OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

Browse Popular Ideas

• Recent (4166)
• Popular (4166)

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  1184 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Remove Marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act

  Dear Mr. President, Please direct the DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule I and correctly classify it under the definitions that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) provides. You said in your press conference (after you released the ban on federal funds for stem-cell research) that you believed that science should dictate policy not politics and I respectfully request that you follow through with this pledge even ...more »

  Dear Mr. President,

  Please direct the DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule I and correctly classify it under the definitions that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) provides. You said in your press conference (after you released the ban on federal funds for stem-cell research) that you believed that science should dictate policy not politics and I respectfully request that you follow through with this pledge even on something so politically toxic as marijuana.

  Schedule I of the CSA specifically states that in order to be placed in this schedule I that the substance in question must have "no accepted medical use for treatment in the United States." Well... as of 1996 there are states that have accepted the medicinal uses of marijuana for treatment. Currently there are 13 states that have ACCEPTED the medical use for treatment therefore the current scheduling goes against the definition that was put into place.

  In 1970, when the CSA was established there were NO accepted uses for treatment in the US, so the initial scheduling was correct. In 1988, when Administrative Law Judge Francis Young ruled that the DEA was required to reclassify marijuana there again were no states that had accepted the use for treatment and therefore the DEA had due cause to ignore the recommendation. But after California ACCEPTED the medical use for treatment in 1996 the Scheduel I classification became incorrect soley based on the definition.

  Why does the Federal Government currently provide Medical Marijuana to 4 citizens of the United States for treatment of their illnesses while upholding the classification under "no medical use for treatment"? Isn't this a little hypocritical???

  « less full details »

  88 comments

  Submitted by DarthNole 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  1001 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Legalize Marijuana And Solve Many Tax Issues / Prison Issues

  To legalize marijuana would mean an end to the billions of wasted dollars fighting this "war on drugs". A war, that anyone who grew up in America and went to public schools, saw first hand was lost. Imagine taxation on an herb that has many positive potentials. It can be used to make food, clothes, rope, and hell, even money. To make it illegal costs far more money and it cuts out many potential benefits from it's legalization. ...more »

  To legalize marijuana would mean an end to the billions of wasted dollars fighting this "war on drugs". A war, that anyone who grew up in America and went to public schools, saw first hand was lost. Imagine taxation on an herb that has many positive potentials. It can be used to make food, clothes, rope, and hell, even money. To make it illegal costs far more money and it cuts out many potential benefits from it's legalization. Even dependency on cotton would be a thing of the past. So we should vote to end this prohibition, and give people their freedom back, a freedom removed roughly 90 years ago now. We could tax and control it much in the same way Alcohol is controlled. The mobsters lost their power in the 1930's when alcohol was legalized, so let's do the same to the Mexican cartels, the modern mobsters. Hemp For Victory!

  « less full details »

  162 comments

  Submitted by gbtorsion 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  894 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  End Imperial Presidency

  Leave the White House less imperial than you found it. Appoint an independent prosecutor to prosecute Bush, Cheney, and their top officials in order to deter in the future the crimes of aggressive war, misleading congress, defrauding congress, misspending funds, war crimes, murder, warrantless spying, torture, domestic propaganda, violations of the Hatch Act and the Voting Rights Act, obstruction of justice, misprision ...more »

  Leave the White House less imperial than you found it. Appoint an independent prosecutor to prosecute Bush, Cheney, and their top officials in order to deter in the future the crimes of aggressive war, misleading congress, defrauding congress, misspending funds, war crimes, murder, warrantless spying, torture, domestic propaganda, violations of the Hatch Act and the Voting Rights Act, obstruction of justice, misprision of felony, retaliating against whistleblowers, etc. Restore to Congress the power to legislate, the power to begin and end wars, the power to raise and spend money, the power to approve or reject treaties and appointments, and the power to oversee the functioning of the federal government including through the power of impeachment and the power of inherent contempt. That means no more signing statements rewriting laws, and instead support for legislation that would criminalize such behavior. And it means similar action on each of the other offenses.

  We, the people, must:

  Demand that Congress ban the use of funds for any activities created in violation of the law by presidential signing statements.

