Many people in the United States (roughly 15 million) are desperate for meaningful work at a reasonable wage. Congress has worked on meaningless issues so far in 2011 and entirely neglected the most important issue to Americans; The creation of jobs. The goal of creating jobs MUST be the top priority for Congress. This should remain the top goal until the U.S is again financially strong and prosperous. Jobs create consumers. Consumers purchase additional items, thereby creating additional demand that requires additional workers to create additional supply to satisfy this additional demand. Consumers are the most important element in an economically prosperous and innovative society.  Business in general is absolutely helpless during depressed economic times. This has been conclusively demonstrated over and over throughout history. Corporations are motivated solely by profit. Business will always accept additional tax cuts, however, tax cuts do not generate additional consumer demand to allow the hiring of new employees. The Great Depression of the 1930's and our current Great Recession (which are very similar in economic terms) have proven beyond doubt the helplessness of business to cope with an economically depressed consumer base.  Republican leadership has nurtured the misconception that large corporations and very wealthy individuals are the 'job creators', therefore, they should pay little or no federal taxes to support our nation's economy (this also applies to taxes at the state and local level). This fallacy has become ingrained in the American psyche. Business sectors that add the most to job creation and the overall economic health of the nation should receive the greatest benefit of lowered taxes and tax incentives. This system should not and must not be based on the ability of paying millions of dollars to unfairly lobby Congress and obtain unneeded or undeserved 'special tax treatment'.  The American people must have the cooperation of Republican leadership in Congress in order to rebuild this country. The Republican leadership constantly talks about 'uncertainty in business'. This concept does not exist. Business simply expands or contracts during high or low consumer demand by reducing or adding work force, which in turn, tends to compound businesses difficulties and reduces bottom line profits. The issue that must be addressed is 'uncertainty of consumers'. Address this problem (through addition of well paying jobs) and the rest will fall into place. Government is the last line of defense. The business community cannot be counted on to lift the nation out of severe economic depression. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or. a better way to state this; Which came first, business or the consumer?  Let's look at corporations in general. GE paid no taxes; Goldman Sachs paid $14 million last year. The GAO reported in 2008 that “two out of every three United States corporations paid no federal income taxes from 1998 through 2005.” Companies have become all too astute at paying for loopholes which allow them to shift profits abroad, or move their gains (on paper) to foreign low-tax/no-tax nations.  Let's look at the overall tax payments corporations have made. As the figures below show, the change in corporate taxes — not merely rates, but what they actually paid — over the past half century is astounding. Large corporations reap tremendous benefit through lobbying the federal government, however, they tend to provide the least benefit to American society by way of revenue and job creation (large corporations currently generate 20% to 25% of all new jobs). Republican leadership has maintained for more than 30 years that giving more entitlements and tax breaks to large corporations will increase prosperity and create jobs. The results of this '30 year failed experiment' indicates the exact opposite.  Corporate profits have not been higher than current levels since 1955 (World War II post-war boom). Large corporate taxes have never been lower. Large corporate subsidies and incentives through loopholes and special tax considerations have never been higher. Corporations are now 'holding' over two trillion dollars in profits. That being said, the current rate of economic contribution to the nation's economic health and job creation in the U.S. by large corporations has not been lower since The Great Depression of the 1930's.  Corporate Taxes as a Percentage of Federal Revenue  1955......27.3%  2010 . . . 8.9%  Corporate Taxes as a Percentage of GDP  1955.......4.3%  2010 . . . 1.3%  Individual Income/Payrolls as a Percentage of Federal Revenue  1955.......58.0%  2010 . . . 81.5%  Anyone who is serious about closing the US deficit should consider the changes in what corporations pay in taxes and the rise of the deficit (which has directly caused the United State's ever increasing national debt).  President Obama has worked diligently and tirelessly to reduce the tax liability and meani...

