Every political race claims that public education needs improving.but they have no idea how to "fix" something teachers and students have not broken. There is always need for improvement, (districts are always providing trainings), but more testing kids, phony teacher evaluations, and private-for-profit vouchers are NOT the way to do it. There is growing recognition, especially in Florida, that schools are being made to "fail" so private-for-profit companies can provide alternatives. Taking education out of the hands of educators is wrong for the sake of students, teachers, and the future of U.S. citizens.

Lobbyists often exert disproportionate influence on elected and appointed state and federal officeholders on many pending legislative issues to the detriment of most citizens and the general welfare of the nation. All citizens, including myself, are affected, when the majority of the people's interests are ignored in favor of small interest groups with special vested interests. The reason is that lawmakers are receiving lavish gifts, vacations, donations to campaign organizations, and other items that can potentially influence their decision making.

Black people in the south are even to this day being put in harms way. Just by the shade of someones skin in States like WA,NC,SC,GA, and others people are beat and raped ever day in the south. This is not the American way of being we need to help our friends in the south and put a stop to all forms of hate. ware ever it lives.

We are concerned that Trader Joe's, such a huge supplier of foods to ours and many other communities, does not follow as much sustainable guidelines as it should. I recently stopped buying milk there due to it going from cartons to plastic, which uses petroleum and is much worse for the environment. They reach a lot of people and can be a good example of more sustainable business practices. It really counts when you're so big

I am suggesting that we have a draft for all future wars initiated by the United States

IRS Code on the amount of taxable income at which Social Security Benefits become taxable has not been adjusted for inflation since it was implimented in1983. Until 1983 there was no income tax on Social Security benefit income. I am a 99% person and pay income tax on 85% of my Social Security yearly benefits to me and my wife because our adjusted gross taxable income is over $35000. Middle class retired people need a brake!

TVA is suddenly enforcing a 1933 reg prohibiting roofs on campers on TVA shorelines. After 15 years, I am stressed out over losing my camping pleasure and privledge in a retirement cottage I can afford. This will impact hundreds of grassroots Americans in their quest for some leisure enjoyment they can afford!

10% of the grand sum of all campaign spending should go to a special citizen fund for educational scholarships or infrastructure repair.

On Tuesday night, Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of Chicago, is scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. This is a slap in the face to the thousands of Chicago public school teachers currently fighting for a fair contract in the face of an aggressive pro-corporate "reform" agenda pushed by Emanuel and his administration.

I am continually bombarded with insulting fabricated lies from GOP supporters showing how liberals are bringing the country down. Its time the dems fight back with plenty of '3 -d pictures' of progress no matter how slowly we are bringing th country back from the depths of the second worst recession created by the previous two administrations. The 'general not readily exposed to the truth public' should have access to facts they can easily grasp - show the progress in pictures. Democratic marketing people can depict progress in a movie 3D DreamWorks style. Make it playful but with serious fact laden high impact visuals and go viral on social network sites across the nation and the rest of planet earth. Let the truth determine who runs the nation.

The Illinois Toll Authority raised rates so that the toll on a lightweight single axle trailer is now 6 times what it was, and is 3 times more than a car pulling it. The rate used to be half the cost of a passenger car. It should be reversed to the old rate, or at least not more than a passenger car. Families pulling a pop-up camper or personal watercraft, now pay 3 times more for their trailer than their car. The reduced overnight rate is also illogical, because in order to save 12 percent, you have to drive in the dark, which is less safe.

The poison this fossil fuel emits effects us all. No matter Where we live, it will harm us.