The people of Gaza are literally being decimated by powerful bombs while the world watches. It is simply inexplicable why Israel is bent on destroying Gaza. It is real children who are being murdered, real families being torn apart, real women and real men being incinerated from above. It's a horrible repeat of the massacre of 2008/2009, and it is absolutely unconscionable that the US condone Israel's actions against innocent civilians. Dropping flyers of impending doom on them has to be a macabre joke. As Jon Stewart pointed out--where on earth are they going to go?? The people of Gaza are literally fenced in where they are, and they are being decimated. That is genocide, and an absolute war crime. We, the people of the US, and the people of the world cannot condone it! We ask you as our President to step forward and speak out to Israel's leaders for peace and a ceasefire now--not any kind of endlessly negotiated ceasefire, but an End to Israel's one-sided show of might and ego and force against a completely defenceless civilian population. Israel needs to stop bombing first.

We all have used vaping to stop using traditional cigarettes. Now the FDA wants to push us back to tobacco with the proposed deeming regulation on August 8, 2014. This all begs the question, "Why does the US Government want me to start smoking cigarettes again?!"

As a boater on the Anacostia I want our community to move beyond negative stereotypes that it is polluted and dangerous. When the river is viewed only in negative terms, it is under valued. A sunken gas station is the wrong message and will set back efforts to improve the river's image. The part of the river slated for this installation is a popular section for boaters. It will be a safety hazard to high school teams during the busy fall rowing season. There are also environmental sampling tests slated for the fall that will be disrupted by the installation. It maybe a noble statement about global warming, but don't make it at the cost of our river - already struggling for respect.

1. the industrial and single family residential land uses included in the Interchange Plan for the 1,000 Acres conflict with the Boone County Area Comprehensive Plan that preserves agricultural uses until the year 2030. 2. Boone County Zoning Ordinance as administered by the Area Plan Commission satisfactorily protects the 1,000 Acres from “spot zoning” changes without the Interchange Plan. 3. Farmland is developed land and must be protected.

Fusion Centers bring together federal, state and local police, the military and the private sector to share information about terrorist “threats.” But instead of fighting terrorism, they are harassing, spying on, and criminalizing people because they are actively working for a better, more just world. Whether you are advocating for safer communities, a cleaner environment, or a more accountable government, YOU are in the sights of a domestic security system that views YOUR activism as a potential terrorist threat. Join us in calling on Congress to shut down Fusion Centers. Fusion Centers are routinely violating basic privacy and free speech rights of Americans: The Oklahoma Fusion Center partnered with the Keystone XL pipeline company TransCanada to profile anti-pipeline activists as terror threats. These peaceful students, ranch owners, and indigenous people who engaged in non-violent protest to defend their homes are now listed in government databases as terror threats! In Boston, and around the country, Fusion Centers monitored the Occupy movement, keeping tabs on dangerous activities like “a food drive and ‘yoga, faith & spirituality’ classes.” The Washington state Fusion Center partnered with the Army to infiltrate a local peace group and harass members when they tried to attend protests, and distributed “domestic terrorist” dossiers about some of the activists. In Virginia, a Fusion Center Terror Threat Assessment warns that the state has Universities, which are “recognized as a radicalization node for almost every type of extremist group,” it further warns of a Girl Scout Troop conducting a voter registration drive, as well as the more classic “extremists” like Greenpeace and local environmental groups. A Missouri Fusion Center had to retract its Threat report after warning local police to beware of cars bearing Ron Paul for President bumper stickers. Even a bi-partisan Senate investigation found that Fusion Centers produce “shoddy” intelligence and endanger civil liberties and privacy. The investigation also found that no one knows how much money we’ve poured into them. Bottomline: it’s time to shut Fusion Centers down.

A simple first step to keeping Social Security solvent is to tax ALL income. Millionaires / billionaires have been getting a tax break for decades by only paying Social Security tax on the first $110,000 of their incomes (which has slowly increased over time). So someone making $1 million a year pays on only $110,000; leaving $890,000 untaxed. Over time that adds up to lots of extra capital ! Why is this allowed ? Social security was never intended as a retirement instrument for the rich .... time to reverse this tax break !