  Amend the Constitution to clearly ban the use of presidential pardons to pardon crimes authorized by the president.

  Amend the War Powers Act and the Constition to include the requirement that Congressional authorizations of war include time limits of no more than 12 months, after which Congress must vote again to extend the war or end it, to disallow the unconstitutional initiation of wars without Congressional approval, and to make the law enforceable.

  Make war profiteering by any war maker a major felony. This would apply to any employee of the federal government or anyone who had within the past decade been an employee of the federal government.

  Legislate a requirement that, in any war, the military aged children and grandchildren of the president, the vice president, all cabinet officials, and all Congress members serve on the front lines in the most dangerous combat positions -- no exceptions, no exemptions.

  Prohibit the use of mercenaries or any armed contractors, as well as the use of any military force on American soil except when directly engaged in defensive war against a foreign nation.

  Repeal the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the 2008 FISA Amendments Act, the Protect America Act, the original Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and the PATRIOT Act.

  Ban secret budgets, secret laws, and secret agencies.

  Change the Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster.

  Create a task force to research whether the Senate has ever served any useful purpose not better served by the House.

  End all rendition, as distinct from extradition.

  Amend the Constitution to make the ban on ex-post-facto laws include any laws that would retroactively grant immunity for crimes.

  Amend the Constitution to bar the vice president from exercising executive power.

  Amend the Constitution to clarify the congressional power of inherent contempt.

  Amend the Constitution to include the right to vote and to have one's vote counted publicly at the polling place.

  Give Washington, D.C., full voting representation in Congress.

  Amend the Constitution to ban private financing of campaigns, create public financing, and provide free air time to candidates.

  Sign and ratify the Rome treaty to join the International Criminal Court.

  *****

  OPTIONAL PART 2 OF THIS PROPOSAL - Drafted and withheld at first, posted May 29th in response to useful comments from ttahiti and many others posted below.

  Release more evidence, and support organizations suing in court for the release of evidence.

  Ask Congress to update and reissue the subpoenas that were refused during the 110th Congress, and to enforce them through inherent contempt.

  Support media reform and independent media outlets. Break up the monopolies. Invest in public media, including an E-Span election network to provide free substantive election coverage.

  Advance a long-term vision in which the corrupting influences of money, media, and party are restrained, and our rights are restored, enforced, and expanded, including the right to vote and to have our votes counted publicly and locally, equal rights for all, environmental rights, the right to education and healthcare, worker rights, the right to basic welfare, freedom of press, freedom from war lies, and the right to know your rights.

  Push for approval, ratification, and enforcement of international human rights treaties. Build toward Constitutional amendments or a convention with a plan to establish the right to know the laws and to have them applied equally, a ban on signing statements, whistleblowers protected, inherent contempt established, corporations stripped of human rights, monopolies restricted, clean campaign money and free media created, the power of parties reduced, nonpartisan (not bipartisan) redistricting, limiting election seasons, no more electoral college, a bigger House with no Senate, the right to be represented, no appointing of senators, limiting terms for judges, requiring a balanced budget, limiting bills to single topics and requiring clarity, allowing legislation by public initiative, allowing recall elections, creating citizen assemblies, and developing a fourth (people's) branch of government.

  « less full details »

  231 comments

  Submitted by david 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  797 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Stop the "War on Drugs"

  The “War on Drugs” is a war on us, the American people. 30% of Americans use or have used illicit drugs. Those who are prosecuted and imprisoned, however, are by far and away the poor, the disabled, the disenfranchised, the Black and Hispanic, the men in our communities, who cannot parent their children because they are in prison, who will be denied forever the right to vote because they went to prison. The last President ...more »

  The “War on Drugs” is a war on us, the American people. 30% of Americans use or have used illicit drugs. Those who are prosecuted and imprisoned, however, are by far and away the poor, the disabled, the disenfranchised, the Black and Hispanic, the men in our communities, who cannot parent their children because they are in prison, who will be denied forever the right to vote because they went to prison. The last President of the United States never denied that he used illegal drugs. Hard drugs. Was he prosecuted? Of course not. Was he imprisoned? Don’t be silly. Was he denied the right to vote, or to contribute to society? Was he denied the ability to raise his children? Of course not. Has the “War on Drugs” created a “drug-free” society? No. Has it kept drugs from the reach of our youngsters? Not remotely. Drugs are everywhere, as available as they have ever been. It has, however, created a society in which young Black men in America are far more likely to go to prison than to college. A society in which drugs and violence are on every corner. In which the police are powerless to do their job and have declared war on our communities and our children as a consequence. IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN HAVE MORE TO FEAR FROM THE POLICE THAN FROM GANGS AND DRUG DEALERS. The “War on Drugs” is killing us. The “War on Drugs” is a war on us. STOP THE WAR ON DRUGS.

