The large corporations and the super-rich give vast amounts of money to our legislators' campaigns so that they will pass laws favorable to them. They spend large amounts, also, to defeat those who are opposed to their interests. That leaves the rest of us, the 99 percent, without a voice in our government. The result is the top one percent accumulates more and more wealth, and the rest of us less and less.

People do die from lack of proper medical care because they have no insurance and cannot pay out-of-pocket.

The inability to make progress on the Middle-East peace process poses grave dangers to the parties in the region as well as the United States. For the Palestinians, continued settlement expansion in the occupied territories threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. For the Israelis, continued settlement expansion increasingly makes it impossible to withdraw from occupied territories and may set the stage for a violent confrontation between Israel and the Arab/Muslim world.

Consumers deserve to know if our food contains potentially harmful genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Thirty countries have placed restrictions on GMOs, but the U.S. doesn't even require a labeling system, much less regulate them, due to a powerful, wealthy biotech lobby.

I have worked for tips as a bartender for 10 years. While the cost of living continues to rise in Tennessee, the amount people tip is steadily declining. Tipped minimum wage was set at $2.13 per hour in 1991 and has been frozen since. In 2009, federal minimum wage was increased, yet tipped wages remained the same. Since states can choose to adopt their own tipped wage, I would like to see Tennessee raise the tipped wage to $3.63 so these workers have a fair shot at making a comfortable living wage. The raise to $3.63 is based on tipped wage being half of current minimum wage.

Make it easier for the President of the United States to make revamp his own administration. As it stands now these changes need to go through Congress.

Mr. Richard Mourdock Your views on abortion make you unfit to serve in our country's government in any capacity. I have just finished watching your press conference live on TV. You have completely ignored the source of the outrage over your stated views. The backlash surrounding your comment is not in any way a depiction of Washington partisanship or as you said, "What's wrong with Washington." On the contrary your comments paint a perfect picture of what is wrong with Washington. Specifically highlighting the issue of partisanship based on religious ideology. This includes the broader topic of the intense focus to change landmark legislation passed while the opposing party held government majorities. You are advocating a bill that will outlaw abortions and that of which is directly in conflict with the United States Supreme Court ruling in the case of Roe v. Wade 1973. In your particular instance however, the concern of legal precedence is secondary to the issue of your willingness to impose legislation that would be absolutely detrimental and devastating to the victims of atrocious rape crimes. Mr. Mourdock, your willingness to introduce, sponsor, and pass legislation to be levied on all Americans based on that legislations alignment with your religious views is appalling, outdated, and wholly unacceptable. You are not running for a government position in the Vatican City. You are running for a position in the United States Senate. This is a country in which you can be criminally punished for discrimination in cases based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In marrying your duties as a United States Senator with your views as a Christian man you are immediately discriminating against, and dismissing the 16% of Indianans that share secular beliefs on faith. The comments and views that you have made public clearly state your intent to impose your personal religious ideals on all Americans equally. The most damning aspect of your statement is that your opinion and proposed legislation could actually put women in greater danger from deranged sexual predators. In particular, those violent sexual predators(and potential) with the capacity to forcibly rape someone could be doing so with the intent of fathering a child. Your religious belief as it pertains, would ensure that no matter the penalty the offender receives, even if they were to be caught, that offender would be legally entitled to bear an offspring sharing half of their genetic make up should they succeed in obtaining conception through their egregious act of rape. Mr. Mourdock your opinion is that of an extreme minority. This is the true reason for the backlash to it. Not because of what's wrong with Washington as you cited in your defense of this archaic, religiously driven attempt at regulating the individual choice and freedom that the Constitution of the United States and the United States Supreme Court has protected for Citizens of the United States of America. Immediately following the submission of this email, I intend to drive for signatures on a petition that will highlight and condemn your views regarding Women's rights. The people have a right to know the truth and for their opinions to be heard. And they will be heard. Sincerely, Travis Miller Concerned Citizen Registered Democrat

With the revelation that Tagg Romney is a major investor in Hart InterCivic, the company that owns the voting machines scheduled to be used in Ohio, we are faced with a crisis. Namely, that the result of the popular vote in a crucial swing state cannot -- and will not -- be trusted by either party, potentially throwing the entire Presidential election into chaos.

Stop online illegal gun sales.