Mr. President, members of Congress, We, the undersigned, understand the need to reduce the federal budget deficit. We disagree, however, with the means that are being proposed in order to achieve this. Since the beginning of the Great Recession, working class and middle class Americans have languished under pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs, reductions in retirement income, and subsistence upon meager unemployment checks. Now, these same Americans, who have shouldered the entirety of the Great Recession upon already overburdened shoulders, and of whom 25 million are still looking for work, are being asked to share the pain amongst themselves yet again, in the form of benefit cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, cuts to Education and our infrastructure. We believe that there is a better way, one which would not inflict more pain on an already beleaguered middle class. This plan would strengthen Social Security, reduce defense spending to 2001 levels, impose a carbon tax on big polluters, reduce the cost of health care, allow the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to expire, convert the mortgage interest deduction to a 15% tax credit, and have the Federal Reserve buy and hold $2 trillion in debt. It would reduce the deficit by $9.1 trillion over 10 years (compared with the Gang of Six’s $3.7 trillion deficit reduction plan), and reduce the public debt to 44% of GDP, from its current level of 70%. Social Security: In 1983, the Greenspan Commission called for an increase in the Social Security payroll tax to 12.4%, the gradual raising of the retirement age from 65 to 67, and the raising of the cap on wages that were subject to the Social Security tax to the 90th percentile of income. The first two changes were carried out. Over the last three decades, however, there has been a large redistribution of income upwards, and as such, only wages up to the 82nd percentile of income are currently subject to the Social Security tax. Those making more than $106,800 per year in wages pay no Social Security tax. We call for: *Raising the cap to the 90th percentile of income, which is equal to $180,000 a year. *The minimum benefit for low earners to be raised by up to 40%. This would increase Social Security’s revenues by $656 billion over a 10-year period. Defense: In 2001, the United States spent only 3.6% of GDP on Defense. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the broader war on terror, however, have now driven that level of spending up to 6% of GDP. We call for: *A reduction in our combined troop strength in Iraq and Afghanistan to 30,000 troops by 2013. *A reduction in our strategic nuclear force to 1,000 deployed weapons, and the restriction of missile defense development to those efforts most likely to succeed. *The withdrawal of one third of our troops stationed in Europe and Asia, a reduction in the total size of the Army, Marine Corps and Navy battle fleet by 18%, and a reduction in Air Force fighter wings from 16 to 14. *The cancellation or delay of various weapons systems currently in development which have faced cost overruns, and the substitution of cheaper weapons systems which are currently in existence and have similar capabilities. *A reduction of 6% in Research and Development. *Improving the efficiency of US Military bases. These changes would reduce the deficit by $2 trillion over 10 years. Environmental: We call for a Carbon tax of $23 per ton to be imposed, with the tax rising at the rate of 6% a year until 2050. Consumers would receive a partial rebate. This would reduce the deficit by $620 billion over 10 years. Health care: There are incredible cost inefficiencies in our health care system. If we had Canada’s universal health care system, we would have only a very minor budget deficit, leading to large yearly budget surpluses in the decades ahead. If we had Spain’s universal health care system, we would almost immediately have yearly budget surpluses. Both of these systems have resulted in life expectancies of 80 years for Canadians and Spaniards, nearly 3 years longer than average American life expectancies. To reduce the cost of health care and reduce the deficit, we call for: *The establishment of a Medicare-type public health insurance option in the health care exchanges, of the sort called for by the House of Representatives in 2009. *The negotiation of Medicare drug prices. *The globalization of Medicare and Medicaid, so that American expatriates would be able to buy into the universal health care systems of the foreign countries that they reside in using vouchers issued by Medicare and Medicaid, with the savings being split between that individual and the US federal government. These changes would reduce the deficit by $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Taxes: The tax burden of the wealthy has fallen significantly over the last three decades, even as their income has risen significantly faster than the incomes of middle-class Americans. In 1980, the top 1% riches...