  « less full details »

  27 comments

  Submitted by bre2002 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  753 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Government Operations More Open »

  Support a 72-Hour Mandatory Public Review Period on Major Spending Bills

  In effort to help eliminate billions of dollars in wasteful spending, I recently announced my support for a 72-hour mandatory minimum public review period on all major spending bills brought before Congress. This 72-hour review proposal, which would help to prevent taxpayer-funded outrages such as the empty “Airport for No One” in the congressional district of Democratic Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and huge bonuses for AIG ...more »

  In effort to help eliminate billions of dollars in wasteful spending, I recently announced my support for a 72-hour mandatory minimum public review period on all major spending bills brought before Congress. This 72-hour review proposal, which would help to prevent taxpayer-funded outrages such as the empty “Airport for No One” in the congressional district of Democratic Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and huge bonuses for AIG executives, is a reform proposal that been advocated by nonpartisan organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a coalition of reform-minded state legislators, and the pro-transparency Sunlight Foundation.

  If the Administration chose to support such a review, and follow through on its own promise to allow for five days of public comment on all bills before signing, it would represent a good first step toward greater transparency and accountability in government spending.

  Find more information at http://gopleader.gov

  « less full details »

  125 comments

  Submitted by republicanleaderjohnboehner 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  668 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  TAKE BACK THE POWER TO CREATE MONEY FROM THE PRIVATE BANKING INDUSTRY

  The Constitution states, “Congress shall have the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof.” This power has been abdicated to private bankers. Today, 99.99% of our money is created by private banks when they make loans. This includes the Federal Reserve, a private banking corporation, which orders Federal Reserve Notes to be printed, and then lends them to the U.S. government. Only coins are actually created ...more »

  The Constitution states, “Congress shall have the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof.” This power has been abdicated to private bankers. Today, 99.99% of our money is created by private banks when they make loans. This includes the Federal Reserve, a private banking corporation, which orders Federal Reserve Notes to be printed, and then lends them to the U.S. government. Only coins are actually created by the government itself. Coins compose only about 1-10,000th of the M3 money supply, and Federal Reserve Notes compose about 3% of it. All of the rest is created by banks as loans, something they do by simply writing numbers into accounts.

  Congress could take back the power to create the national money supply by:

  (a) Nationalizing the Federal Reserve.

  (b) Reviving the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, a government-owned lending facility used by Roosevelt to fund the New Deal. Rather than merely recycling borrowed money as Roosevelt did, however, the RFC could actually create credit on its books, in the same way that banks do it today, by fanning its capital base into many times that sum in loans. Assuming $300 billion is left of the TARP money approved by Congress last fall, this money could be deposited into the RFC and leveraged into $3 trillion in loans. That’s based on a 10% reserve requirement. If the money were counted as capital, at an 8% capital requirement it could be leveraged into 12.5 times the original sum. That would be enough to fund not only President Obama’s stimulus package but many other programs that are desperately short of funding now.

  Many references are available which will be furnished on request. See generally www.webofdebt.com/articles.

