In its justly infamous decision known as "Citizens United," a majority of the current Supreme Court gave further legitimacy and power to the legal concept of "corporate personhood," whereby a corporation is to be treated under Federal law as having the same rights as an individual citizen. This concept does not appear in our Constitution, and it has a pernicious effect on our democracy.

Did you know that OCTOBER 20, 2011 is INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION DAY? I saw this while at the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union today. So I'm thinking what would happen if, say, in celebration, masses of people withdrew their money from the Big Banks and deposited it in their local credit unions? Wouldn't that register as a meaningful protest with potential heavy impact on the big banks? Wouldn't that mean lots and lots of new resources available to be invested locally? Just wondering. . . . . . . . .

I would like to start a petition giving myself an exemption to the 1934 Communications ACT and title 47 U.S.C. section 302 letter A & B. I have created a device that would jam a cell phone signal 3 to 5 feet inside a vehicle only when the vehicle is in operation.

Dixie Mitchell, a 71-year-old cancer survivor, and her husband, Luster, have owned their Seattle home for 44 years. This is the same home where the Mitchells raised their nine biological children and cared for fifty foster children, and the house was paid off in full in the mid-1980s. When Dixie needed some money to make home repairs and to help one of the foster children in her care, her bank advised her to refinance her home. Under the direction of the bank, she took out a loan that was promised would work for what she needed. But then, the loan was bundled and resold. Soon after, Luster, suffered a massive stroke that has left him paralyzed and unable to work. Because of the bank's changes to the loan, Dixie quickly fell behind on her payments. Without her husband's earnings, her monthly income is just $2,200 in Social Security and her monthly mortgage is $2,052. Despite Dixie's best efforts, the Mitchells home is set to be auctioned on October 28th and they have no place to go. All Dixie needs is a small modification to the loan and she'll be able to keep her house. The problem is that Ocwen Financial, who holds the loan, just won't budge. Not because they can't, but because they don't want to.

Governor Snyder will be rolling out his plan for infrastructure later this month. But, most of the dialogue has been about roads. While fixing our current system is important, we also need to acknowledge that strategic investments in rail, bus transit, and complete streets can help revitalize our cities and towns, reconnect people to jobs and opportunity, reduce transportation expenses, and reduce wear and tear our streets.

Detroit's Wayne State University President Allan D. Gilmour has moved to have the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies closed, with a final vote of the Board of Governors to be decided in December. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (where the Center resides), Robert Thomas, has given a directive to have a formal annual commitment of $177,000 as a pre-condition to withdraw its request for closure by a self-defeating deadline of October 21, 2011. We are intent on taking a collective stand on the import of keeping the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies open.

Taos is going through rough economic times. That means that tourists come less, buy less, and make decisions based upon their experience. Taos has a lot to offer, but litter isn't one of the good things. Encourage our town government to engage in radio public service announcements and enforce the laws about litter. To stop depending on its good hearted citizens to clean up after the inconsiderate. No one tells them not to litter. Clean up Taos and boost morale.

Joliet & Romeoville will soon be deciding whether to give a "Tax Break" to Midwest Generation's Coal plants by including them into the Desplaines Valley Enterprise Zone Their decision will affect all taxpayers Will County & in IL. Like the tollways we are still paying for something that should have been paid off years ago. Total impact of Local & State sales tax exemptions thru 2018 is estimated to be $1.2 Billion - IL is broke how can we afford to give their tax break. Midwest Gen wants a tax break to upgrade their facilities. Tax payers of IL have already paid for these upgrades & are still paying for the upgrades on these coal plants. Edison International, their parent company states they're more profitable than other like industry & that their assets total more than $36 billion. Let them pay the taxes. Enough is enough!

UofL hospital is merging with Catholic Health Initiative, Jewish Hospital, St. Mary’s Healthcare, and Saint Joseph Health System. Due to this, 70% of the hospital will now be under Catholic rule. Reproductive services will be altered due to this. Many basic procedures will no longer be available at the University hospital location. Tubal ligations, among other procedures will be moved to Baptist East, causing student training and client accessibility to be taken into question. Merger information: http://louisville.edu/ocm/hospital-merger.html

35% of America's workforce reports being bullied at work. Bullies intentionally subject the target to a hostile work environment. The toxic environments have an extremely adverse effect on the employee and also the organization. Laws compel employers to enact correction and prevention plans that will have a positive effect on individuals and businesses. The Healthy and Safe Workplace Act (H.B. 3015): http://tinyurl.com/HB3015

Our lakes are having toxic algae blooms... development and the human impact are the main culprits. And the data clearly shows long-term deterioration. It will take some time and education to turn this around. Ask the County to fund an increased community outreach plan. The monies are already there... collected by state law specifically for the protection of the environment in the Stillaguamish Clean Water District. Ask them to use it... or lose our lakes!

There is a place in New York, that is 1/3 real and 2/3 magical and it is about to disappear... unless we do something now. For 30 years it has nurtured artists writers, poets, but mostly musicians. It has a new landlord and he wants to triple the rent. We cannot fight him; he is too strong. The only way forward is to appeal to his better side and reason with him not to snuff the life out of this cherished haven of hope and encouragement for young artists. Our aim to urge our landlord not to increase our rent to an amount we can never come up with in 685 sq ft of space. We want to be fair to him and want him to be fair to us: All we are asking is that he charge us the fair market rent.