Our country's forefathers left Europe due to it's caste system and it's strict laws, where they were jailed for being poor. They have sought to have a country where all people are “created equal” regardless of wealth, color or faith. Those same forefathers would be in shock and filled with disgust to see their descendants are worse off now … than they were then. Although mainly associated with India, the caste system originated in the dark ages, believed to be from Portugal and migrated with the explorers around the world. It is considered a major form of discrimination by the UNICEF and reports that at least 250,000 people are effected by it … but that number is far too low. The upper caste within organizations like this do not even have a clue as to the far reaching effect of todays caste system. After all, most of the upper level management are of that upper caste. This new caste system is subtle and overwhelmingly underestimated. It actually effects billions worldwide. Just in the US alone, according to the US Census of 2006, a full 25 % made below the poverty level that is almost 77,186,384. While 90% of the countries' wealth is controlled by a mere 20% of Americans. There is a huge and obvious gap in these extremes. So, UNICEF get your facts straight! There are about 300 times the published amount just in the US alone. But we eliminated discrimination in the sixties ... right? Not hardly … only whitewashed it to make it more acceptable. Today, blacks in the upper caste discriminate against the less wealthy of their own color; upper caste Hispanics, discriminate against their own color; and white upper caste just discriminate against everyone that is not their own. Why do civil right organizations not see this? Many do not believe we have a caste system, but just look at the facts! Our forefathers wanted to get away from the caste system, by establishing a free educational system free for all, one used by both wealthy and not so wealthy. Yet, if you go that route, you will probably not be accepted in the upper caste college systems. The poorer caste cannot go the upper caste schools except for a few “token” scholarships to the lower caste. The same thing happens with the caste system in India. At least they admit they have a caste system. The lower caste had better not play on their golf courses unless they are there to caddy. The poorer caste cannot even go to the same churches that the upper caste do. They feel unwelcome and for the most part they are unwelcome. The upper caste system and many of the lower caste do not even realize what they are doing. The lower caste are just being herded like sheep into their “proper place.” We looked down on those dark ages of America when we had a slave system, but look at the positive side of it. All of the laws, rules, regulations and guidelines they used were established in the Bible. They were provided a place to live, a full-time job, food, medical help as long as they worked hard for it. The only thing they really lacked was freedom. But do they have it today? Today, they are much worse off, even working very hard, they are often fired for no reason, driven out of their homes, torn from their families, abandoned by the health care establishments. Is that freedom? Only the wealthy have freedom. Today, we are under a new slave system called capitalism and race does not matter. Even the auctioneer and the slave block are back, but in disguise. These new slaves are auctioned off to abusive employers. Even worse than the previous slave auction, the new slave have to pay part of his hard earned moneys as auctioneers' fees and put himself up on the block … they call these slave auction blocks, “Temp Services” and “Employment Agencies”. This modern slave owners are worse than the 1850's, they are even unwilling to carry the poor slaves health care burden. Back then it just made good financial sense to make sure the slave was healthy enough to work. Instead, the slaves are lied to and promised the moon, but just before they have been there long enough to become employed permanently with any benefits, they are fired for no apparent reason. Then they go back to the auction block. It reminds me of the proverbial horse with a carrot attached to a pole string … intentionally out of reach. For the most part the American dream does not really exist. It is an illusion created by the upper caste system to make the little people or “sheep” dance the way the want them to dance. It is designed to lure sheep across borders, to get smuggled on ships, and to hide in vehicles crossing the border. The upper caste does not even want borders. They want one world government with open borders so they can get cheap labor without having the expense of relocating to Mexico. What has happened to the free country our ancestors established? It was taken over by the upper caste. They create illusions of democracy, freedom and the American dream. They gave faceless, greedy, co...

