This primary season has shined a new light on the levels of corruption and influence that plague our outdated systems. I served this country because I believed in what it stood for... If we do not take the necessary steps RIGHT NOW, TODAY to give the power back to the people, then we will crumble just as every other major power throughout history has. Only by recommitting to the true principles set forth at our nation's founding can we hope for a sustainable future. And only then, can we restore pride in service to those of us who are ashamed at what our government has become. We can do this together.

We can't wait

President Obama has been subject to an unrelenting attack from the right about his leadership. But there are millions of us ordinary citizens who appreciate the job he has done and want to gather publicly to thank him. We ask the DNC to take the lead in organizing events in at least several cities before he leaves office.

On March 23, the North Carolina General Assembly, with virtually no public input, passed House Bill 2. Although some have cryptically anointed it “the bathroom bill”, Reverend William Barber came closer to the truth in calling HB2 a hate bill. A creepily crafted smokescreen, HB2 was constructed to gin up blind fear and stoke homophobia so that the deeper and darker aspects of the bill could be slipped into law. This is hate and switch legislation by another name. Yes, HB 2 drastically restricts the ability of local governments to pass nondiscrimination measures that offer protections to the LGBT community. That’s horrific in its own right. But HB 2 also restricts local leadership from requiring recipients of government contracts to adopt nondiscrimination policies that go beyond state policy. This is, in effect, mandated discrimination against ALL workers, regardless of gender identification. HB 2 hammers the working class, locking in low-wage and low- power position by blocking cities from independently adopting higher minimum wages, raising employee benefits, or paying sick leave or vacation benefits above the mandated state levels. This is mandated suppression of workes’r rights and their ability to earn a living wage, regardless of gender identification. With HB 2, North Carolina joins Mississippi in the ignominious honor of being one of only two states in the country that refuse to provide their residents with the option of filing a wrongful termination discrimination claim in state court. Again,this is applicable to all workers, regardless of gender identification. Finally, HB 2 has made North Carolina the focus of increasing derision and negative attention, while crippling North Carolina’s local and state economies. The state has been rebuked by everyone from the entertainment industry (Springsteen, Lovato, Jonas) to businesses (Deutsche Bank, PayPal), and Great Britain went so far as to issue a travel advisory warning its LGBT citizens to avoid our state. Repeal North Carolina HB 2. This hate-and-switch legislation hurts workers, families, state and local economies, and puts LGBT individuals at risk.

It’s common sense: Elections should go to whichever candidate gets the most votes. But in the Democratic Party’s primary system, that’s not how it works. Candidates also need to win a lot of “superdelegates” – unaccountable party insiders that make up almost one-fifth of the “delegates” up for grabs in the primary. That means superdelegates have about same voting power as 5.5 million ordinary voters in Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan! Even worse, the 712 unelected, “superdelegates” get to vote however they want, regardless of which candidate ordinary voters choose. So even if voters choose one candidate in a close primary race for president, these superdelegates could overrule the people if it doesn’t go their way. Superdelegates like DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz shouldn’t have more of a say than you or me just because she’s a party insider. And superdelegates should NOT be able to overrule the will of the voters. Tell the DNC: Bring back democracy to the Democratic primary process and eliminate the superdelegate system for all future primaries!

I want our congress to get back to work on the real problems facing this nation and the world!

As forewarned in the New York Times, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has received $3.7 million from the Hitz Foundation to create so-called TRANSLATIONS (as distinguished from Reformation amendments, adaptations, parodies, etc) of Shakespeare's plays for 21st- century audiences. In this massive, 39-play Alternative Shakespeare Canon classical references are to be minimized or "contextualized," ambiguous meanings simplified or streamlined, and words amended or replaced . . . “bringing fresh voices and perspectives.” References: (A) Opinion piece in The New York Times by James Shapiro, "Modernizing the Bard?" (October 7, 2015, page A27) (B) Article in New York Times by Jennifer Schuessler, "Oregon Shakespeare Festival Plans Shakespeare 'Translation' Project" (October 1, 2015, Arts Beat--Theater) (C) "Why 'Translating' Shakespeare for the 21st Century Is a Bad Idea" by Dennis Abrams ( The Markets) (D) Oregon Public Broadcasting "Oregon Shakespeare Festival To Modernize The Bard's Plays" (E) Facebook "Play On: 36 playwrights translate Shakespeare"

Since cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose heightened risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. During attacks, the weapons are prone to indiscriminate effects, especially in populated areas. Unexploded bomblets can kill or maim civilians long after a conflict has ended, and are costly to locate and remove. That's why more than a hundred nations have joined the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of these weapons. [1] Saudi Arabia has used cluster bombs in its war in Yemen, according to Human Rights Watch. [2] HRW documented the remnants of a CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, a cluster bomb manufactured by Textron Systems Corporation in the US and supplied to Saudi Arabia. [3] Although the US is not yet a member of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, US law bars the sale of these weapons to countries that use them in civilian areas. [4] But according to Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia did use these weapons in a civilian area. [5] Urge Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, the Assistant Minority Leader, to advocate for a ban on sending these weapons to Saudi Arabia, including in the National Defense Authorization Act, by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.clusterconvention.org/ 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/world/middleeast/saudi-led-group-said-to-use-cluster-bombs-in-yemen.html 3. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 4. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32572408 5. https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/03/yemen-saudi-led-airstrikes-used-cluster-munitions

After the fiasco in Arizona and New York; the failure of Iowans to have an accurate tally; the inability for either party to provide an accurate recount of what broke down in the system; the lack of polling locations; broken machines; incorrect ballots issued and thousands and thousands of eligible Americans struck from databases; systematic suppression, disenfranchisement and misinformation, it has become clear the United States can no longer guarantee its citizens a free and fair election. As a result, an outside observer is required to ensure the democratic process be allowed to take place and if such fraud and suppression continues, an independent body reports it to the people.

The students of Odyssey Community School began this petition because we are directly impacted by this law and we believe that State laws should work to promote equality, not promote discrimination.

Don't like a court ruling? Then change the law! That's what A&B did with HB2501 water rights holdover bill. A&B is the ONLY entity with a fictional "holdover" permit, and this is a special interest bill illegally helping a single company. Don't fall for the A&B PR. It affects nobody but A&B. Nobody else wants it passed. The Court considered this carefully, but the Legislator was inundated with false talking points and most members don't even understand the issue or the bill itself. It is never a good idea to try and overrule a Court decision like this. Protect water users like those in Huelo whose stream is dry and who will face another 3 years of no water if this bill goes into effect.

Fracking is directly responsible for water contamination and other serious health and environmental problems. West Virginians can no longer afford allowing big fuel corporations to make record profits while poisoning our residents. Some are surrounded by gas wells to the extent that the land itself is unusable, some have experienced combustible tap water, and many more are suffering ill health as a result of the fracking industry. It is totally unacceptable for residents to bear this burden, especially when we see virtually none of industry profits. We deserve clean water, air, and soil, as well as safe job sites. West Virginia needs our elected officials to act by banning fracking now.