Iran is threatening to wipe Israel off the face of the map. They are working on a nuclear weapons program to produce weapons to carryout their threat. Should Israel become involved in a war with Iran, the USA should be there to protect its ally.

If Congress makes any changes to healthcare as we now have it then they too have to except the same healthcare as everyone lives with. If its good enough for the people of the United States then its good enough for members of Congress

Too much non-Maine organizations' and PAC money is being spent on our airwaves to manipulate and overshadow Mainers' campaigns with focus on their real issues such as economic recovery not divisive social issues.

Encourage voters in the November 2012 Presidential and Vice Presidental elections to write in names of Bernie Sanders for President and Elizabeth Warren for Vice President. They are the only persons of national prominence whom have the individual integrity and the public's confidence to break the stranglehold of special interest money in the selection and control over the partisan candidates for those offices before and after the election.

The Federal Justice System in our country is filled with corruption, lazy pre-trial probation officers who leave a months work for the last day and fabricate information critical to a defendants profile. Public Defenders with no ambitions who push defendants to take pleas. As it stands even those with ambitions will only take to trial a 100% sure thing. Everything else is forced to a plea. A plea doesn't count as a loss in court. This is all important in making the lawyer look good. Too many Federal Judges have become lazy depending on Guide lines that were intended to protect and have now become another way to lump together an inacturate picture of a human being in a dier sistuation.Defendants are nothing but a list of numbers. Mistakes from your ore-trial probation officer, neglect from your Public Defender and your in prison. The prisons are private businesses run for profit. Rotten fruit and dirty foods donated or bought cheap. Lies about medical care and mistreatment at the expense of tax dollars. Racism out of control by correction officers, rape and extortion condoned. If you feel this just doesn't matter to you then look up the statistics. The U.S.A. Incarcerates more of it's citizens than any other country and the numbers are rising. Every American knows personally someone that has gone through the system or will have a family member, or friend , or co-worker if not themself face this nightmare. Just like the traffic ticket scam of lawyers that for a fee can get you off, if your wealthy and can pay a good lawyer you will as long as it's not in the news walk. If your poor you will do time regardless of guilt. We have the right of a speedy and fair trial. Really? Not in this country at this time. Ask President Obama to convene an Ethics in our Justice System committee to investigate and change a system that is no longer working for the good of the country and it's people.

The field of social work has played such an important role in our society for hundreds of years, yet it is still a field that continues to not have as much respect within the social welfare arena. Social workers can be found in numerous career settings such as, public welfare agencies, hospitals, non-profit agencies, school systems, private and public industries, reservations and more, yet the salaries remain considerably low in many states and don't keep pace with the cost of living. Student loan debt is considerably higher than the annual salary. The Department of Education has made provisions for loan forgiveness programs for fields such as medical and Peace Corp. Social Workers should also be included in the the loan forgiveness program immediately. Who is with us? Join our cause to be included...

How is it legal for golf courses to pollute so much? Whole ecosystems are destroyed and waterways polluted and air polluted so a few can hit a ball with a stick. Look at the cost to benefit ratio. I have health issues because I lived near a golf course. Most people don't realize that golf courses are one of the biggest polluters in our country.

Rudwan Dawod spent six months in Sudan and South Sudan last year leading a number of humanitarian projects and was featured in an Al Jazeera documentary titled, "How to Mobilize a Million" (watch it on YouTube). In his most recent trip back to South Sudan at the end of May, he was leading a reconciliation effort in which Muslims would help re-build a Catholic church in protest to a recent church-burning in Khartoum. The government of Sudan was aware of Rudwan's plans to enter his native country and they were waiting for him. Approximately ten days after he arrived in the north, Rudwan was arrested along with a dozen others in Al Haj Yousif at a demonstration he helped organize through Girifna, a youth movement calling for change in Sudan through peaceful, non-violent protests. They were speaking out against the austerity measures and increasing cost of food and basic goods, and against the violent crimes of the government. The police beat Rudwan unconscious and then went to his home to arrest his father and brother. They vandalized their home, stealing their money and valuables. Shortly after, Rudwan was taken to the NISS headquarters while the others remained in Haj Yousif Police Station. He was deprived of sleep and was tortured for days as they mocked and insulted him for his work in re-building the church in South Sudan. They beat him on his back and feet until he fainted, trying to coerce a false statement from him that he was CIA. Local government-controlled papers featured front page stories that a “terrorist cell” had been arrested and the leader was married to an American. It claimed we were part of a Darfur military movement supported by South Sudan to bomb several market places in Khartoum. While initially held incommunicado with visits denied to any lawyer or family member, Rudwan was soon transferred to a prison in Omdurman by order of the court after he appeared visibly exhausted and unable to walk well. We believe media pressure also played a key role in his transfer. The others being held in Haj Yousif were brought to Omdurman Prison to join Rudwan, where they remained until everyone except Rudwan and Ahmed Kawarti were acquitted on July 25th. There are five (5) charges against Rudwan and Ahmed, including Attempt, Abetment, Rioting (with violence), Calling for opposition to public authority (with violence), and Criminal and terrorist organizations (with violent intent). The most serious charge is punishable up to ten years in prison or the death penalty. The court will make their decision on August 13th. Armed with only a flyer, Rudwan and Ahmed are completely innocent of any of these accusations and fabricated lies. The flyer called for others to demonstrate against the lack of food, increasing transportation fees due to loss of oil subsidies, and unemployment rate after graduation. They asked others to take to the streets and protest against the corruption of the government that caused the secession of the south, destruction and death in Darfur and the mass killings in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. (Copy of flyer available upon request.) Please help us keep the pressure on Sudan 's government to release Rudwan, Ahmed and the thousands of other peaceful protestors being held. It is NOT a crime to call for peace, equality, justice and democracy in Sudan !! For the love of his country, it was Rudwan’s conscience-duty. “The only guide to man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions. It is very imprudent to walk through life without this shield, because we are so often mocked by the failure of our hopes and the upsetting of our calculations; but with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the ranks of honor.” Winston Churchill Nancy Dawod Springfield, Oregon