Last night, ANOTHER Republican candidate for office made another offensive comment about rape. This time it was Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock saying pregnancies resulting from rape are what God intended. But something about Mourdock's comment is even more disturbing: Mitt Romney just released an ad endorsing him. And while he's tepidly tried to distance himself from Mourdock today, he hasn't pulled his endorsement and the ad is still on the air. And Senator John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senate Campaign Committee, is **defending** Mourdock. Can you send a clear message to Mitt Romney and Republican campaign committees about how you feel about these comments as a voter?

What you read here is NOT the petition that would ultimately be submitted to the White House. It is simply a draft, and a work in progress at that. If this idea was ever written into law, it would require much more detail than what you will read here. The title used to read "Equivalence to Veterans Status for Peace Corps Volunteers", but that has caused confusion and consternation in some circles. Some RPCVs like the spirit of the idea, but not the comparison to military veterans, who they believe are asked to ultimately sacrifice more than Peace Corps volunteers ever would. I disagree with that sentiment, as many stateside and administrative roles do not require exposure to combat, but I understand and have changed the petition to reflect that concern. In the context of this petition, "veteran" should be defined more generally as: (n) a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like (i.e.- fireman, policeman, athletes, etc.) Some have asked to have the word veteran omitted completely. I refuse to do that for one simple reason: the Veterans Administration, not the Department of Defense, would be the logical choice to administer benefits. The acronym RPCV has been used for a very long time, but it is not exclusive to those who have completed their 2-year Peace Corps commitment. RPCV, can be used by anyone who has ever served in Peace Corps, even though they may have not complete their service. The term "Peace Corps Veteran", that I put forth in this petition, would generally indicate that someone has successfully completed their 2-year tour. As with the military, there could be other Peace Corps Veteran designations for people who had to leave for medical reasons, evacuations, etc. Those who choose to leave early would receive an equivalent to an administrative discharge and would not be eligible for benefits. Here is the draft of the petition, as it has been presented previously: I believe Peace Corps Volunteers that successfully complete 2-years of service abroad should receive an equivalent status as honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. military. We should hold those who spread American goodwill and promote peace, in as high a regard as those who so valiantly protect us via military service. Benefits (education, home loans, vocational rehab, life insurance, etc.) would incentivize more to consider Peace Corps service. Having served in both the U.S. Navy Reserves (1992 -2000: CM3 in the Seabees) and the U.S. Peace Corps (2001-2003: Agriculture Volunteer, Moldova), I proudly submit this petition to enhance our country's ability to promote peace and understanding abroad. Peace Corps Veteran designation, and full benefits, would be retroactive to anyone who has successfully completed service since the beginning of Peace Corps. Additional benefits not previously mentioned, but brought up by petition signers, could be: an extended or lifetime non-compete for government jobs, loan forgiveness, VA work study, etc. A benefit to Peace Corps would be higher retention and improved quantity and quality of volunteers. Many good, qualified potential volunteers, have passed on Peace Corps service because they simply could not take the financial hit. I do not understand why making volunteers who serve our country in the name of peace should have to become financial martyrs. Many people, myself included, joined the military for benefits. Besides serving our country, it provided income and stability. On many levels, it was simply a job. Peace Corps purports that service equates to "the toughest job you'll ever love". I would argue that using the word "job" may be a stretch. If there were some benefits post-service, that claim would actually make sense. Regardless, make no mistake...I love Peace Corps. It's an awesome institution, one of which America should be very, very proud. As a vet, I already have benefits. I simply believe this is the right way to honor the sacrifice of so many of my fellow volunteers. Thank you all so much for your service to our country! We're going to need at least 100,000 signatures to get a petition in from the President. If we can get to 10,000, I will start writing congressmen. To make this effort go anywhere near viral, we will need for as many RPCVs and their family and friends, to share this via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, coupled with testimonials telling their stories. You may receive reminders from MoveOn.org to do so, and I apologize now for that. I will send out updates, when and if, we get closer to the goal. NOTE: If you sign this petition, and have a change of heart, please contact MoveOn.org and provide your name and the name of the petition and ask that you be removed. They will gladly assist!

The Log Cabin Republicans have officially endorsed Mitt Romney for President of the United States. This is a betrayal to service members who served under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell” policy. LCRs betrayed our hero, former-Congressman Patrick Murphy, and endorsed his opponent. Now they have betrayed the Commander-in-Chief, who made open-service a reality. Why do they continue to endorse candidates who oppose our civil rights?