I want my legislators to take personal responsibility and experience the same consequences of their votes as other citizens. It isn't fair for them to revoke the salaries of their constituents without sharing their plight.

There are far too many career legislators, too removed from the general U.S. citizenry. Our country was founded on citizen legislators and needs to be again. Perhaps then something will get done.

At an August town hall meeting, Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) said that supporting a federal government shutdown would be “irresponsible” and have a “huge, negative impact.” He even said he opposed a shutdown as a way to delay Obamacare. Now, he has time and again voted with the tea party for a government shutdown. Join Daily Kos and Progress Iowa in demanding that Congressman Tom Latham get back to work—and reopen the government without delaying Obamacare.

Marriage equality is a civil right which is equated in our federal constitution. No one should have the right to vote for or against civil rights. Each state should follow the constitution and allow legal marriage equality. The polls show its acceptance and recent court actions prove it.

The inequality and injustice of Congressmen being paid during the shutdown that causes rank and file federal workers to be unpaid creates a ridiculously unfair imbalance. It's outrageous that members of Congress can continue to receive pay while not doing their jobs and inflicting hardship on others with their inaction and inflexibility. They are there to make the country work, not to shut it down because they don't get to have everything their way.

I am tired of lifetime politicians destroying our country and never feeling the pain the people they were elected to represent have to feel because of their actions. In other countries we, the people, would be able to FIRE all of them! At least they should not be paid like the rest of the government, so there is some pressure for the hard core Tea Party Republicans to grow up and do the right thing. They can't seem to do it for the right reasons so hit them where it hurts.

Sick and tired of political gamesmanship hurting the American people.

Voting fairness . We risk loss of representation when political interests draw the lines for unfair advantage. Gerrymandering is undemocratic and should be stopped now before anymore elections anywhere .

It's time for the United States Congress to live and work as those who have elected them. The laws they make should apply to them as well as every other citizen -- same benefits, same healthcare, same retirement benefits, same leave without pay as all other government employees are required to take during government shutdowns.

All U.S. citizens have been and are affected by the Congressional shutdown.

Causing major damage to US Economy and Fellow Americans' Lives!

The law states that hearsay does not hold up in a court of law but that is exactly what is happening. No one has done any fact digging to collaborate his stories. The G.A.L. wrote a motion to the judge all because of something he said including a 4 page letter that was nothing but hearsay, assumptions and opinions. That is why he has full custody because with the letter and 4 other caseworkers saying the same thing I had no chance at fighting. I received only minimal visitation that lasted a couple months. She and her dad do not get along and when he gets frustrated he calls the police and says she is being "unruly" and to take her to JDC then she mostly lives in a group house for troubled teens. I prefer her there if she can't be with me because of her fathers verbal, mental and even physical abuse. No one will listen to my side of the story or my daughters. This is outrageous. People in these positions should know that they're two sides to every story and that there are bitter ex's out there. All my visitation was up to her father. When she in the group home I would attend parent groups and a mini, 15min session with my daughter once a week and that was all I got to see her for a while. I didn't see her for Thanksgiving, Christmas or new years. She went to the psychiatric ward for attempting suicide and he wouldn't let me visit her there either. When she was in JDC seemed to be the only place he could not stop visitation. He was also not telling me when her court hearing were or anything that was going on with her. I had to request a court appointed lawyer to get notified of her hearings. The first one I was notified of (4 months after he received full custody) the G.A.L. put through for a no contact order because of the medication I am prescribed and that the doctor insists that I stay on. The main thing is drugs and alcohol which I have not drank for 5 years and am currently in a program that I have been in for 3 years that has kept me off of opiates. As I mentioned earlier she has a 4yr old half brother. That case has been closed for almost a year on him and since my ex had something to do with the outcome of my son he lives with my cousin who is his guardian. When she got the letter for legal custody it was worded so that we could come up with our own arrangements. His guardian is very protective of him and wouldn't let me have him so much if I were so "unfit" My husband and I have him almost 4 days out of the week and wake up to go over and put him on the bus for pre-school. On the other hand I am so "unfit" I can't even see my 15yr old. I am afraid to mention this at any of the court hearings because my son has already been through enough and I want him to be left alone and out of "the system". All I ever wanted was my fair chance and I didn't think that was asking too much but I never got it and neither did Haeligh. I ask that this case and workers on the case be investigated for any way they might have broke the law or not done their job to the best of their abilities. Haeligh needs to receive some justice and have her entire family.