We call upon our schools of social work to prepare the social work professional to undo structural racism which has such an adverse impact on mental health and which is a root cause of poverty and other social inequities.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been slaughtering wild burros in Big Bend Ranch State Park since 2007. To date they have killed over 100 burros. The Burros have lived in the park for hundreds of years, but TPWD is now calling them an exotic invasive species. There has been outrage in West Texas about this, but national animal rights groups don't seem interested. It is certainly arguable that the burros are an invasive species since they have been in the park since the time of the Conquistadores and possibly before. At the same time another non-native species, the Texas Longhorns have not been targeted by TPWC. Let's shed some light on and stop the slaughter of these creatures.

This is important for all home owners but especially those who are retired and living on fixed incomes. there is no way that most seniors can keep their homes while school districts keep raising taxes year in and year out.

Subsidies for seniors to afford solar for their homes ,as a form of effectivly increasing the amount seniors recive on SS example , we pay out 250.00 - 300.00 / mo to PG&E. A signicicant reduction in that would in effect be an increase in the amount that famiely has to spend. Solar tech and equipment is going to waste in China for lack of sales . Why? It can be put to use , better at a loss than totsl waste.

Tom Petty wrote: Redemption comes to those who wait, forgiveness is the key.    Governor Beshear has the key and must step in and provide justice for Thomas Payne, Jr., his family, and the community to which he wishes to return and make a meaningful contribution.

For 20 years, LATAN has provided assistive technology services statewide to people of all ages, with all types of disabilities, service-related injuries, and limitations due to aging, and has been the sole source for these services in Louisiana. Without continued state appropriations to supplement federal AT Act Grant funding, LATAN's ability to continue to provide these services is in serious jeopardy.

As pastors and teachers, Catholic bishops are supposed to lead their flock in sharing the love of God with our neighbors. So why did a Catholic bishop just preach a homily comparing President Obama to Hitler and Stalin? Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Illinois, launched a vicious tirade against politicians who disagree with the bishops' views on health care reform, culminating in the outrageous claim that "Barack Obama seems intent on following a similar path" to Hitler and Stalin, who "would just barely tolerate some churches remaining open." This kind of hateful and incendiary rhetoric is inappropriate coming from anyone -- but it's simply outrageous coming from a religious leader in a position of public trust. Bishop Jenky needs to hear immediately that reasonable people are appalled by his remarks.

America is rapidly incarcerating substance abusers that can, and wants to be rehabilitated. We need major funding for govenment ran alcohol, and substance abuse facilities in all major US cities.

Creating Awareness of wearing uniforms in school could help eliminate bullying and harrasement from students. The uniforms can help to prevent gangs from forming. It can create more of a community environment with students. Uniforms can diminish the economic and social barrier between students. And schools that already have uniforms in place have seen a change with grades,attendance and a better work atmosphere for the students.

There is an extremely vocal crowd of gun-loving Americans out there. They have succeeded in turning a lot of the country into the Wild West. Evey day we here about another mass shooting incident. In any other civilized country people would realize that making guns available to anyone who wants one is recipe for disaster. In Australia it only took one such incident to get laws passed severly restricting gun availability. There is no justification for the easy availability of guns in our country. The 2nd Amendment clearly states that the right to bear arms is in the context of a "well-trained militia". It's obvious that meant you can have a gun with proper training and oversight and responsibility. The authors of the 2nd Amendmendment certainly could not have foreseen a future where there are more guns than people in the United States.

At the ripe old age of 65, I've watched American Patriotism dwindle over the years to what I now consider to be the lowest point in my lifetime. The biggest reason for this is that Americans now tend to identify with smaller and smaller groups rather than with Americans as a whole. (i.e. African-Americans, Latino-Americans, Christian Americans, non-Christian-Americans), etc. This began with McCarthyism in the 1950's when the words 'under God' were inserted into The Pledge of Allegiance. Restoring The Pledge of Allegiance to it's pre-1954 wording (without 'under God') will go a long way in uniting Americans AS Americans FIRST, without the sub-groups.

The Maryland State Assembly recently failed to pass a bill for an offshore wind farm. We have a significant source of renewalbe energy, and we need to start using it as soon as possible. All obstacles become meaningless when we remember that we must stop environmental destruction or there's nothing left for any of us of any political party or persuasion, or our children. This is a way to move off of fossil fuel dependence.