  « less full details »

  141 comments

  Submitted by ellenhbrown 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  642 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Government Operations More Open »

  Federal Whistleblower Protection

  292 Organizations and Corporations Support Swift Action to Restore Strong, Comprehensive Whistleblower Rights May 14, 2009 An Open Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress The undersigned organizations and corporations write to support the completion of the landmark, nine-year legislative effort to restore credible whistleblower rights for government employees. We offer our support to expeditiously pass legislation ...more »

  292 Organizations and Corporations Support Swift Action to Restore Strong, Comprehensive Whistleblower Rights

  May 14, 2009

  An Open Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress

  The undersigned organizations and corporations write to support the completion of the landmark, nine-year legislative effort to restore credible whistleblower rights for government employees. We offer our support to expeditiously pass legislation that includes the critical reforms listed below. Whistleblower protection is a foundation for any change in which the public can believe. It does not matter whether the issue is economic recovery, prescription drug safety, environmental protection, infrastructure spending, national health insurance, or foreign policy. We need conscientious public servants willing and able to call attention to waste, fraud and abuse on behalf of the taxpayers.

  Unfortunately, every month that passes has very tangible consequences for federal government whistleblowers, because none have viable rights. Last year, on average, 16 whistleblowers a month lost initial decisions from administrative hearings at the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Since 2000, only three out of 53 whistleblowers have received final rulings in their favor from the MSPB. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the only court which can hear federal whistleblower appeals of administrative decisions, has consistently ruled against whistleblowers, with whistleblowers winning only three cases out of 209 since October 1994 when Congress last strengthened the law.

  It is crucial that Congress restore and modernize the Whistleblower Protection Act by passing all of the following reforms:

  • Grant employees the right to a jury trial in federal court;

  • Extend meaningful protections to FBI and intelligence agency whistleblowers;

  • Strengthen protections for federal contractors, as strong as those provided to DoD contractors and grantees in last year’s defense authorization legislation;

  • Extend meaningful protections to Transportation Security Officers (screeners);

  • Neutralize the government’s use of the “state secrets” privilege;

  • Bar the MSPB from ruling for an agency before whistleblowers have the opportunity to present evidence of retaliation;

  • Provide whistleblowers the right to be made whole, including compensatory damages;

  • Grant comparable due process rights to employees who blow the whistle in the course of a government investigation or who refuse to violate the law; and

  • Remove the Federal Circuit’s monopoly on precedent-setting cases.

  We know you share the commitment of every group signing the letter below to more transparency and accountability in government. Please let us know how we can participate to make this good government reform law to protect federal whistleblowers and taxpayers.

  Sincerely,

  Marcel Reid, Chair

  ACORN 8

  Adele Kushner, Executive Director

  Action for a Clean Environment

  David Swanson, co-founder

  AfterDowningStreet

  Pamela Miller, Director

  Alaska Community Action on Toxics

  Dan Lawn, President

  Alaska Forum on Environmental Responsibility

  Cindy Shogun, Executive Director

  Alaska Wilderness League

  Ruth Caplan

  Alliance for Democracy

  Susan Gordon, Director

  Alliance for Nuclear Accountability

  Rochelle Becker, Executive Director

  Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility

  Gil Mileikowsky, M.D.

  Alliance for Patient Safety

  Linda Lipsen, Senior Vice President for Public Affairs

  American Association for Justice (AAJ)

  Mary Alice Baish, Director, Government Relations Office

  American Association of Law Libraries

  F. Patricia Callahan, President and General Counsel

  American Association of Small Property Owners

  John W. Curtis, Ph.D., Director of Research and Public Policy

  American Association of University Professors

  Christopher Finan, president

  American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression

  Caroline Fredrickson, Director, Washington Legislative Office

  American Civil Liberties Union

  Michael D. Ostrolenk

  American Conservative Defense Alliance

  Dr. Paul Connett, Executive Director

  American Environmental Health Studies Project, Inc.

  John Gage, National President

  American Federation of Government Employees

  Charles M. Loveless, Director of Legislation

  American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

  Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary

  American Friends Service Committee

  Caitlin Love Hills, National Forest Program Director

  American Lands Alliance

  Jessica McGilvray, Assistant Director

  American Library Association

  Tom DeWeese, President

  American Policy Center

  Alexandra Owens, Executive Director

  American Society of Journalists and Authors

  Charlotte Hall, President

  American Society of Newspaper Editors

  Patricia Schroeder, President and CEO

  Association of American Publishers

  Prudence Adler, Associate Executive Director

  Association of Research Libraries

  Ms. Bobbie Paul, Executive Director

  Atlanta WAND (Women's Action for New Directions)

  Samuel H. Sage, President

  Atlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc.

