I recently watched the TV news program that described the huge food stores that the Mormon church maintains. Every day I see more reports that food pantries all over the US are empty and people are being sent away with nothing. The Mormons have a chance to make a huge difference for families that are suffering-even if they only donate a portion of the food they have stored.

While sympathizing with the financial state of the City of Chicago, now is not the time to turn the American Teachers Federation against the City of Chicago and the Democratic Party by association. Your failure to find a workable solution to the problems facing teachers in this economical environment is in complete contrast to the proposals and ideals set forth by the man you supported for President in 2008, President Barak Obama. I urge you to find a solution now before the strike by the ATF becomes yet another talking point for the Republican candidates that could possible cost this President re-election to office.

I just CARE

About a year ago, MTA cancelled the bus stop at West Broadway and Houston, the literal entrance to SoHo. It is so inconvenient, not only to the thousands of artists and high-end shops in SoHo, but for tourists wanting to get right into the heart of this renowned neighborhood without having to walk from the subway at Bleecker or 7th Avenue. It makes financial good sense to make it easy for residents and tourists to get to SoHo and be welcomed!

To expedite road construction and repairs aeound Shelby County , TN

After becoming an ordained minister in 2000, I accepted a full-time position for a church in San Diego. At that time, my clergy tax advisor suggested that I opt out of paying Social Security. I was told that this was the ethical & typical thing to do as clergy. What I was not advised was that this choice would be irrevocable except by a literal act of Congress. I didn't learn this till years later when I was hired by a different church. I want to be able to resume payroll deductions and become eligible for Social Security when the time comes. I want this petition to also support other ministers who may have also made this erroneous choice.

People with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and other severe conditions already face a crisis due to floundering state budgets. With minimal standards of care and labor intensive support systems already overstretched, it is a fantasy to think that block grants will accrue significant savings. A 1/3rd cut to Medicaid will result in neglect and loss of life under humiliating conditions. Mitt Romney should disavow Paul Ryan's draconian plans for Medicaid now!

In response to a civil Grand Jury report entitled “A Failure of Oversight”—and more than a year after the mess left behind by the collapse of the Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corporation (LHCDC) came to light—our City Council has promised to come up with a policy to keep such failures from happening in the future. It’s good to see the city finally take, at least partial, responsibility for the demise of LHCDC. But, this wasn’t just a financial disaster; it had human consequences. The city should go beyond crafting a policy for accountability and take active steps to reach out and assist those most affected by the mess LHCDC made of low-income housing in our community. At the very least, the city should: 1. Reach out, identify those affected, and listen to their needs. Their voices have been missing from this conversation. One such resident came forward at a City Council meeting, but was offered little support. 2. Prepare and disseminate information about resources and assistance opportunities with regard to low-income housing. If the city is partially responsible for what happened, then they are also, at least partially, responsible for making sure our commitment to those in need is kept and that those affected have a fighting chance to land on their feet. 3. Consider forming a Rental Housing Mediation Task Force Program—similar to the successful program in Santa Barbara—to help all Lompoc residents stay in their homes, especially in light of the spate of foreclosures in our community that often leave renters with little to no recourse.

The corruption, abuse and neglect our children receive at the hands of a system that was designed to help.

The country needs to spend nothing. Social Security and Medicare would be solvent forever

The recession has really made it difficult for employment. It has forced college graduates to turn to assistance at their local Social Services. The Welfare Reform Act need to be revised for people who has college education and work experience. We don't want to sit in an 8 hour a day class that only teaches people to become self sufficient when of course we are college graduates. We are only at Social Services because employment is very difficult to obtain and working minimum wage barely pay the bills or feed families. Please establish a program that put college graduates first in line to gain employment. We don't need to be trained how to obtain employment, build resumes, or studies toward GED program. It's great that the program is there for people who are in those guidelines but it also makes college graduates over qualified. It's nothing within the program that help college graduates feel that we are benefiting something. The law itself is blinded and no one never imagined that the recession would lead college graduates who has an Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, or Masters Degree into Social Services.

My family has taken in several foster children in the past, several of them from mothers who cannot afford to take care of their child. Before politicians decide to turn down a women's right to a choice, they should assure that there are enough social services in place so that child won't be raise in poverty.