We are living at a critical time where we must address three monumental challenges before us: An accelerating climate change, biodiversity erosion and desertification resulting from an insatiable appetite of the capitalist economic system that is driving the planet’s environmental crises, The uprooting of millions from their homes and countries through oil wars, resource wars, and economic wars, creating an unprecedented migrant and refugee crises, A non-sustainable food and agriculture system that is contributing to soil degradation, climate change, and health crises. Major unsustainable petroleum and synthetic chemical-based industrial agriculture occupies 80% of arable land, generates 25-30% of the greenhouse gasses, but only produces 30% of the world’s food. This monoculture model, which increasingly uses genetically modified organisms (GMOs), risks worldwide food security issues and places unacceptable stresses upon human and soil health, biodiversity, and food products. Therefore, we proclaim that: The world food system based on oil, toxic chemicals, and GMOs largely functions within a complex socio-economic, political, cultural, and ecological complex that benefits large integrated-corporate interests, not farmers and not consumers. Corporate mandated agricultural practices threaten governments’ capabilities to meet their responsibilities to secure fundamental human rights for food access and health for their peoples enshrined in the universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of international law. Within industrialized nations, up to 1/3 of the total global warming effects have been attributed to current food production systems. Twentieth-century industrialized farming practices have transformed food systems from sustainable based and locally focused into a fossil fuel-based, addicted-to-GMO-crop-industrialized-systems with vast hydrocarbon intensive transportation distances from farm to plate. Industrial agricultural soils are in grave danger since on average they have lost 50% of their soil organic matter during the 20th Century. This loss reduces natural productive processes in the soil while the lost soil carbon has entered the atmosphere as carbon dioxide which may have contributed up to 100ppm of the total 400ppm currently present. Loss of soil carbon to the atmosphere takes away significant soil water holding capacity, further limiting crop survival during drought conditions as currently being experienced in the western U.S. and other vast arable areas in the world. Agricultural soils no longer serve as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide as has historically been the case. Research is required now to learn how to optimize soil carbon sequestration, a natural phenomenon that can help mitigate the miseries of climate change. Soils are in danger as described above, due to the persistent, annual applications of massive amounts of fossil fuel-based fertilizers and toxic pesticides that have increased in amounts and variety, especially over the last 20 years. Organic regenerative agricultural practices build up living carbon in soil, mitigates climate change, and has the potential to reduce the accumulated carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350ppm based on all farmland and rangelands shifting to regenerative practices. Therefore, we request your help and resolve: As citizens we will begin the transition from Oil to Soil in our everyday life by promoting organic farming and agro-ecological farming practices, local food outlets to support soil carbon sequestration, build living soils, and return seed integrity, seed ownership, and pride to local family farm enterprises, while respecting the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous communities, as well as creating healthy agricultural ecosystems for generations to come. We will spread awareness on the “true costs” of industrial agriculture and unnecessary use of chemical pesticides. We will work to ensure less tax money is used to subsidize a non-sustainable system that heats the planet, uses excess pesticides that harm human and environmental health, where soil carbon is lost, not sequestered. We will resist all attempts by giant corporations to use the climate crisis to expand their control over agriculture through “climate smart agricultural practices” and through GMO-based bio-piracy of the naturally climate-resilient crops that farmers have bred over the centuries. We ask you to support these concepts by encouraging, enacting, and supporting within your organization, campaigns, resources, actions, and opportunities that more clearly invoke the concepts embodied by the phrase “Soil Not Oil”. We will share this pledge with all the delegates of Cop 21. We will encourage all levels of government to pass legislation and take action in support of the Soil Not Oil Pledge. Original Authors: Dr. Vandana Shiva Dr. Ray Seidler Professor Miguel Altieri (Based on the 2015 Ric...