  Jay Stewart, Executive Director

  Better Government Association

  Jay Feldman, Executive Director

  Beyond Pesticides

  Matthew Fogg, First Vice-President

  Blacks in Government

  Chip Pitts, President

  Bill of Rights Defense Committee

  Diane Wilson, President

  Calhoun County Resource Watch

  Jane Williams, Executive Director

  California Communities Against Toxics

  Peter Scheer, Executive Director

  California First Amendment Association

  Terry Franke, Executive Director

  Californians Aware

  Reece Rushing, Director of Regulatory and Information Policy

  Center for American Progress

  William Snape, Senior Counsel

  Center for Biological Diversity

  Charlie Cray, Director

  Center for Corporate Policy

  Gregory T. Nojeim, Senior Counsel and

  Director, Project on Freedom, Security & Technology

  Center for Democracy and Technology

  J. Bradley Jansen, Director

  Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights

  Joseph Mendelson III, Legal Director

  Center for Food Safety

  Paul Kurtz, Chairman

  Center for Inquiry

  Robert E. White, President

  Center for International Policy

  Lawrence S. Ottinger, President

  Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest

  Merrill Goozner, Director

  Integrity in Science

  Center for Science in the Public Interest

  John Richard

  Center for Study of Responsive Law

  Linda Lazarus, Director

  Center to Advance Human Potential

  Craig Williams, Director

  Chemical Weapons Working Group & Common Ground

  Phil Fornaci, Counselor

  C.H.O.I.C.E.S.

  Leonard Akers

  Citizens Against Incineration at Newport

  Evelyn M. Hurwich, President and Chair

  Circumpolar Conservation Union

  David B. McCoy, Executive Director

  Citizen Action New Mexico

  Doug Bandow, Vice President for Policy

  Citizen Outreach

  Deb Katz, Executive Director

  Citizens Awareness Network

  Barbara Warren, Executive Director

  Citizens' Environmental Coalition

  Elaine Cimino

  Citizens for Environmental Safeguards

  James Turner, Chairman of the Board

  Citizens for Health

  Michael McCormack, Executive Director

  Citizens for Health Educational Foundation

  Gerard Beloin

  Citizens for Judicial Reform

  Laura Olah, Executive Director

  Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger

  Anne Hemenway, Treasurer

  Citizen's Vote, Inc.

  Rick Piltz

  Climate Science Watch

  John Judge

  Coalition on Political Assassinations

  9/11 Research Project

  Zena Crenshaw, 2nd Vice-Chair

  3.5.7 Commission on Judicial Reform

  Sarah Dufendach, Vice President for Legislative Affairs

  Common Cause

  Greg Smith, Co-Founder

  Community Research

  Clarissa Duran, Director

  Community Service Organization del Norte

  Neil Cohen, Publisher

  Computer Law Reporter, Inc.

  Joni Arends, Executive Director

  Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety

  Lokesh Vuyyuru, MD, Founder

  Concerned Citizens of Petersburg

  Daniel Hirsch, Member, Executive Committee

  Concerned Foreign Service Officers

  Matthew Fogg, President

  Congress Against Racism & Corruption in Law Enforcement (CARCLE)

  Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities

  Consumer Action

  Ellen Bloom, Director of Federal Policy

  Ami Gadhia, Policy Counsel

  Consumers Union

  Bob Shavelson, Director

  Cook Inlet Keeper

  Neil Takemoto, Director

  CoolTown Betta Communities

  Tonya Hennessey, Project Director

  CorpWatch

  Louis Wolf, Co-Founder

  CovertAction Quarterly

  John Issacs, Executive Director

  Council for a Livable World

  Anne Weismann, Chief Counsel

  CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

  Cathy Harris, Founder, Executive Director

  Customs Employees Against Discrimination Association

  Miho Kim, Executive Director

  DataCenter

  Mary Elizabeth Beetham, Director of Legislative Affairs

  Defenders of Wildlife

  Sue Udry, Director

  Defending Dissent Foundation

  Bob Fertik, President

  Democrats.com

  Paul E. Almeida, President

  Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO

  Courtney Dillard, Founder

  Dillard-Winecoff Boutique Hotel

  Ben Smilowitz, Director

  Disaster Accountability Project

  Dr. Patrick Campbell

  Doctors against Fraud

  Dr. Disamodha Amarasinghe

  Doctors for National Healthcare

  James J. Murtagh, Jr., President

  Doctors for Open Government

  Dr. John Raviotta

  Doctors for Reform of JCAHO

  Marco Simons, Legal Director

  EarthRights International

  Bruce Baizel, Senior Staff Attorney

  Earthworks

  Larry Chang, Founder

  EcolocityDC

  Thea Harvey, Executive Director

  Economists for Peace and Security

  Lisa Walker, Executive Director

  Education Writers Association

  Mike Ewoll, Founder and Director

  Energy Justice Network

  Gregory Hile

  EnviroJustice

  Chuck Broscious, President

  Environmental Defense Institute

  Carol Werner

  Environmental and Energy Study Institute

  Judith Robinson, Director of Programs

  Environmental Health Fund

  Eric Shaeffer, Executive Director

  Environmental Integrity Project

  Peter Montague, Ph.D, Director

  Environmental Research Foundation

  Jason Zuckerman

  The Employment Law Group

  Rob Weissman

  Essential Information

  George Anderson

  Ethics in Government Group (EGG)

  Bob Cooper

  Evergreen Public Affairs

  Gabe Bruno

  FAA Whistleblowers Alliance

  Robert Richie, Executive Director

  FairVote

  Janet Kopenhaver, Washington Representative

  Federally Employed Women (FEW)

  Steven Aftergood, Project Director

  Federation of American Scientists

  Marilyn Fitterman, Vice President

  Feminists for Free Expression

  Ellen Donnett, Administrative Director

  Fluoride Action Network

  Andrew D. Jackson

  Focus-On-Indiana for Judicial Reform

  Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director

  Food and Water Watch

  Bob Darby, Coordinator

  Food Not Bombs/Atlanta

  Andy Stahl

  Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE)

  Tom Ferguson

  Foundation for Global Community/Atlanta

  Ruth Flower, Legislative Director

  Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers)

  Brent Blackwelder, President

  Friends of the Earth

  Conrad Martin, Executive Director

  Fund for Constitutional Government

  Gail Naftalin, Owner

  Gail’s Vegetarian Catering

  Karyn Jones, Director

  G.A.S.P

  Gwen Marshall, Co-Chairman

  Georgians for Open Government

  Neil Tangri

  Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance

  Denny Larson, Executive Director

  Global Community Monitor

  Reede Stockton

  Global Exchange

  Paul F. Walker, Ph.D., Legacy Program Director

  Global Green USA

  (The US Affiliate of Green Cross International, Mikhail Gorbachev, Chairman)

  Bill Owens, President

  The Glynn Environmental Coalition

  Tom Devine, legal director

  Government Accountability Project

  Bill Hedden, Executive Director

  Grand Canyon Trust

  Molly Johnson, Area Coordinator

  Grandmothers for Peace, San Luis Obispo County Chapter

  Alexis Baden-Mayer

  Grassroots Netroots Alliance

  Luci Murphy

  Gray Panthers of Metropolitan Washington

  Alan Muller

  Green Delaware

  Jenefer Ellingston

  Green Party of the United States

  Tracy Frisch

  Greenwich Citizens Committee

  James C. Turner, Executive Director

  HALT, Inc. -- An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform

  Tom Carpenter, Executive Director

  Hanford Challenge

  Arthur S. Shoor, President

  Healthcare Consultants

  Helen Salisbury, M.D.

  Health Integrity Project

  Vanessa Pierce, Executive Director

  Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah)

  Gerry Pollet

  Heart of America Northwest

  Ernie Reed, Council Chair

  Heartwood

  Liz Havstad, Chief of Staff

  Hip Hop Caucus

  Doug Tjapkes, President

  Humanity for Prisoners

  Keith Robinson, Interim President

  Indiana Coalition for Open Government

  Scott Armstrong, Executive Director

  Information Trust

  Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D., President

  Institute for Energy and Environmental Research

  Brenda Platt, Co-Director

  Institute for Local Self-Reliance

  Donald Soeken, President

  Integrity International

  Michael McCray, Esq., Co-Chair

  International Association of Whistleblowers

  Mory Atashkar, Vice President

  Iranian American Democratic Association

  Mark S. Zaid

  James Madison Project

  John Metz, Executive Director

  JustHealth

  Brett Kimberlin, Director

  Justice Through Music

  Elizabeth Crowe, Director

  Kentucky Environmental Foundation

  Tom FitzGerald, Director

  Kentucky Resources Council, Inc.

