Paying a living wage would solve many problems in our country. Over half of the poor in this country work, yet they need government services such as food stamps and Medicaid. Turn these folks into taxpayers rather than people needing our tax dollars. Stop the subsidies to business that pay poverty wages. Give work dignity by paying people a fair and just wage. We all do better when everyone is doing better.

Congress and our Senate elected officials sould only be allowed TWO terms. Right know we have the best congress and senate that money can buy. Big money lobbyist and the people who pay them are the ones running this country. Vote them out of office, and put the fear of us to work. If they fear loosing their gobs, the'll think twice about spending our money.

The cost of college tuition has been increasing dramatically and this needs to stop. It is preventing many individuals from receiving an education. It is important that our future leaders of America benefit from the education system in order to improve our country.

There have been too many incidents in recent years with horses being killed as they cruelly pull tourists around the Central park area in Manhattan.

My son attends Wadsworth Elementary School, which has been targeted for school closure. Our children's education and safety should be our top priorities, and dis-investing in our community schools should be stopped.

Last year the Missouri legislature gerrymandered the congressional districts, dividing up the 3rd District, pitting two Democrats against each other in a shrunken 1st District in St. Louis and expanding the 8th District from the southern part of the St. Louis area all the way to the Bootheel border with Arkansas. Russ Carnahan had ably represented the 3rd District, but he was shoved out of a job by the redistricting. Immediately after the November election Jo Ann Emerson, (R-Cape Girardeau) who was elected to an eighth term as congresswoman from the 8th District, announced she was resigning. Gov. Nixon may appoint a successor to the seat until the election in June. He should appoint Russ Carnahan, who served 4 terms in Congress before his district was effectively carved up into oblivion. Carnahan would continue his excellent service to our state and maintain continuity for Missouri constituents. He'd be a great choice in June, too, but that's up to the voters.

When the Rich get all the money, they either run the business into the bankruptcy ground or just close the doors taking all the money. This whole process has driven products & services into other countries leaving us with no jobs, no products or Out Sourced by the likes of Bain. The Rich, having all the money, have tied up their money such that the money can not be used for other businesses needing loans. This is called pulling up the ladder of success from everyone else. This makes the banks caretakers of THEIR money and not an finical institution designed to work for the total good of any community. We need loans, too, for our cars, trucks, & homes. But with the money tied up security notes or other finical instrument, it is not available to the banks to loan out.

We need state-run healthcare systems.

The Sandy Hook shooting stirred a discussion about mental health care. I have been a social worker for 13 years. I have worked in agencies over the years with clients facing serious life challenges such as trauma history, intellectual or physical disabilities, poverty, and mental illness. In some settings, the work can be rewarding but high stress, and the funding is low. We need to keep turnover low for people working in social service agencies. This is how we can value the people for whom social workers and social service agencies are providing care.

YES, I AM PAYING HIGHER TAXES SINCE OBAMA HAS BEEN IN OFFICE. I'M TIRED OF HAVING THE MIDDLE CLASS TAXED WHILE THE RICH AND ULTRA RICH PAY LITTLE TO NO INCOME TAXES. LET THE BURDEN FALL ON THOSE WHO CAN TRULY AFFORD THE TAXES!!!!!!!

As a past college administrator, I am so concerned about the level of student debt in this country. Students have been led to borrow huge amounts of money often at for profit colleges without the placement statistics to give students a fighting chance at landing a job which will allow them to ever pay back their loan. They may never have enough money to own a home, buy a car or put anything away for their own retirement. Additionally, it becomes an albatross around their necks that affects their energy and capabilities to the detriment of the country as a whole. Without some way to defeat these loans through some form of civil service, loan forgiveness, employer incentives as part of a benefits package or other creative process an entire generation of citizens could be lost to poverty. Also, the vast size of the debt has the potential to become the next bubble to burst as graduates, unable to meet their pay back requirements default, the country could once again be facing an economy melt down.

I've seen first hand what fracking can do and it's not pretty.