Seattle School Board John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence 2445 3rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134 Office of the Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones MS: 32-150  PO Box 34165  Seattle, WA 98124-1165 December 12, 2024 Dear Members of the Seattle School Board and Dr. Jones, We are writing to express our concern regarding the district's recent contract with Talkspace to provide mental health services for students. While we appreciate the district’s dedication to supporting student mental health, we question whether this partnership effectively aligns with the goals of the City of Seattle’s Executive Order on youth safety. Mayor Harrell has emphasized that, “students and young people need to feel safe to learn and grow,” and outlined a comprehensive approach to achieving this through investments in mental health care, improved safety, and community-based supports. In light of these objectives, we would like to ask: 1. How does the partnership with Talkspace specifically address the safety and well-being of students as outlined in the Executive Order? 2. What measures are in place to ensure that Talkspace’s virtual model provides meaningful, individualized care that fosters trust and emotional safety for students? 3. How will the district assess whether this partnership strengthens community-based supports, as prioritized in the Executive Order? 4. Given the emphasis on collaboration with schools and community partners, how was Talkspace chosen over local, nonprofit, or in-person mental health providers? 5. How will Talkspace’s services be monitored to ensure they deliver high-quality care that reflects the needs and voices of Seattle’s young people and their families? We understand the district’s claim that this program will give teens and young adults access to confidential, high-quality mental health support through Talkspace’s secure digital platform, addressing the urgent need for accessible mental health care amidst a youth mental health crisis. While this is an admirable goal, we are concerned about how Talkspace will achieve this given its questionable business practices: • Data Privacy and Confidentiality Risks: Talkspace has faced criticism for its handling of sensitive user data, raising doubts about its ability to provide truly confidential care. How can we ensure that students’ private information is fully protected on this platform? Even tech companies whose intentions may be to help children are now facing major litigation relating to their harmful data privacy violations. Schools and cities should be sure to read the fine print very carefully.(https://edtech.law/cases/nonconsensual-student-data-mining-powerschool-and-ixl-learning/) • Quality of Care: Talkspace’s model relies heavily on scalability and text-based communication, which often lack the depth and personalization required for effective mental health support. How will Talkspace ensure that each of the 55,000 students receives high-quality, meaningful care rather than generic, surface-level responses, especially in higher acuity circumstances? • Equity Concerns: Historically, digital platforms excluded students with limited internet access or technological proficiency. Today, marginalized communities face a new digital divide— they are most vulnerable to data privacy harms, excessive reliance on digital tech, and predatory business models. How will this program address these inequities? • Profit-Driven Model: As a for-profit company, Talkspace’s priorities may not align with the district’s goals. How will Seattle Public Schools hold Talkspace accountable to ensure its focus remains on the well-being of students rather than maximizing shareholder profits? • Lack of Transparency/Community Input: Many of us in the community were surprised by the announcement of this partnership. Was feedback solicited from parents, local organizations, and the larger mental health community? Were local concerns taken into consideration as part of the District's due diligence? • Issues with Other School Districts: https://studentprivacymatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Teenspace-Letter-2024.9.10.pdf Given the stakes, we strongly encourage the board to reconsider this partnership and explore alternatives such as expanding in-school counseling programs and working with trusted local mental health organizations and clinicians. Such solutions would better align with the district’s commitment to student safety, trust, and community engagement. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to your response.

