These days, there are few issues that can unite Democrats and Republicans. However, here is one that concerns members of both parties and all potential voters. Willard Mitt Romney has refused to release his tax returns any time soon, despite calls from his opponents, from his supporters, and from the general public. Why should Romney supporters ask for this release? As Newt Gingrich pointed out in the second South Carolina debate, “If there’s anything in there that’s gonna help us lose the election, then we should know it before the nomination.” Romney said recently that releasing his tax returns now would be “a nice little present” for the Democrats. So how could Democrats pass up a gift now, and another in April when his 2011 returns are due? By waiting until April, when he’s said he’ll release his 2011 returns and maybe a few other select years to be determined, he’s avoiding potential controversy that could arise during the primary process, while his returns from 2010 and before are long finished and possibly damaging - or so he’s implying, by withholding them. There have been reports that Romney harbors much of his wealth in tax shelters on the Cayman Islands, which could bring his combined tax rate to a figure even lower than the 15% - the capital gains and dividends rate - he has claimed to pay. Even if his rate is in fact 15%, that’s considerably lower than that of Americans who earn a tiny fraction of his income. Other reports speculate that Romney may have been a leading player in the Mormon Church’s campaign to attack marriage equality in California, and his tax returns would reveal how much money he pumped into this initiative. And he still may not have paid taxes from many years ago, because of the “carried interest” loophole made possible by his private equity portfolio. A Man Out Of Touch Romney has called the $374,327 he made in speaker’s fees between February 2010 and February 2011 “not very much.” This is seven times the median household income in the United States, but only a small portion of Romney’s income - so to him, yes, this is a negligible amount of money. He has bet $10,000 on national television and admits that he likes to fire people. He thinks discussions about income inequality - about the rich, and the rest - can take place “in quiet rooms,” but not as part of a campaign. He thinks these discussions constitute the “politics of envy,” as opposed to a vital - possibly the pivotal - issue in the 2012 presidential campaign. Do the Great Recession and the nation’s drastically high unemployment rate have nothing to do with the vast wealth inequality in America? Shouldn’t a presidential candidate believe in addressing these issues with his voters? People have many questions for this man whose perspective on income appears disconnected from the reality of working-class Americans. It’s our right, as voters, to know how much money he’s making, what tax rates he’s paying, and where his donations are going. This disclosure will only begin to answer some of these questions. *Romney has announced that he'll release his 2010 returns, and an 'estimate' of his 2011 returns, on Tuesday, January 24. This is not nearly enough.

Don't shut down Picnik! It's the best photo editing site out there, especially for amateurs, and many will be lost without it! Picnik corporates, PLEASE don't shut down!

We ended the war in Iraq, and suddenly our economy is improving. Could it be a result of spending less money on war? The people of Afganistan are becoming more negative towards the U.S. Ending the war before the election could possibly completely turn around our economic position, and keep Obama in office.

Using a process that was seriously flawed, recommendations to close or merge a number of Catholic Parishes in and around the City of Detroit were made to Archbishop Allen Vigneron. The Archbishop will make the final decision on the recommendations. We are calling on Archbishop Vigneron to to save, not close or merge these Churches.

Many people do not vote for a third party candidate because they are afraid of wasting their vote. This is a method to avoid that.

Changing the way Congress runs

On September 11, 2009 Aaron Borrero received a unanimous recommendation for clemency from the Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board. The victim in his case supports his clemency petition and even spoke at his hearing in his behalf and still supports him. No one opposed his clemency petition. Governor Chris Gregoire denied his clemency request giving no reason for her decision. All at a time when the state is deeply in the red. Aaron has served 14 years and should be released so he can work and pay taxes instead of being a burden to taxpayers.

Lamar Smith has a new, even more terrifying bill called the "Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act", which would require ISPs to log ALL of your transactions you make online for up to 18 MONTHS on the premise of catching child pornographers.This bill far over-reaches even the danger level of SOPA and PIPA, and it has already passed through its committee. Below are relevant articles containing information about the bill: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.1981: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/08/the-legislation-that-could-kill-internet-privacy-for-good/242853/ This bill is in strong violation of the 4th Amendment's unlawful search and seizure writ, and should be immediately and permanently removed from the docket under such grounds. Other means of stopping child pornographers are readily available without having to treat every citizen as guilty by logging their internet behaviour and looking for "guilty" actions. This bill grants an utterly unreasonable amount of power to government agencies and ISPs to police through the elimination of personal privacy, and this is utterly unacceptable. Jayce Stock

It is in our agreement that Ron Paul is the only valuable candidate to our country in the presidential race and the only candidate that upholds the US Constitution. We want our politicians to seriously take a stand for liberty, end all these foreign wars that cost us lives and money and cut our national debt substantially with real plans. We're tired of talk of promises--we want action. We pledge to vote for Ron Paul in 2012, no matter who receives the GOP nomination. We are tired of how the media and the GOP has marginalized Ron Paul voters and unfairly treated his campaign. We will not vote for Obama, Romney, Gingrich, or Santorum.

Picnik, the ultimate photo editing site that is adored all over this globe is shutting down on April 19th. Unless we do something about it. Please, whether you've ever used it or not, or whether you're an avid photographer, or just stumbled onto this petition... PLEASE take the time to sign it. We WILL stop Picnik from shutting down. Let's get #savingpicnik trending on Twitter! Like "Saving Picnik" on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Saving-Picnik/281715701881836

The Department of Agriculture should be directed towards an organic future, with emphasis on concern for the health of the earth and its citizens.

A cell phone tower has been proposed for Brockway Mountain in Copper Harbor, Michigan. While we recognize the need to provide cell coverage to Michigan's northernmost community, particularly for emergency services, we believe that the proposed tower site and height of the tower should be reconsidered. In addition to being one of the most scenic locations in the Midwest--if not country--and a tourist destination to travelers of all ages and backgrounds, Brockway Mountain is the final stopping point for 14,000 raptors of 17 species, including bald eagles, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons, before traversing Lake Superior during their springtime migration. The peak of the proposed tower would loom nearly 750 feet above Lake Superior, 220 feet above the mountaintop. Instead of the familiar ridge line along the southern edge of the mountain, motorists traveling north on US-41 would be greeted by the tower's massive self-supporting prominence and flashing beacons. We agree with county officials, residents, and visitors that public safety should be priority number one. We submit, however, that emergency services and cell coverage in general can be provided to Copper Harbor and the surrounding area in a less invasive manner--to humans and wildlife alike--through a number of shorter towers located on nearby and less culturally significant hilltops and/or by other means. We ask that the proposed Brockway tower be relocated and height of the proposed tower be reconsidered before one of Michigan's great natural landmarks is compromised. Don't settle for the cheapest, easiest cell company offer. Please protect our treasure.