Legalizing marijuana. I have been affected by this because I have epilepsy I have trigger finger I have depression and these are all things that marijuana has been proven to help with the pain and suffering that people go through because of the medications they put us on that are more addicting than any drug alcohol there is.

The pressure to stop Trump's billionaire nominee for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, from being confirmed is working. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, just announced that they will oppose DeVos' confirmation. That means that we’re just ONE senator short—and that DeVos could be the first Trump nominee to be rejected by the Senate. But we need to keep up the pressure now more than ever to sway one more Republican and to hold the position of all of the senators who have announced opposition to DeVos. Betsy DeVos—Donald Trump's out-of-touch billionaire pick for secretary of education—is far more interested in dismantling our schools than in investing in them, and in demonizing teachers rather than treating them as allies in educating our children. 1. She has zero experience in public education. Almost all previous education secretaries had career experience in the field of education where they learned the skills necessary to improve schools in our communities. Betsy DeVos has none. 2. She has made no mention of the student debt crisis. She is doesn't know how everyday people are impacted by student loan debt and continues to ignore the trillion dollar problem. In fact, "little is known about her views on federal higher education policy," and she has little to no experience working with families who struggle to afford the rising cost of college. 3. She made her career advocating for taxpayer dollars to be taken away from resource-starved public schools. In fact, she wants to funnel your money into the pockets of private and for-profit education companies through voucher systems and charter schools. Her attacks on public schools and support for privatized education disproportionately impacts people of color and LGBTQ students, meaning less equal opportunities for ALL students nationwide. If you support public education, investing in our local schools, and ending America’s student debt crisis, DEMAND the Senate vote “no” on Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary.

America has been damaged by the Trump election and the media is in many ways part of the reason. They have hyped and followed him like dogs in heat with a benign attitude that influened the 2016 election. They broke it, they buy it. Time is of the essence to unearth details and actions that Trump has done to disqualify him from the presidency.

Inspired by statements by Senators Bernie Sanders, Tom Udall, Al Franken, Cory Booker, and Martin Heinrich, among a few others, I wrote this petition for this reason alone: under the coming administration, we must prevent continued inexcusable brutality, violence, tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, high frequency sound waves, and attack dogs from further injuring the Sioux, other Native Americans, and their supporters encamped at Standing Rock, several key United States Senators have spoken out already. This petition is directed to them. These Senators include incoming California's incoming Kamala Harris and North Dakota's Democrat Senator Heidi Breitkamp, plus Senator Durbin, Senator Schumer, and Senator Patty Murray, the 3 Senate Democrats in leadership positions. We ask them to enlarge their roles by going beyond speeches, and to personally visit Standing Rock, meet with the opposition, including law enforcement and the corporations involved to make reasonable progress, and to reach a workable non-violent resolution that respects the wishes of the Standing Rock Sioux.

We need this area to be preserved for our future generations. Current proposal is for a 20 ton bridge to be built. That type of weight capacity seems over the top for that area. We have very little information for future intentions with a bridge of that capacity. We must protect that area from development and overuse. At the meeting they said the bridge is 99% a done deal. That means WE have 1% to stop it! It can be done!

