Fluoride is banned in almost all European countries (except Ireland & England). Many communities here in the US have fought against it as well. I know from experience that fluoride is ineffective in strengthening tooth enamel. After 1 1/2 years of using prescription concentrated fluoride paste, my teeth made no progress. After 5 months of not using fluoride, while increasing consumption of healthier foods (ie. green vegetables, whole grains), my enamel became significantly stronger. Fluoride is a drug. By fluoridating our water, our government is not allowing Portlanders to have a choice in their own health decisions. Research has shown that fluoride is inconsequential in preventing tooth decay. Worse, it may hinder cognitive development in youth (according to a recent Harvard medical study). Please join our efforts in making Portland fluoride free!

As a school social worker, I have seen the devastating effects of poverty on children's emotional development and academic achievement (poverty threshold for family of four: $22,314). Children born into poverty in the United States are 43% more likely than their peers from higher income families to live in poverty as adults. Poverty lowers the probability of these children becoming productive citizens and cheating our nation of future innovative and dynamic leaders.

North Carolina lawmakers want Governor Perdue to turn down federal funding for Medicaid under Obamacare. Please urge her to accept these funds.

If Congress makes any changes to healthcare as we now have it then they too have to except the same healthcare as everyone lives with. If its good enough for the people of the United States then its good enough for members of Congress

Residents of Matthews Estates and Country Place Drive in Matthews, NC who can only access their homes from Country Place Drive: The planned development of the ACTS expansion Application # 2012-589 at Fullwood and South Trade Street will change your ability to travel to and from your homes every day. Country Place Drive is our only road into and out of our homes; and the Town of Matthews is deciding to move the road in front of the ACTS facility without a traffic light or adequate turning lanes or pedestrian crosswalks, raising serious health and safety issues for all of us who drive or walk in the area. We need to act now by returning a signed copy of the above petition to our town commissioners and also by contacting them and by attending any of the following meetings at Matthews Town Hall: Town Board Meeting: Monday August 27, at 7:00 p.m. Open Comments Planning Board Meeting: Tuesday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. Project Review Comments Town Board Meeting: Monday September 10 at 7:00 p.m. Planned Vote to make our community needs known and show support for a traffic light and a safe intersection in our neighborhood. For more information about the ACTS project, call or email the mayor or town commissioners and planning commission, and for details please see Application #2012-589 at the following site: http://www.matthewsnc.com/Departments/PlanningandDevelopment/PendingZoningActions.aspx (See page 11 for current street configuration plans.)

Food stamps and the homeless. Homeless people have a problem getting food stamps because they have no kitchen. Why can't fast food be made available to them on a card like the EBT card? I watched a homeless couple get arrested at Safeway for stealing food. The wife was crying about her 3 children waiting at their campsite. Something like that should never happen in California. Or anywhere.

To permit Congress to spend more than tax revenue provides, the Fed now sells Treasury bonds on the open market and pays interest to the bond holders. This becomes a serious annual debt interest expense, adds to the national debt, and restricts spending on infrastructure necessary for national defense and competition in the world market. There is a solution to this problem. When faced with the need to finance World War II, the Federal Reserve System bought Treasury bonds "at any price and in any quantity". The interest rate was very low and the quantity was very high. With the Fed’s money, the Treasury paid the nations’ salaries. The post-war spending of consumer savings turned old farms into new suburbs, spawned the baby boom, and began our golden age. With the goal of repeating that wartime success, I have devised a petition to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, to the Congress, and to the President:

I am a US Army veteran. I was hurt while in basic combat training. Because I enlisted as a Reservist, I do not qualify for ANY benefits. I propose that ANY and ALL veterans of the US Military who served any time regardless of enlistment status, reserve, national guard, or active, should qualify for veterans benefits, especially in the case of becoming injured while in training.

With the high cost of food I feel that single mothers making 40,000 or less should recieve some type of food stamp help. We work hard for our childern without any other type of help and I feel we should at least be able to get help in that department. Thank you

Public transportation after bar time on weekends. Portland Oregon has a great night life. It is surprising hat such a modern city does not have public transportation after midnight. it just makes a lot of sense to have one last max( street train) or Bus on every line so that people can use. Even if its wrong people still drink and drive, that is a reality if people could simply take public transportation and not take the risk of causing or being in an accident or getting a DUI. plus not have to deal with parking would also be a good selling point for getting party people of the roads. One last run of public transportation will surely prevent accidents. Even if it was only one accident prevented it would be worth it.

Republicans keep stating social security and medicare/medicaid are entitlement programs. we pay into these programs from the first day we start working.They are earned benefits.

Ryan's plan is to keep senior vote by exempting those over 55. What about those 40-54, not to mention future generations who are counting on medicare as well? Let's not let them divide us up!