e-mails of tens of millions of people in different countries around the world and probably most of the citizens of this country. Now after initial shock and disbelieve most people must have realized that the illegal spying was going on for a long time, in violation of court orders, not just by NSA, and that FISA law is one big loophole. Yet, there was still some hope that things might change and that legislature will wake up from coma of narcissistic greatness and trans of patriotic propaganda and will close the loopholes that took away rights guaranteed by the American Constitution that they swore to uphold and defend. That all has changed on Thursday last week (October 31, 2013) when a bill that would validate NSA’s harvesting of phone, e-mail records cleared the Senate Intelligence Committee and progressed to the full Senate. If the FISA Improvements Act will become law, “Congress effectively will be validating expansive powers that have been claimed by the NSA and upheld by a court--but never explicitly written into statute—to harvest the phone and e-mail records of millions of Americans”(Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-bill-would-validate-nsas-harvesting-of-phone-e-mail-records-privacy-advocates-say/2013/11/02/aa24932e-4310-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html). Please, sign this petition and send the strong message to the Congress and President that they cannot take from us our Constitutional Rights. Say 'No' to legalization of warrantless blanked phone and e-mail wiretapping. For more information visit http://screwedbylawyer.tumblr.com/post/66067056140/spying-without-borders-to-become-the-law

I am afraid for our country. I am a Korean Vet. and I am ashamed of the way we have allowed the Washington elite to treat us (you and me) It may not do any good BUT it will show them we are united......