Wafa Hospital in Gaza’s Shujaiyya district has already been hit twice by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military has told the hospital to evacuate, but the hospital’s staff say that 16 elderly and terminally ill patients are too frail to move. [1] When an Israeli military officer called the hospital late on Tuesday warning that it must be evacuated by 8AM Wednesday morning, Dr. Basman Alashi, the hospital’s executive director, called the World Health Organization, saying that such a move would risk the lives of patients. On Wednesday, while many inhabitants of the surrounding area were fleeing in response to Israeli bombardment warnings, Dr. Alashi, 16 medical staff members and the same number of patients stayed behind. They have been joined by eight international solidarity activists, including American journalist Joe Catron, who have volunteered to act as human shields at the hospital. [2] Press President Obama and Members of Congress to demand that Israel not bomb Wafa Hospital or other medical facilities in Gaza protected by international humanitarian law by signing our petition. References: 1. “Gaza hospital defies Israel evacuation warning amid fears for frail patients,” Robert Tait, The Telegraph, 16 July 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/10970795/Gaza-hospital-defies-Israel-evacuation-warning-amid-fears-for-frail-patients.html 2. “American among volunteer human shields at Gaza hospital,” Daniella Cheslow, McClatchy, July 13, 2014, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/13/233190/american-among-volunteer-human.html

Did you know that having a baby is a leading cause of poverty spells in this country? Shocking, but true, and one major reason is that because only 12% of Americans have access to paid family (maternity/paternity) leave through their employers. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act would fix this. Given that for the first time in history, moms make up 3/4 of the labor force and are the primary breadwinners for half of U.S. families, it's no surprise that paid family leave is an incredibly popular issue with voters across party lines. What is surprising is that only five — FIVE! — U.S. Senators have signed on to co-sponsor the bill so far. It's going to take all our voices, our letter signatures, our actions to get more co-sponsors. And co-sponsorship of bills matters. It matters because the more co-sponsors a bill has, the more seriously the bill is taken and the better chance it has of moving forward to full passage. The FAMILY (Family and Medical Insurance Leave) Act would provide workers — including those who are self-employed and/or work part-time — with much-needed income while they, or a family member, deal with the arrival of a new baby or a serious health issue. Eligible employees could take up to 60 work days (12 weeks) away from their job with partial wage replacement (up to 66% of their typical wages) to take care of themselves or a family member in a one-year period. Employees and employers would contribute just two cents for every $10 in wages. Self-employed and part-time employees would earn paid family and medical leave as well. No one should have to give up a paycheck to take care of loved ones. Let your U.S. Senators know you want them to co-sponsor the Family Act now!

Religion, namely Christianity, is a central part of American culture, especially in the field of politics. The trouble is, many Americans are ignorant to much of what is written in the Bible, as well as most, if not all, of what is written in the Koran, and other religious texts. This creates a society that is extremely susceptible to religious misinformation, which may lead to the justification of bigotry and oppression -- as can be currently seen with the LGBT movement for equal rights. As it is too late to separate church and state, the only hope for a rational and informed society is the raw, unbiased, and required reading of religious texts, including and especially the Bible and the Koran.

Luigi Del Bianco lived the American Dream by coming to America and becoming the Chief Carver on Mount Rushmore. Luigi's job was in carving the "refinement of expression" in the faces. When you look at those 4 presidents, you are looking at the talent of a very gifted artist. This humble immigrant also is my grandfather. Even though our family has documentation that proves his value to the work, the National Park Service refuses to formally recognize his important title and great achievement. This is patently wrong on so many levels. Let's get the NPS to do the right thing!

Currently, all California children are required to attend school, and parents and students can face financial and civil penalties if the student is determined truant. On top of that, poor families who receive CalWORKs are subject to a reduction in their family’s grant if their child fails to participate in school regularly. Taken together, both penalties are an unjust burden on the backs of poor families straining to climb the rungs of the economic ladder. Research from across the country shows that truancy penalties don't actually work to improve school attendance. AB 2382, by Assemblymember Steven Bradford, will eliminate the CalWORKs attendance penalty, thereby relieving this financial burden and helping families to achieve self-sufficiency.

The firing of Dr. Jolibois because of his strong advocacy in behalf of the Haitian people set's a very dangerous precedent that will have a chilling effect on academic freedom and employees rights on campus. FIU should be an institution that promotes the highest standards in ethics and discrimination because of ones views or ethnic origins should not be tolerated. It is urgent that the University take action today and rehire Dr. Jolibois be rehired immediately.