SAVE THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE!!! Fort Lauderdale's Magnificient Rain Tree ("THE RAIN TREE") on the New River is a NATIONAL Treasure! In 1872 the Tree was Declared a Florida Champion for being the largest of its kind in the State and is perhaps the LARGEST OF ITS KIND in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES. The FORT LAUDERDALE Rain Tree is 60 FOOT HIGH (ABOUT FIVE STORIES HIGH!), The Crown at the is 127.5 Feet in Diameter! Rain Trees have the largest Crowns of Any trees on Earth! THE GIRTH OF ITS TRUNK IS 19.5 FEET! The Rain Tree is believed to be between 80 to 90 years old and to have been planted by City pioneers, it is located at 424 SW 4th Avenue on a 160 Foot Wide lot on the South Side of the New River, opposite Fort Lauderdale's Historic District and RiverWalk. WHAT IS A RAIN TREE: A Movie Star - The 200 Foot Wide Rain Tree was Featured in Walk Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson." In 1987 The Fort Lauderdale City Commission declared the "FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE" PROTECTED against REMOVAL or DAMAGE. A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD CONDOMINIUMS "Marina Lofts" ON THE LOT THE RAIN TREE LIVES ON, on the eco-sensitive New River, already home to multiple condominiums - many of which are in foreclosure and whose units are EMPTY. The RAIN TREE is Stunningly beautiful, Stunningly Large and can only truly be appreciated by standing beneath it under its giant crown. IT IS Supposed to be a PROTECTED tree!! The Developer wants to MOVE this tree to a too-small 90' lot next to a warehouse and away from the River. The Only Experts who say the Tree will survive a move are the EXPERTS BEING PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER. THE ONLY ONES WHO SAY THE TREE WILL SURVIVE the move itself and will survive on the too small lot the Developer plans to Move this tree too are the Experts Paid for By the Developer. THE CITY'S OWN ARBORISTS HAVE DELCARED THE TREE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE A MOVE and is too large to survive being transplanted to a 90 Foot Lot. The Previous Developer's Plan: NO TRANSPLANT. After a year of study he decided it was best to leave the Tree alone! IF THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE IS MOVED THE DEVELOPERS OF MARINA LOFTS ENDANGERS ITS EXISTENCE. THE CITY'S OWN ARBORISTS HAVE DELCARED THE TREE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE A MOVE and cannot thrive on a 90 foot lot, the crown will reach across the street and over neighboring buildings. There is just not enough room. FACT: The largest Tree EVER transplanted: In California "Old Glory" 23.5 feet NARROWER, 3 feet shorter, with a truck of abouit 3 to 4 feet smaller around than our Rain Tree. #Source: Guinness Book of World Records# THE Developer will Not alter his Plans to incorporate or include the tree in his plans for building another condominium. He will not entertain that the RAIN TREE be included as a valulable, viable, beautiful and life giving PART of his whole plan! And the Rain Tree is a Treasure. If he leaves the Rain Tree where it is with his Current plans the Rain Tree will have too much Shade, its enormous beautiful crown must have sunlight, and this will mostly likely result in the death of the Rain Tree. Unthinkable. PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE FORT LAUDERDALE CITY COMMISSIONION TO: 1. STAND BY THE WORD OF THEIR PREDECESSORS AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE RAIN TREE FROM REMOVAL OR DAMAGE OR WORSE. 2. DENY the developer permission to transplant this tree and endanger its life and encourage the Developer if he must build to build to incorporate the Rain Tree as an integral part of his plans. 3. ENSURE that the tree is well protected during any construction that may take place at or near the site. 4. ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTION GRANTED THIS TREE IS HONORED. The City of Fort Lauderdale once had 36 Protected Trees. IT NOW HAS only 12 LEFT - AND IF THE RAIN TREE IS MOVED, DAMAGED AND ITS HOME AND SUSTENANCE NOT PROTECTED - WE MAY BE DOWN TO 11! THIS IS NOT PROTECTION!!! THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE DESERVES THE PROTECTION IT HAS BEEN GRANTED. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST RAINTREES IN THE WORLD! Please sign this Petition to Save the Rain Tree, not Just for the City of Fort Lauderdale but for the Magnificient RAIN TREE that iT is, and possibly the Second Largest in the World. For ALL Trees. Please sign.

We, the undersigned citizens, public workers, and stakeholders of Yonkers, hereby call on Mayor Michael Spano to resign from office, effective immediately.

If the proposed bus bridge pitched by Amtrak takes effect it. That would lead to eventual termination of the Southwest Chief. It can lead to other routes to the point of the entire National network gone.

An open letter to the American public, media, and government challenging us all to take 3 actions to make our country safer for us and our children.

On July 15, 2011, GQ Magazine published an article by author John B. Thompson reviewing fashion in the United States titled, "40 Worst-Dressed Cities in America" and described Boston, MA as number one saying, "Due to so much local inbreeding, Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything." This remark demeans individuals with Down syndrome, who have a genetic diagnosis due to an error in cell division that is unrelated to inbreeding, and spreads inaccurate and prejudicial views about the 400,000 people with Down syndrome in the U.S. Let GQ editors and staff know you don't agree with this type of disability discrimination by signing this petition asking them to apologize for publishing a statement of diversity intolerance that compares people with Down syndrome and their extra chromosome to an undesirable social class like they say Bostonian's are due to their fashion choices.