Over the past several decades, the old and laughably inaccurate "facts" surrounding Christopher Columbus have gradually given way to historical truth. Many Americans now have a keen awareness of the motives and methods he employed, in the name of Spain, to dehumanize and violate the innocent. His greed-driven campaign to leverage genocide into wealth was the keystone to the entire Atlantic Slave Trade, indirectly resulting in the slaughter of millions of diverse African and Native American peoples, followed by their enslavement and cultural marginalization. He was personally and directly responsible for atrocities that would horrify any modern war-crimes tribunal. His actions were so vile that they inspired Bartolomé de las Casas to renounce his own wealth, adopt a position of service to humanity, and take up arms against the evils which would soon dominate the gestalt of global imperialism for the next five-hundred years. We find Columbus to be a disgraceful figure, unfit to represent who we claim to be, as a nation. Retaining such an association makes us fools on the world stage, and worse, lowers us as liars to ourselves, our children, and our ancestors. We could use a new role model, someone worthy of our focus and celebration. Someone like Bartolomé de las Casas. Please don't make us explain to future generations why we continue to laud a monster like Columbus, while we willingly ignore a hero like Bartolomé. Casting aside the triumph and compassion of our history cheapens it beyond measure. We should be proud to Americans, not ashamed of it, but keeping some two-bit biggot up on a federal pedestal certainly does not help. Let us change this. Please.

US Code 2384 addresses acts which are against the law, specifically "or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States," The refusal by Congress to support, and vote on the funding of the Government and specifically the refusal to raise the debt limit fits into this category. As citizens we ask the Attorney General to address why this aspect of the code is not being applied to the parties who are committing this act.

On Oct 9th, on the Senate floor Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) showboated his support for government-run and government-operated health care for our veterans, while still persisting to defund the Affordable Care Act at the expense of shutting down the federal government. Tell Sen. Ted Cruz he can't have it both ways. If supports government run health care for veterans, then he should support it for citizens too.

When we are 18 we are legally adults. We are able to vote and be in the military. I'm starting this petition because I believe that adults should be treated as such.

It is the only method to prevent the gridlock by a minority party and the resulting economic hardships.

Started in 2008 under President Bush, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has excluded everyone but corporations in developing this “trade agreement” in which only 5 chapters of 29 are about trade. The other 24 detail new corporate “rights” that will lower US food safety standards, eliminate US control of natural gas exports, encourage US companies to outsource jobs, extend monopoly drug pricing and ban US government drug price negotiations for Medicaid, prohibit imposition by Congress of certain financial taxes and Wall Street reforms, turn the internet over to private interests, limit US government regulation of utilities, education, transportation, and sets up an international tribunal where corporations can sue government for jeopardizing “expected future profits.” The “agreement has no expiration date and can’t be changed without 100% participants’ agreement.

Several of my friends are seeing entire communities effected by this, the second major fiscal failure of this Congress. For too long we have all stood by shaking our head in frustration feeling powerless in the face of the chaos of our alledged leaders. This great nation is quaking as our leaders permit scandel after scandel, then highjack our fiscal security. Nothing is going to change unless we speak out and insist on accountability and consequences.

We the uninsured people of the United States have been waiting forever to have our health cared for without going bankrupt for uninsured care or living with the fear of that happening. I am a baby boomer and In my lifetime the middle class have been left uninsured. Our children and grandchildren especially have been left without any healthcare because jobs do not provide it like they used to in my generation. We have been waiting since 2010 to finally enroll in the new healthcare plan and now extremists form the Republican Party have hijacked our healthcare and shut down our Government in order to stop us from ever getting our health cared for in an affordable way. The only thing that will end this stalemate is for the American People to make it known that "We Want Our Healthcare and we will remember who doesn't care about us or our health. Republican's who can't control the extremists in their party.

On Oct. 9th, Rep. Coffman wrote an op-ed in the Denver Post, saying he would argue for a clean spending bill on the floor of the House of Representatives. Now we need him to now walk his talk and take leadership in passing a clean budget. Millions of Coloradans and Americans are suffering under fiscal uncertainty from this shutdown. If Representatives like Coffman don't pass a clean budget before Oct. 17th, our country will default on its debt and fall into another recession.

Support the “Simple Possession of Small Quantities of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act” Washington, DC has the country’s highest arrest rate for marijuana possession – over twice the rate of the second highest New York City. There is also an extreme racial disparity in DC’s marijuana arrests. A recent ACLU report found that African Americans were 8 times more likely to be arrested for pot possession in DC than white people – even though numerous studies show both groups use the drug at similar rates. Decriminalizing marijuana is about decriminalizing Black and Brown people in our communities! We, the undersigned, call on members of the DC City Council and Mayor Vincent Gray to support the Simple Possession of Small Quantities of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act.

Over 85% of House Democrats have shown their support for immigration reform by cosponsoring the new House immigration bill (H.R. 15). Still, Rep. Peter Visclosky (IN-1) has yet to add his name to the list of supporters. Unless Rep. Visclosky and the House Republicans take action, the suffering in our community will continue. Please join us in demanding that Rep. Visclosky cosponsor the new House immigration bill with a path to citizenship.

Over 85% of House Democrats have shown their support for immigration reform by cosponsoring the new House immigration bill (H.R. 15). Still, Rep. John Tierney (MA-6) has yet to add his name to the list of supporters. Unless Rep. Tierney and the House Republicans take action, the suffering in our community will continue. Please join us in demanding that Rep. Tierney cosponsor the new House immigration bill with a path to citizenship.