The current refferndum system both makes it almost impossible for the Legislature to pass budget and legal decisions, because they are almost always either changed or superceded by popular vote, usually more controlled by lobby interests than people fear the Legislators themselves would be, or are. This leaves them free from responsibility, ignores the topic experts, and leaves them free for partsan grandstanding that only hurts the state. Reforming the referrendum system so that it is still posible for the people to change the law, but forcing and penalizing the Legislature for not doing it first, and placing severe penalties on individuals in the Legislature who fail to do their job, should give us better , less partisan, more considered, and more timely change. It should also force them to face the consequences of inaction or poor action more directly themselves, instead of just punishing the people in California. The citizens would still have the right to change laws, but it would be harder, forced to be more considered, hold the Legislators and Governor accountable for inaction, and motivate them to do their jobs instead of waiting to see whatever corporate lobby is going to get passed, making their research and representation almost obsolete, and encouraging partisan grandstanding, which could also be censured or punished by the citizens under the new system.

The FACT that 88.8% of US voters have no faith in Congress amounts to a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. The normal process in such a situation, which exists in many other countries, is RECALL. No such process in the US exists. The only alternative is a boycott.

The Declaration of Independence states that it is our duty to institute new government when the old one has become destructive to the life, liberty and happiness of the people. Government derives its power from the consent of the governed. It is the Right of the People to institute new government and provide new guards for their future security. As such, it's time to go back to the drawing board. We're calling for a new constitutional convention with elected representatives from all 50 states. Take the first step toward reclaiming the glory of our great nation. Take your country back.

I recently learned from a friend in Australia that voting is required there. If one fails to vote, a fine is imposed. ( I had an "AHA" moment - of course, everyone should be required to vote in a democracy in order to assure that the will of the people is carried out.) It certainly would lessen the chance that obstacles could be created to keep minorities/ the poor/ the young from voting.

We no longer need "delegates" to ride their horses to a pre-determined location and cast a vote for all the folks back home. Many voters feel disenfranchised today and believe that their vote does not count and therefore, do not vote. It's time to scrap the delgates and make every vote count by electing all public servents by popular vote.

When the supreme court voted the corporations were people and could then contribute unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns they created a corrupt system destroying our democracy and turning our goverment into a bought and paid for political circus

The US has been run and controlled by money and political power for far too long. It is time for the people, all the people, to demand that election law removes, "Most Money and Most Powerful groups win"! Time to change, money and the exposure it brings wins elections! Equal expenditure requirements during political elections.

Overturning Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court. When coporations have unlimited funds to spend on campaigns, the democracy is lost. We all lose.

Disabled veterans who are non-custodial parents and provide little or no support for their children are entitled by law to receive disability benefit stipends for these children, just because their name is on the birth certificate, though they do not support the children. Also the custodial parent is not entitled to any of these funds if the veteran says there is a hardship. How can they be entitled to federal funds for children they are not supporting?

Let's elect congressmen/women for six years, a senator for twelve and a president for eight. They cannot stand for reelection. In any election year they can be removed from office with a 75% vote. Big money would have less influence, elected officials more lattitude to learn and shift their perspective and vote with accumulated wisdom (we hope).

Why should these organizations enjoy tax exempt status? In order for there to be a clear separation of church and state, they too should pay for the network of publicly funded infrastructure, they too rely on.

This applies to elected officials. I believe that before any congressman or senator votes on a bill, they much sign a pledge that states that they have read the bill and they understand what the bill will do. It would cut down on the size of bills being introduced.