Stop allowing one-term representatives from getting a pension for life. They should not receive a pension until they have served at least 10 years as an elected official at the state level. This is a drain on the economy that should be eliminated.

In order to eliminate the possibility of computer error or manipulation in an event which affects all our lives so dramatically, the safest way to guarantee real, democratic elections is by returning to hand counted paper ballots.

Members of the U.S. Congress receive lifetime benefits that keep them from using the Social Security system as every other U.S. citizen must. I propose the current retirement and medical benefits package that current and former members of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senators receive be changed so that they must qualify and use Social Security and Medicare as all other U.S. citizens must.

In 2006 Congress past house bill H.R. 2309 mandating prefunding of healthcare and retirement for the US Postal Service (USPS). The USPS retirement fund is now over paid by $47 billion, with 5.5 billion in required annual payments for retirement. Without this requirement there would be no USPS deficit. The Postal Service does not rely on taxpayer funds. If H.R. 2309 remains in effect it destroys the USPS and devastates the US Economy.

We need to reclaim our democracy. Our US government should not be bought and sold by corporations and big business. We need to pass laws that put the elections back in the hands of the american people so our politicians can truly serve the people and we can regain democracy. "To become a government of the people, by the people, and for the people"

Occupy Wall Street has exploded and the momentum must not be squandered. We need a massive, peaceful march in Washington to show support for the reforms we want.

The doctrine of corporate personhood that has been enacted and supported by the Supreme Court, most recently through their ruling in the Citizens United case, has allowed small groups of people (i.e. corporate boards of directors, CEOs, etc) with access to large amounts of cash to have an outsized influence on our governmental policies. This influence was a direct cause of the Financial Crisis of 2007-8, and time and again has brought this country and the world ever closer to true economic, ecological and social catastrophe.

The citizens of this country are disillusioned with politicians in general and congress in particular. This issue has circulated fast an furious via email, even from people who are normally not interested in politics. The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Here in Detroit, we are being ignored, put in the dark. Our street lights our no longer on. Our street lights are turned on only when the news want a story of a violent crime. In Rememberance of Sgt. Quintin Leroy Thomas and other falling soldiers. In the process, call Public Lighting and demand for the lights to be turned back on in your neighborhood. PUBLIC LIGHTING 9449 Grinnell Ave. Detroit, MI 48213 Phone: (313) 267-7202 Fax: (313) 267-5118

These ideas have been going around the internet and it's time to act. This is bipartisan in nature and is going to both Democrats and Republicans. We should all seriously consider helping implement the changes suggest

Politicians in Congress want to cut the pay and benefits of our fighting men and women because they haven't been able to effectively manage our money over the years. Yet, how many pay increases have they self-approved for themselves when the other 99% of Americans are struggling every day to make ends meet. Politicians get life-long benefits for severing only one term when our military sons and daughters have to serve at least 20 years for lesser benefits. No politician should earn $100,000+ a year in retirement when they are suppose to be a public servant working for the American people. Sign this petition to once and for all reduce the pay and benefits of politicians who are put in office to serve the American people; not their own selfish goals. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. Our Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. Reference: Pay Chart: • Congress Members (Representatives and Senators): $174,000 • Senate and House Majority/Minority Leaders: $193,400 • Cabinet Members: $199,700 • Speaker of the House: $223,500

As long as money is allowed to influence elections unchecked, laws will be written to benefit those with money. The overwhelming majority of Americans do not have the ability to influence elections with anywhere near the effectiveness of a single large campaign donation, and so they are without a voice. Once we make our government responsible to us, we can get on with fixing the tax code, addressing government waste, talking honestly about abortion and the death penalty, environmental protection, global warming, international trade, etc. Until then, who is going to listen to the people?