$$$ ruling political campaigns did not begin with Citizens United; it only exacerbated the evil. Our experiment in democracy will only survive if we demand 100% publicly funded elections. Plenty of local/regional models to follow. I'm with the MoveOn supporters who feel MoveOn should stop "putting out fires" and focus on reframing the debate: launch big bold campaign to capture the public imagination...100% publicly financed elections, for example...hire people who know how to message...otherwise we'll forever be the obedient serfs to giant corporations and their Madison Avenue minions.

My petition concerns removing Clarence Thomas from the Supreme Court for high crimes and misdemeanors, just one example being his failure to recuse himself in cases involving issues for which his wife is a lobbyist. People should sign this petition because the current makeup of the Court clearly has an activist right-wing bias. We need fairer judges who can recognize that corporations should not have the same rights as do people and the there is no basis in the Constitution for the "Citizens United" decision. We need an organization (or two) that can reach a national audience to lead this effort.

Our government is virtually (if not literally) run by the large corporations, out "elected" president having some bargaining power at best. A Republican supreme court passed this no doubt, at the behest of their backers. We need to take a stand and put our government into the hands of the people and this is but one small step back.

Scott Walker continues his assault on the rights of Wisconsinites. Now he's targeting the rights of same-sex couples to have the most basic and human of experiences - the ability to visit a loved one in the hospital. Let him know that hatred is not okay.

Our huge deficit is forcing terrible cuts across the country. Yet we are not addressing the root cause - out of control health care costs. Rather than bankrupt America, it is time to put for-profit health care out of its misery and give us the only rational way of controlling health care costs and cover all Americans.

Why is Mr. Thomas Drake, one of America's heroes and true patriots, being prosecuted and persecuted by the Obama administration? I am very concerned that we have become--not turning into--a police state. Here is the New Yorker article regarding Charges Against the N.S.A.’s Thomas Drake at: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/23/110523fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Something should be done about this. I realize that my lone voice is no more than a grain of sand on a large beach and can easily be considered insignificant and discounted by our politicians. But, nonetheless, this insignificant voice is shouting for a cause that affects every single voice and every single man, woman, and child--including our politicians--across this vast country of ours. If this shameful and unwarranted prosecution and persecution is allowed to proceed AND our public officials--our Dam of Freedom--whom we depend on to help safeguard our freedom and liberties remain timid and silent, then God Helps Us All! Tell our representatives and the Obama administration it's time to do the right thing and stop this prosecution of one of America's true and great patriots. A lone voice, Pierre Coupet

Autism is a word that is heard in Maine communities more today, than in latter years. Autism Research has significantly increased allowing families the understanding & tools needed to provide for their children with Autism, in a loving, supportive house hold network. Sadly, there is more research and awareness to be conducted, as the number of Maine children diagnosed with Autism increase. The solution involves funding. A Blue Ribbon Vanity Plate not only funds Autism awareness, treatment, and research, but also shows people within your community diagnosed with Autism that you care.

"Progress" in Hawaii means digging up burials, in this case for a septic leach field. See the arrest video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxCp48_rVss. Imagine your parents' or forebears' graves being dug up by a backhoe. Severing their connection to the past is the means to a culture's genocide. Kaiolani and James, acting with the authority of state and local law requiring cessation of digging when remains are found, put their bodies in front of the backhoe and were arrested for their brave act. Their court appearance is May 25.

To actually acheive true campain finance reform we must ban political advertising from TV. Without the heavy costs of television advertising the average costs for local, state and national election campagnes will be far less. The influence of non fact based advertising by annonomous groups is not only destructive to the political landscape, it is very expensive to counter. By banning political advertising on TV we minimize corporate interference with what should be only a citizens decision, opening the political landscape up to average citizens, no long making it necessary to have a huge bank roll. This would be true "Campain Finance Reform".

Senior citizens are petrified that Social Security and Medicare will no longer continue to be funded. There's an easy answer - eliminate the ceiling on contributions. If the fear is that businesses will employ fewer people if the ceiling is raised, then leave the cap on employer contributions. Someone making $200,000 or greater won't miss the 7.65 percent, the government won't have any reason to raid the fund, and it will continue indefinitely.

Nature is in decline -- clean air, drinkable water, rich soil, and countless species of plants and animals are all disappearing before our eyes. Both business and consumers are responsible. Many consumers are trying to mend their ways, but now business must do more. Business is the primary user of natural resources, and the waste it creates has a profound impact on the environment. We must ask the 5,300 companies that belong to the UN Global Compact to begin to measure their greenhouse has emissions and their water use and to publish the results annually in an environmental profit & loss statement. A few companies have already begun this practice, including sporting goods manufacturer Puma. Now we must ask all the members of the UN Global Compact to begin to put an accurate value on the environmental resources that they exploit in order to turn a profit.

Are you a trying to scrape together a living but can't scrape together enough for health care coverage? Do you have an idea that you would love to test the market with, but need the health insurance your current dead end job offers? Are you a doctor or hospital fed up with the byzantine payment rules of private and public health plans?