While the minimum wage was raised not too long ago, inflation has gone higher than Minimum Wage across the country. Even if you're making $10 an hour, the money is still very tight between the cost of gas, groceries and bills that you have to pay. The minimum wage in all states should be at least $11 an hour. Higher wages means that people could afford to buy more stuff, thus driving the economy out of the recession.

My petition is about the issue of healthcare. Too many times people who have lost their jobs lack medical insurance. If you receive unemployment that you pay taxes on, they deny you, no matter how sick you are. And to pay for insurance, they refuse to cover preexisting conditions. I am struggling this battle now. I have a lot of medical problems and desperately need surgery. Yet because my husband lost his job and receives unemployment, I can t get help. Tax paying people shouldn t be denied medical assistance when needed the most because federal government doesn t consider unemployment "real income" yet we pay taxes and pay real bills with it. Please hear a voice from a desperate tax payer and help change this.

The idea that corporations should have the rights of people but fewer responsibilities is a travesty. The slime that Super Pacs are foisting on Republican voters is a preview of the new low politics is sinking to. We need a Federal Law or a Constitutional Amendment to change this.

This petition has been requested due to lack of environmental consciousness of Oil Rigging "Experts" as well as the general lack of moral decency and foresight crude oil as a form of energy presents. We should aim our sights on electrical and solar hybrid vehicles. This petition aims to boycott the purchase of any new automobiles that run off of crude oil and promotes the growth of a different, more safe and economically suitable alternative in the automotive industry.

NBC's recent profile of online traffickers of assault rifles and weapons made for war exposed the fact that legislation to stop such sales put forward by NY democratic senator Charles Shumer(NY) has been languishing in committee for two years due to the NRA's large influence on capitol hill. Lets send a message to the Congress that this issue should take top priority before more inoc people are murdered.

The big banks have broken our hearts, our homes and torn our families and communities apart. Now the City of San Francisco is considering moving their money in to more community-serving institutions. We will deliver your signatures to the Board of Supervisors on Valentine's Day to tell them,it's time to break up with the big banks!

Stop the revolving door between corporations and our government representatives. No one should be allowed to move from a government position into any industry or business that they had helped to regulate or legislate for, for at least 5 years. And no one from a corporation or lobbying group should be able to move into a government job for 5 years. This would put a big dent in the corporate takeover of our government.

During the conservative CPAC this week, Fox News regular Cal Thomas, while discussing the recent health care issue of the policy of mandated contraception, made the following comment: "I’m glad that you played the Rachel Maddow clip because I think she is the best argument in favor of her parents using contraception. I would be all for that. And all of the rest of the crowd at MSNBC, too, for that matter." These types of comments degrade the political debate in this country. Whether or not you agree with Ms. Maddow's position, these types of public comments should be met with a response of overwhelming support for those who are denigrated.

Religious groups have until February 12, 2012 to move out of public schools and find their own venues of worship. These groups conduct services inside schools when classes are NOT in session, and is not catered towards the schools' students. The religious groups pay rent to the City of New York, and act as refuges for those who seek help. This does not go against the separation of Church and State in that the church has no influence in the state and vice versa for the state as well. Assembly Bill A8800 will give religious groups back the right to utilize school buildings during non-class hours. This bill must be passed as soon as possible. We do not have much time.

American Airlines declared bankruptcy recently and is now in the process of dropping retirees pensions, and benefits. This is legal under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws, which were changed under President Bush's 8 years in Office. Those of us who have worked faithfully for 30 years will now face the loss of our income or have it reduced by the Government Pension Insurance fund. Since this is another rule that allows Big Business to disregard human rights and steal Pensions it should be out-lawed by Congress and signed into law by the President.

This Petition is to every American, Muslim American and Arab American who lives in and cares about our beloved country, the United Sates of America and its people, to STAND UP AGAINST HATE AND BIGOTRY. In my over fifty years of living in this country, the country I love and where I raised my family, my children and grand children, to be loyal, law abiding and productive citizens, I have never been humiliated as much as I was when I was watching the Republican Debate in JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA on January 26th, 2012 As I watched the candidates RACING for the most accolades and most applause they can get by trashing AMERICAN MUSLIMS AND AMERICAN ARABS, I could not but create this petition to collect as many signatures of all concerned citizens as possible. Our target is a MINIMUM OF ONE MILLION SIGNATURES BY NOVEMBER 1st, 2012, To Present to The White House, The Congress as well as, The Republican and Democratic National Committees. As Senator SANTORUM, who did not miss an opportunity in any of the debates, including this one, MARKED AMERICAN MUSLIMS AS JEHADISTS AND EXTREEMISTS, As SPEAKER GINGRICH talked about the PALESTINIAN Arabs, as an INVENTED PEOPLE. It was the same Mr. Gingrich, who at the Islamic Institute of Thought, Washington, DC, IN FEBRUARY 2001, RAVED about the Fantastic Organization of the American Muslim Community, that led to President G.W. Bush's win OF the White House, in the NOVEMBER 2000 elections. As GOVERNOR ROMNEY , LASHED OUT so vigorously , to the REPUBLICAN PALESTINIAN AMERICAN QUESTIONER, AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN ARABS, wanting to destroy Israel, clearly unaware of the truths and details of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict. Nevertheless it was without a thought for Mr. Romney, Bash the Palestinians and get away with it. BIGOTRY and HATE has so transpired across the political spectrum at all levels, local and national that AMERICAN MUSLIMS and AMERICAN ARABS are INSULTED in every speech by BIGOTED POLITICIANS. BIGOTRY and HATE against the American Muslim and American Arab Community, HAS TO STOP ONCE and For ALL. The AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY CANNOT BE HELD HOSTAGE for the actions of the few, WHO EXIST IN EVERY RELIGION BAR NONE. THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN BY SIGNING THIS PETITION. The American Community MUST SHOW THAT POLITICIANS CANNOT AFFORD ANYMORE TO TRASH THE AMERICAN MUSLIMS OR the AMERICAN ARABS OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, OUR VOTES COUNT. The goal of this petition is to collect a minimum of ONE MILLION SIGNATURES by November 1st, 2012, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AGAINST BIGOTRY AND HATE against the AMERICAN MUSLIM AND AMERICAN ARAB COMMUNITY, once and for all. WE NEED TO SHOW THAT OUR VOTES COUNT. REMEMBER. Pass this on to Everyone you know. Morad Abou-Sabe‚ Ph.D. President, Arab American League Of Voters of NJ 470 Stockton St. Princeton, NJ 08540 [email protected]

The man or woman who have been convicted of a crime pays his or her debt to society, and then is released. This population needs jobs in order to sustain themselves. But, more and more companies discriminate against this section of society by denying jobs to those that have been incarcerated. This is a growing problem in this country, and must cease. Legislation is needed to help this group find work.