  Kit Wood, Owner

  Kit’s Catering

  James Love

  Knowledge Ecology International

  Josephine Carol Cicchini

  LeapforPatientSafety

  Jonathon Moseley, Executive Director

  Legal Affairs Council

  James Plummer

  Liberty Coalition

  Greg Mello, Executive Director

  Los Alamos Study Group

  Dr. Janette Parker

  Medical Whistleblower

  Ayize Sabater, Organizer

  Mentors of Minorities in Education's Total Learning Cic-Tem

  Jill McElheney, Founder

  Micah's Mission

  Ministry to Improve Childhood & Adolescent Health

  Ellen Smith, Owner and Managing Editor

  Mine Safety and Health News

  Mary Treacy, Executive Director

  The Minnesota Coalition on Government Information

  Helen Haskell

  Mothers Against Medical Error

  Mark Cohn, President

  MPD Productions, Inc.

  James Landrith, Founder

  The Multiracial Activist

  Larry Fisher, Founder

  National Accountant Whistleblower Coalition

  Tinsley H. Davis, Executive Director

  National Association of Science Writers

  Jim L. Jorgenson, Deputy Executive Director

  National Association of Treasury Agents

  Dominick DellaSala, Ph.D., Executive Director of Programs and Chief Scientist

  National Center for Conservation Science & Policy

  Joan E. Bertin, Esq., Executive Director

  National Coalition Against Censorship

  Eileen Dannemann, Director

  National Coalition of Organized Women

  Russell Hemenway, President

  National Committee for an Effective Congress

  Sally Greenberg, Executive Director

  National Consumers League

  Terisa E. Chaw, Executive Director

  National Employment Lawyers Association

  Andrew Jackson

  National Judicial Conduct and Disability Law Project, Inc.

  Kim Gandy, President

  National Organization for Women

  Paul Brown, Government Relations Manager

  National Research Center for Women & Families

  Sibel Edmonds, President and Founder

  National Security Whistleblowers Coalition

  Pete Sepp, Vice President for Policy & Communications

  National Taxpayers Union

  Colleen M. Kelley, National President

  National Treasury Employees Union

  Steve Kohn, President

  National Whistleblower Center

  Amy Allina

  National Women's Health Network

  Lewis Maltby, President

  National Workrights Institute

  Terrie Smith, Director

  National Nuclear Workers For Justice

  Tim Hermach, President

  Native Forest Council

  Doug Kagan, Chairman

  Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom

  Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director

  NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

  Ron Marshall, Chairman

  New Grady Coalition

  Rick Engler, Director

  New Jersey Work Environment Council

  Douglas Meiklejohn, J.D., Executive Director

  New Mexico Environmental Law Center

  Caroline Heldman Ph.D., Director

  New Orleans Women’s Shelter

  Marsha Coleman-Abedayo, Chair

  No FEAR Coalition

  Nina Bell, J.D., Executive Director

  Northwest Environmental Advocates

  Alice Slater, Director

  Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, New York

  David A. Kraft, Director

  Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS)

