Rumors are swirling in D.C. that Republicans might be willing to include higher tax rates for the wealthy in a deficit deal if Democrats agree to dangerous benefit cuts like raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. Raising the eligibility age is very bad policy. The problem here isn't with the benefits Americans have earned -- it's a cost-of-healthcare problem. Medicare is lower-cost than private insurance, and squeezing the youngest Medicare recipients into private insurance will only make costs worse. We need to control health care costs, not limit access. We can't let the wealthy corporate interests that are spending furiously to push for this succeed.

IN THIS 21ST. CENTURY NO ONE WITH A JOB SHOULD GET PAID LESS THAN A LIVING WAGE. LET'S PETITION THE CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO PASS A LIVING WAGE BILL FOR ANYONE THAT HAS A JOB. LETS CHANGE THE NAME FROM "MINIMUM WAGE" TO "LIVING WAGE" . A LIVING WAGE CALCULATED AUTOMATICALLY FOR EVERY CITY IN AMERICA USING A SIMPLE FORMULA "COST OF LIVING+RATE OF INFLATION = LIVING WAGE"

After having studied the pros and cons of drinking and what would happen if the legal age to drink alcohol dropped to 18 years of age, I have come to the conclusion that the 21 law right now is more of a hinderance than a benefit. I have come to the conclusion that the best way to make sure our nation's youth is responsible with alcohol is to educate them through a yearlong course, which in completion, will allow for purchase of a limited amount of alcohol.

Over the last year Chicago has suffered over 400 homocides, nearly all with guns that weren't registered to the murderer. We need to direct more of our money and our attention to this increasingly dangerous issue. Our top priority needs to be the safety of our family and friends.

The Republicans are using gerrymandering (redistricting the states) to stack the deck in their favor. This has allowed them to unethically win elections. As a result they are breaking unions, beating down the middle class and the most vulnerable. Their plan is to use this process to win the election in 2016. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin have been affected. All states are fair game for them. These are tactics backed by the Koch brothers and ALEC.

Fatherless homes are a major issue in African American homes. Especially to those who are single moms raising boys. Having a little brother myself I understand what it means to a boy to have his father around. Only a man can show him how to be a man

End the Bush Tax Cuts for the Richest 2% Allowing taxes to go up an average of $2,200 per family of four would pose an additional hardship on middle-class families who have already suffered through the Great Recession and its aftermath. The fairest way to address the current fiscal situation, to promote economic growth and to protect middle-class families is to extend tax cuts for the middle class and allow cuts for the wealthiest two percent to expire. Please support a deal that allows the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest 2% and extends tax cuts for those earning under $250,000.

End the Bush Tax Cuts for the Richest 2% Allowing taxes to go up an average of $2,200 per family of four would pose an additional hardship on middle-class families who have already suffered through the Great Recession and its aftermath. The fairest way to address the current fiscal situation, to promote economic growth and to protect middle-class families is to extend tax cuts for the middle class and allow cuts for the wealthiest two percent to expire. Please support a deal that allows the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest 2% and extends tax cuts for those earning under $250,000.

Allowing taxes to go up an average of $2,200 per family of four would pose an additional hardship on middle-class families who have already suffered through the Great Recession and its aftermath. The fairest way to address the current fiscal situation, to promote economic growth and to protect middle-class families is to extend tax cuts for the middle class and allow cuts for the wealthiest two percent to expire. Please support a deal that allows the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest 2% and extends tax cuts for those earning under $250,000.

That all military, search and rescue, and first responder service dogs be recognized on Veterans Day as co-heroes. These are often forgotten and abandoned and deserve recognition.

End the Bush Tax Cuts for the Richest 2% Allowing taxes to go up an average of $2,200 per family of four would pose an additional hardship on middle-class families who have already suffered through the Great Recession and its aftermath. The fairest way to address the current fiscal situation, to promote economic growth and to protect middle-class families is to extend tax cuts for the middle class and allow cuts for the wealthiest two percent to expire. Please support a deal that allows the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest 2% and extends tax cuts for those earning under $250,000.

Hi my petition is to make people aware of how music programs are being cut and it needs to stop now. Children are being cheated by this, taking music helps with math, reading, social interaction, and small and large motor skills. It helps build strong friendships that will last a lifetime. Who are we as people to say they cant have a good experience that can help them find a good career or something they love.