Under the current mayor the focus has been on blaming teachers as characterized by his administration's obsession with the development of an "I gotcha" teacher evaluation system; rather than recognizing that effective teaching is an art form not a student testing taking, consultant profit making, data driven and teacher paper pushing - corporation. Using our children as guinea pigs by closing schools rather than supporting them and pitting public schools against charter schools resulting in overcrowded school building and classrooms - children are human beings not tools or corporate things. Education is the enterprise of caring about student learning; it is meant to be led by an educator who understands the various needs of all children not a dictating privitization, means to an end, legacy for ambitious politicians. Our schools must be governed by community and parental input which includes the responsibilities and idealogy indicated by our president during the recent election: "Teachers must inspire, Principals must lead, Parents must urge and children must do the work." by the President of the United States of America Barack Obama. We deserve better give our schools back to our parents, teachers, students, and community by mandating parental and community input in the governance and/or leadership of our schools.

The Wilmington 10 were 10 civil rights workers in Wilmington, NC, whom were railroaded into a false conviction of killing a white grocery store owner. In 1980, a federal court overturned their conviction, but they were never pardoned. People have been working for a few years to obtain a pardon for the Wilmington 10 and NC Governor Bev Perdue just signed one! This will be unpopular with people who are too rigid and racist to ever admit mistakes are made. I want people to thank Governor Perdue for being brave enough, and just enough, to issue these pardons. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemid=2709

yes current political enviornment in gridlock

There is no justice for people who were molested or raped or both as children. Most children try to forget the trauma of what happened to them, but as adults the trauma needs to be dealt with in order for the person to heal. Unfortunately the law states that there is a Statute of Limitations and the pedophiles are still free to continue their heinous crimes against children. This needs to stop. We need to protect our children and the adults that were raped of their innocence by not allowing the pedophiles to get away with their crimes. Most children are threatened to not reveal the adult that molested them; some try to forget. Usually as adults the trauma of the rape of their innocence comes to the surface of their minds and when some brave souls try to take a stand they're told it's too late, too much time has passed & the perpetrator goes unpunished. This sends a message loud and clear to all pedophiles that they can get away with their crimes; so why stop? It also adds insult to injury to the ones who were raped, molested, or both as children. The message to them is that they don't matter; they weren't protected as children and they have no recourse as adults.

Until Rep. Eric Cantor is removed from office "nothing will be accomplished." Whether you are retired, have a parent who is retired and social security is an important issue for you/them Eric Cantor is your enemy. Whether you are one of the 47% as Mitt Romney referred to us as or have a family member who is you will pay more taxes to help the wealty get richer.

Why should we low to moderate income workers pay much higher Social Security tax rates than millionaires?!? Right now only the first $113,000 in wages is subject to Social Security tax, so those of us making under $113,000 are paying a higher percentage of our income for Social Security payroll taxes than those making much more! The system is upside down with those at the top earning millions paying a far lower percentage of their income for Social Security than the rest of us!

WE must demand that Congress, despite Republican Stone-Walling in Favor of Special Interests, hold Corporations accountable, placing them under the light of closer scrutiny and increased regulation, forcing them to, at least, pay their fare share for the vast profits they have reaped and continue to reap.

Both political parties call for austerity and cuts to many public programs and cuts across the board affecting the voters. Why don't our highly paid elected representatives offer any cuts of their own to benefit our financial plight? If they were truly serious they should agree to a pay reduction and pay freezes until the economy improves or the budget is balanced.

It is time to stop paying all Congressmen, Senators (and their staffs) and the entire White House Staff all salaries and benefits until they come up with a workable and viable budget. They were voted TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. They are not doing that. It is time to stop paying them. They are not doing their jobs.

As citizens and voters, We the People, have elected all House Representatives and are their employers. They are not doing their jobs, but rather catering to extreme positions and big money. On a nonpartisan basis, we will take action to remove each representative from his/her position in 2014 if he/she does not support immediately HR 8 as passed by the Senate early on January 1, 2013. Find common ground NOW if you desire a path toward lower federal spending.

Reduce the salaries of our elected Congressmen ( Senators and Representatives) to 2008 levels, until they resolve all budget problems.

Reduce the salaries of our elected Congressmen ( Senators and Representatives) to 2008 levels, until they resolve all budget problems.