People of Michigan should be ashamed that we are ranked in the top ten when it comes to unfair elections. Mainly do to gerrymandering and other political gaming the representatives we vote for does not match the representatives we elect. Currently in the Michigan House 54% of voters voted for Democratic representatives yet only 46% of the seats were filled by Democrats. We the citizens of Michigan should demand that the representation accurately reflects that way we vote, no matter if we vote Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Green.

Currently, the only holidays acknowledged and allowed leave for by the Federal Government are Christian holidays. If days off from school and work can be given to Christians, then the same should be extended to other religions as well, such as Islam and Judaism. For Islam, major holidays include Ramadan, Eid al Fitr, and Eid al Adha and Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Hanakkuh. People of at least all major religions should be given built-in time off on the calendar for special holidays to spend with their families just as Christians are able to. Therefore, businesses that offer extended vacation time for Christian holidays should offer the same amount of vacation time for the holidays of Islam, Judaism, and other major religions. Acknowledging diversity is ethically important and necessary for everyone to have equal opportunities and freedoms to spend as they wish. This should be observed, not just during the December holiday season, but year-round.

We have been held up for 3 years in establishing this school, and we would like to open it now! Funding has been diverted from Staten Island for charter schools, and authorization comes directly from SUNY, and the Board of Regents.

Because I can make a difference. PEOPLE! WE Truly hold the power and it's high time WE started exercising it to DEMAND an END to this MADNESS!!!

Dear New Mexicans interested in Peace House majority leader Eric Cantor is working on a hawkish bill that would torpedo President Obama's interim agreement with Iran by setting unrealistic goals for the final deal. If he succeeds he’ll tie President Obama’s hands, destroy negotiations and edge us closer to another senseless conflict in the Middle East. This isn't a fringe bill - it's one that is gaining ground amongst Democratic members of the House and if we do nothing will become bipartisan. Urge New Mexico's representatives to back President Obama!! (MoveOn's petition format doesn't allow Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3) and Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-2) to be included, but hopefully they will get the message too!)

As medical providers the proper disposal of medications is something we encounter on a day to day basis.

Neither American nor the Iranian people want nor benefit from another conflict in the Middle East.

I attend New Paltz, and have found that most of my friends, who needed to seek help in coping with some of their issues did not utilize the eight sessions at the Campus Health Center allotted them. Many of those who need the most help, do not seek it in part because the stigma of seeing a "shrink" carries such a negative connotation. The mental health of our campus should not be overlooked, especially at such a progressive university; and implementing a mandatory session per semester for all students will both help to combat the stigma and improve the mental health of all our students.

Congress is expected to leave for the holiday in mid-December. But before they do, they’re expected to vote on a plan to fund the government and stop another GOP shutdown of our country from happening as well as an extension of unemployment insurance. But, no surprise, Rep. Paul Ryan and other Republicans are using working people as punching bags to get their way. Instead of focusing on investing in jobs and infrastructure programs to get people back to work and ending tax loopholes for the wealthy corporations that ship jobs overseas, Republicans are demanding that Democrats agree to a $20 billion cut to federal workers’ retirement over ten years. On top of that, they may not allow an extension of unemployment insurance to happen before the end of the year, leaving millions of unemployed Americans out in the cold. This is not the first time federal employees and unemployed workers have been put on the chopping block. Over the last two years, federal employees have sacrificed more than $30,000 each, $113 billion total for all workers, for deficit reduction--and that doesn’t even include lost wages from furloughs. Republicans were able to get cuts to unemployment insurance for workers in the sequester and have let extensions for unemployment insurance lapse to get cuts for other vital programs. Unfortunately, some Democrats are showing signs that they might go along with these terrible ideas. We can’t let that happen. Sign the petition to Congress to oppose attacks on the retirement security of federal workers and to fight for an extension of insurance for unemployed workers.

The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone - Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the US has offered some relief from sanctions**. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis and leading military and national security experts support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran***. By publicly pushing our representatives to do the right thing and support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran we show solidarity with everyday Iranians. A new poll released today showed that for many Iranians building democracy is their highest priority*. Notable activists have repeatedly said that the best way to support their work is by working towards diplomacy and the reduction of sanctions**. Diplomacy with Iran - is the best way for us to support change makers in Iran and in our national interest. Please sign this petition urging your representatives to back President Obama when it comes to Iran. *Fears mount that Dems will undermine White House on Iran. December 6, Washington Post blogs. *Cantor pushing for bill to define Iran deal, National Journal, December 3. **We have a deal with Iran, a good one. Slate. November 24. ***Americans support an Iran deal 2:1, Washington Post, November 20; 100-plus sign Rabbini call: “step by step towards shalom with Iran”, The Shalom center, November 24; Military and National Security Leaders Agree, American Security Project, November 26. *Iranians lukewarm on Rouhani, oppose Syria intervention, Logelog, December 6. **An Open Letter to President Hollande on the Geneva Talks, Iran Wire, November 20; Iranian

Here in Colorado, our research has uncovered dozens of bills stemming from ALEC's model legislation. In the past few years, ALEC-manufactured bills to weaken Colorado's common sense gun laws, cripple public education, attack the rights of consumers, and limit access to voting have been repeatedly proposed--and unfortunately, some have become law. The exposure of ALEC’s unethical influence in state legislatures across America has led to scores of corporate sponsors and member legislators renouncing their ties to ALEC. In Colorado, it’s time for our elected officials to get the message: ALEC’s time is up.

I am writing because I feel our country has been held hostage for too long by the military-industrial complex and groups who want constant military escalation with other countries, to the detriment of our life and limb, economy and image. We need to project a softer and more cost-effective image of US power abroad.