Our elected officials should govern in the public interest, not for personal financial gain. But Donald Trump's presidency will be rife with potential conflicts of interest unless he puts his assets into a blind trust before taking office. He's proposed having his children manage his businesses, which would do nothing to resolve these conflicts -- and might introduce conflicts of their own. The House Oversight Committee must do its job: conduct a full investigation and hold President-elect Trump accountable unless he sells the Trump Organization and puts his assets into a blind trust. Donald Trump's global business empire opens him to unprecedented conflicts of interest. The Constitution forbids elected officials from taking payments from foreign governments, but the Trump Organization has business entanglements in more than 20 countries. Nearly every modern president has avoided problems like this by setting up a blind trust -- but Trump has refused to take that step. His proposed solution is no solution at all: his children will "increase their responsibilities" in the business, as they stay involved in Trump’s administration. As long as Trump still knows what assets he owns, or has his family manage them, it's not a blind trust. It’s the House Oversight Committee's job to investigate the president to identify and protect against conflicts of interest. The chair, Rep. Jason Chaffetz said before the election that he'd vigorously investigate corruption in a potential Clinton administration -- but so far, he's been silent on President-elect Trump. Earlier this year, Chaffetz called for transparency from both presidential candidates, saying: "If you're going to run and try to become the president of the United States, you're going to have to open up your kimono and show everything, your tax returns, your medical records..." He continued, "My job is not to be a cheerleader for the president. My job is to hold them accountable and to provide that oversight. That's what we do." Now, this watchdog's lost his bite, advising reporters: "so give him some time to organize, get their staff and their counsel all situated." Chaffetz can't change his tune now that his party is in charge -- he must turn that same level of scrutiny on President-elect Trump. The American people deserve nothing less. Americans agree that strong oversight is necessary to ensure that public servants look to their time in government as a way of contributing to society, not a way of enriching themselves and their friends. Add your name and demand that the House Oversight Committee investigate Donald Trump's conflicts of interest.

The Standing Rock Sioux and native peoples of North America have suffered enough under colonization and its time we support them in general and especially in their efforts to combat the climate change causing pollution problem danger to the world that is the Dakota Access Pipeline.

I attended the original Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington D.C. that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert hosted back in 2012, right before the Romney Vs. Obama election. It was incredibly powerful to see these two very funny people convey a strong sense of humanity, justice, and compassion through humor. It was also great to see a sea of human beings who were all so very different: Muslim, Gay, Black, Jewish, Atheist, Christian, Female, Male, Trans, etc band together united in both humor and a need to feel like we weren't alone during the election madness. After Trump's election, it has felt hopeless and painful for those of us in his target range (women, immigrants, LGBTQ, Muslims, African-Americans, etc). A rally to unite all those people who feel terrified of a new reign of terror could be very healing and positive for so many of us who have felt depressed and angry. Humor is a healing thing, and also a great weapon. I think another rally of this sort would be a very positive thing for those among us reeling from this horrible election, a way to unite us in a time of darkness.

Uniting millions of voices

Simply put: we don’t trust Sarah Palin to do what’s necessary for our veterans. After all, she once infamously abandoned her post as then-Governor of Alaska in order to take a lucrative position as a Fox News pundit. And she has also made comments in the past that suggest veterans suffering from PTSD are inherently unstable and violent. Are these really the types of traits we want from someone who's supposed to lead the fight for veterans affairs? To us, couldn't be more clear that she's unfit for the job. And we want you to sign and share this petition if you agree.

In recent weeks, the vast scope of potential conflicts between President-Elect Trump’s business dealings and his duty to serve the American people has become even more clear: *The financial structure that has been described as a “blind trust” for his holdings turns out to be controlled by members of his transition committee and his closest advisors — his children. *The Trump Organization met with about 100 representatives of foreign governments to pitch them staying at the Trump Organization’s new hotel in Washington, D.C. *Our President-Elect has still not disclosed to whom he owes money, despite copious reports that foreign banks are among his major creditors. *The Secret Service is reportedly leasing space directly from the Trump Organization. Our next President has made clear over and over in business and his campaign that his strategy is to comply with only the letter and not the spirit of the law. This is not acceptable for the President of the United States, who has to set a broad example of respect for our laws.

UPDATE: Ace Hardware has issued a statement saying that all their stores are now selling propane and other supplies to all shoppers, including the water protectors at Standing Rock and those supporting and supplying them! ***** Ace Hardware stores near the Standing Rock DAPL protest in North Dakota are refusing to sell supplies to the water protector camp, or to anyone who is planning to help support or supply the camp. Ace says the Morton County Sheriff's department has asked (not ordered) them not to sell supplies, and they are complying with the request. This is immoral and indefensible, cutting off peaceful protesters who are working to protect their sacred lands and waters from the supplies, including propane, that they need in order to survive the winter. The water protectors' camp includes Elders and children, and they are at terrible risk of injury and death without the ability to get the supplies for heating and shelter that they need. Ace MUST do the right thing and continue to sell supplies to the water protectors and those who are helping to support and supply them.