The Virgin Islands Montessori School, which has been in existence for over 40 years, is seeking to amend the Title 34 Virgin Island's Code, Section 383 (b)(4) to exempt the AMI Certified Montessori Primary Classroom from the Department of Human Services jurisdiction as a daycare facility. Currently, AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certified primary classrooms teach children starting at the age of 3 years old in a multi-age classroom. The Department of Human Services, has jurisdiction over daycare facilities, which may include 3 year old children, but the AMI (and AMS-American Montessori Society) certified Montessori programs teach 3 year olds in a primary classroom, and not a daycare facility or setting. We are calling on VI Senators of the 29th Legislature to support our efforts to maintain the AMI Certification of the Virgin Islands Montessori School by amending the VI Code to exempt the AMI and AMS Montessori certified primary classrooms, and allow them to continue educating Virgin Islands children in the multi-age 3-6 year old classroom utilizing the proven Montessori methods and philosophy. Some of the mandatory rules governing daycare facilities are counter to the methods, philosophies and practice for AMI classrooms, and if implemented, would negate the AMI certification of the only certified Montessori program in the territory.

Politicians are more busy chasing the money and even bound by it in order to get re-elected rather than being held accountable to its public as should be in our democracy.

I am a 63 year old grandmother in Oklahoma who would like to be able to tell my grandchild that every vote counts in America. I can’t, because that’s a lie! I was born in 1948 and have voted in every Presidential election since I reached legal voting age. Since I am a Democrat and Oklahoma has voted Republican, the laws of my state have made my vote meaningless. Eleven Presidential elections in a row, for 43 years of my life, my vote has counted for nothing. Yes, the candidate I voted for was elected a few times, but not because of my vote. My state voted for the loser, and my vote made no difference. This is a problem for both parties! Many Republicans see their states vote for the Democrat each time, and they feel just like I do. We are disappointed and discouraged and wondering if our only remaining option is to move to a state where we aren’t made to feel like we don’t belong. Republicans in HI, NY, RI, WA and WI haven’t had their vote matter since 1984. Republicans in CA, CT, DE, IL, MD, MI, NJ, PA and VT watch their votes cast aside in the last 5 Presidential elections. Republican voters in MN haven’t mattered since 1972. Democrats in AK, ID, KS, ND, OK, UT and WY have endured 44 years of their votes being wasted. AL, MS, SC and TX have tossed out all their “blue votes” since 1976. Democrats in AR and AZ could have stayed home for the last 4 elections. Democrats in GA and MT haven’t mattered in the last 3 Presidential elections. This is not government of the people, by the people and for the people! It’s government of the State, by the State and for the State! According to the US Constitution "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors ..." The bad news is that most State Legislatures have decided on the “winner take all” system, which leaves so many of us without a voice. But there is good news! The National Popular Vote Law has already been enacted by states possessing 132 electoral votes — 49% of the 270 electoral votes needed to activate it! 70% of Americans polled support the Popular Vote! Red voters in Blue States and Blue voters in Red States are tired of feeling oppressed, defeated and powerless. We are tired of being called “fly over states” by the media because Presidential candidates never set foot in our states. We are tired of seeing the debate and education, Party support, candidates, and money go to other states. Blue states get bluer. Red states get redder. Presidents get elected by “swing states”, to a large degree by those voters who have the most trouble making up their minds. What can we do? Blue voters in Red States and Red voters in Blue States can stand together! Republicans and Democrats with one voice as Americans! We have been inconsequential for years, but our country could certainly benefit from seeing us stand together now! It shouldn’t take a 9/11 disaster for us to find compassion for one another. Please go to http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/ and look under “Take Action” in the upper right hand corner to see what individuals can do to help. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see where your State Legislature stands. Hold a rally on the steps of your State Capital! Hold a “Red voters and Blue voters UNITED” event with neighboring States. That’s something rare and newsworthy!! I have lived my whole life with my votes for President ignored. Many in my position no longer bother to make the trip to their voting place. I will continue to vote in this flawed Democracy, as a symbol of my belief in citizen responsibility. May we work together to see my votes, and yours, begin to matter. Broken Arrow, OK

Trillions of unproductive dollars are siphoned out of our economy every year by everything from simple nepotism to cash bribery. As a result the wealth that we generate as a society has been redistributed to the top 1% where it has effectively been hoarded and taken out of productive circulation. After thirty years of labor saving technological developments this siphoning off of our collective wealth by the scam artists has left the rest of us struggling to make ends meet. As a result we can not address ourselves to society's challenges of climate change and global hunger because we are too busy trying to keep our head above water to feed our families.