Our lawmakers should be encouraging more North Carolinians to vote, not limiting them. Under a new proposed voter ID bill, the North Carolina Legislature wants to make it harder for voters to get to the polls. On top of strict new voter ID requirements, this bill would: *shorten early voting by one week *eliminate same-day registration and provisional voting if at wrong precinct *prevent counties from offering voting on the last Saturday before the election beyond 1 p.m. *prevent counties from extending poll hours by one hour on Election Day in extraordinary circumstances (such as lengthy lines) *eliminate state-supported voter registration drives and preregistration for 16- and 17-year-olds *repeal voter-owned judicial elections and straight party voting *increase the number of people who can challenge voters inside the precinct *purge voter rolls more often

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed a historic milestone in July, garnering all Democrats and three Republican votes to pass from the Senate Judiciary committee to the floor in a 15-7 vote. Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid is committed to putting the legislation on the floor. With the bill poised to face the floor, there remain but three uncommitted Democrats, Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Sen. BIll Nelson of Florida and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The time is now for these Democrats to join their colleagues across the aisle and take a strong stand in support of Federal legislation affirming all Americans deserve the Freedom to Work, no matter who they are, or who they love.

Yes i Have Been Personally Effected by This Issue My Son And I

Recently revealed massive secret surveillance programs have been defended on the grounds that national security requires them. The vast expenditures for these programs, together with the even vaster outlays for homeland security, weapons, military deployment, and clandestine activities, necessitate austerity in basic domestic programs like education, employment, environmental protection, pension support, etc. Reminding ourselves of the consequences of past delusions advanced in the name of National Security may help to drain the term of some of its ability to instill irrational fear. This would enable us to appraise more coolly claims that we surrender our civil liberties, invade other countries, make enemies, and spend ourselves into national poverty in order to ward off the specter of terrorism. The world knows about what we did in Viet Nam, but unlike the Germans who looked closely at themselves in the mirror after the fall of the Third Reich, America has never examined the moral implications of what we did to the Vietnamese, or to other nations we have invaded or subverted. The disparity between what others saw us do and what we allow ourselves to believe lies at the root of most hatred and mistrust we encounter abroad. It allows us to continue believing in the beneficence of our actions as we send young men and women into cultures they know nothing of to commit atrocities they are unable to avoid. A Truth Commission, modeled after the South African one, would lay bare what has been done in our name. Enough time has passed since the Viet Nam War for a dispassionate examination that would shed light on current calls for secrecy, clandestine activity, and war. The insights of Viet Nam veterans were often ignored when they returned home; but the vets are still with us, as are survivors of the holocaust that we inflicted on a peaceful peasant population where an estimated three million people or more died.. Although our war effort was unsuccessful, the propaganda of the National Security State was successful in many ways, and it shapes our fears, our budgets, our willingness to go to war again, and our willingness to surrender our Bill of Rights even today. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the rest of the world to do as the Germans, South Africans, and others have done: to face the truth and allow it to slay the demons which would lead us to kill innocent people again.

A local public elementary school I have been volunteering at made the decision to implement school uniforms starting in the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. This is a school with 81% of the students receiving free or reduced-price meals and a diverse student population, including 23% Asian/Pacific Islander, 18% African American, 35% Hispanic, and 16% Caucasian, among other ethnicities.* Making school uniforms mandatory not only takes away students’ independence through restricting free speech, which is a right given to them in the First Amendment, but it increases costs to families who cannot afford to have more expenses. Those who support school uniforms say there are many benefits in doing so, including improved behavior and academic success. However, a study done by David L. Brunsma and Kerry A. Rockquemore shows “student uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems, or attendance” and “the authors found a negative effect of uniforms on student academic achievement.”** With the lack of evidence regarding advantages to having school uniforms and the seemingly obvious disadvantages, I propose we protect the rights of our students and remove the ability of our public schools to require uniforms. *2011-12 School Performance Report, Highline School District. **Brunsma, D. L., & Rockquemore, K. A. (1998). Effects of student uniforms on attendance, behavior problems, substance use, and academic achievement. Journal Of Educational Research, 92(1), 53.

Stop Governor O'Malley and John H. Quigley's plans to move forward with fracking in Maryland. After a bill that would have created a ban on fracking got thrown out by the Maryland Legislators earlier this year, Gov. O'Malley has begun a partnership with Quigley to help develop fracking regulations in MD. Please come forward to ensure the health of our land, water, children, and communities, now and in the future, not be compromised by fracking practices. Join the movement for a ban on fracking in the state of MD and let us stand for no less. We cannot let our government continue to put the people of their own communities in this kind of danger with long term devastating consequences to the air we breathe, water we drink, our land, and our health. Please lets come together in this crucial issue. Plans to issue drilling permits are already in the works-- we have no time to loose. Lets stand 1 million strong and be heard!

Give a chance to the 11 million of people! We love this country

90% of a child's brain development occurs in the first 5 years of life. California has the opportunity to allow early educators to organize a give them a stronger voice to advocate for policy changes that will improve the quality of state supported early education and child care programs.

On July 24th, the Democratic-led Senate voted for a bad deal that would send student loan interest rates into the stratosphere. Under this deal, student loan interest rates would climb as high as 8.25% for undergrads, while graduate students could pay rates as high as 9.5% and parents taking out PLUS loans could pay up to 10.5%. Worse still, Democrats may cave to Republican House-passed legislation that ties loans to "market rates." With California leading the nation in tuition increases (a 300% rise in costs over the last decade), our incoming new University of California President must fight to get a better deal for California's students. Tell Napolitano to speak out for progressive student loan reform that keeps college affordable and to urge her former boss, the President, to veto any bill that doesn't meet these guidelines.

This is a petition to support the passage of H.R. 532 and/or S. 114 to bring back Chapter 7 protection to private student loans which was taken away in 2005. This will allow for private student loans to be discharged through Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Mrs. Viola Reovan-Muhammad is speaking out about her experiences of oppression & harassment while employed at St. Vincent's Medical Center under her direct supervisor, Ms. Helen Krisinsky. The treatment Mrs. Reovan-Muhammad received were not isolated incidents; there are many others who have fallen victim to the discriminatory practices of St. Vincent's Medical Center. Institutionalized oppression and internal conflicts will inevitably have a negative impact on patient care. Mrs. Reovan-Muhammad started this petition not just for herself but for the employees and patients who remain at St. Vincent's Medical Center, and those to come - this petition is dedicated to them!

The petition is in support of funding to improve safety for pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs, and transit riders in Gainesville, FL. Several specific projects have been proposed such as mid-block crossings for transit riders, ADA compliant access ramps, new sidewalks, and implementation of innovative bicycle facilities such as bike boulevards, access ramps for cyclists at the traffic circles on SW 2nd Ave. and bike boxes, The total budget is $5 million over five years that will come out of the City of Gainesville budget.