  Michael Mariotte, Executive Director

  Nuclear Information and Resource Service

  Jay Coghlan, Executive Director

  Nuclear Watch New Mexico

  Gwen Lachelt, Executive Director

  Oil & Gas Accountability Project

  Sean Moulton, Director, Federal Information Policy

  OMB Watch

  Nikuak Rai, Arts Director

  One Common Unity

  Rob Kall

  Op Ed News

  Patrice McDermott, Executive Director

  OpenTheGovernment.org

  Paul Loney, President

  Oregon Wildlife Federation

  Ellen Paul, Executive Director

  The Ornithological Council

  Joe Carson, Chair

  P. Jeffrey Black, Co-Chair

  OSC Watch Steering Committee

  Judy Norsigian, Executive Director

  Our Bodies Ourselves

  Betsy Combier, President and Editor

  Parentadvocates.org

  Ashley Katz, MSW, Executive Director

  Patient Privacy Rights

  Blake Moore

  Patient Quality Care Project

  Dianne Parker

  Patient Safety Advocates

  Former Special Agent Darlene Fitzgerald

  Patrick Henry Center

  Paul Kawika Martin, Organizing, Political and PAC Director

  Peace Action & Peace Action Education Fund

  Bennett Haselton, Founder

  Peacefire.org

  Rev. Paul Alexander, Ph.D., Director

  Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice

  Michael McCally, MD, PhD, Executive Director

  Physicians for Social Responsibility

  Dale Nathan, J.D., President

  POPULAR, Inc.

  Vina Colley, President

  Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security (PRESS)

  David Banisar, Director, FOI Project

  Privacy International

  Evan Hendricks, Editor/Publisher

  Privacy Times

  Robert Bulmash, President

  Private Citizen, Inc.

  Ronald J Riley, President

  Professional Inventor's Alliance

  Dr. Paul Lapides

  Professors for Integrity

  Tim Carpenter, Director

  Progressive Democrats of America

  Danielle Brian, Executive Director

  Project On Government Oversight

  Ellen Thomas, Executive Director

  Proposition One Committee

  David Arkush, Director, Congress Watch

  Public Citizen

  Jeff Ruch, Executive Director

  Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

  Robert L. FitzPatrick, President

  Pyramid Scheme Alert

  Dr. Diana Post, President

  Rachel Carson Council, Inc.

  Lucy A. Dalglish, Executive Director

  The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

  Kirsten Moore, President and CEO

  Reproductive Health Technologies Project

  Tim Little, Executive Director

  Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment

  John W. Whitehead, president

  The Rutherford Institute

  Adrienne Anderson, Coordinator

  Safe Water Colorado and Nuclear Nexus Projects

  Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center

  (Whistleblower Anderson v Metro Wastewater)

  Angela Smith, Coordinator

  Seattle Healthy Environment Alliance (Seattle HEAL)

  Dr. Blake Moore, President

  The Semmelweis Society International (SSI)

  Rufus Kinney

  Serving Alabama's Future Environment (SAFE)

  Ed Hopkins, Director of Environmental Quality Program

  Sierra Club

  Shane Jimerfield, Executive Director

  Siskiyou Project

  Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director

  1Sky

  Andrea Shipley, Executive Director

  Snake River Alliance

  Matthew Petty, Executive Director

  The Social Sustenance Organization

  Dave Aekens, National President

  Society of Professional Journalists

  Laureen Clair

  SOL Communications Inc

  Amy B. Osborne, President

  Southeastern Chapter of the American Association of Law Libraries

  Don Hancock, Director of Nuclear Waste Safety Program

  Southwest Research and Information Center

  Donna Rosenbaum, Executive Director

  S.T.O.P. - Safe Tables Our Priority

  Mauro Oliveira

  StopClearCuttingCalifornia.org

  Kevin Kuritzky

  The Student Health Integrity Project (SHIP)

  Daphne Wysham, Co-Director

  Sustainable Energy and Economy Network (SEEN)

  Jeb White, Executive Director

  Taxpayers Against Fraud

  Alec McNaughton

  Team Integrity

  Ken Paff, National Organizer

  Teamsters for a Democratic Union

  Thad Guyer, Partner

  T.M. Guyer & Ayers & Friends

  Peter Barnes

  Tomales Bay Institute

  Marylia Kelley, Executive Director

  Tri-Valley CAREs

  Communities Against a Radioactive Environment

  Paul Taylor

  Truckers Justice Center

  Francesca Grifo, Ph.D., Director

  Scientific Integrity Program

  Union of Concerned Scientists

  Dane von Breichenruchardt, President

  U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation

  Dr. Joseph Parish

  U.S. Environmental Watch

  Gary Kalman, Director, Federal Legislative Office

  U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S.PIRG)

  Nick Mangieri, President

  Valor Press, Ltd.

  Brad Friedman, co-founder

  Velvet Revolution

  Dr. Jeffrey Fudin, Founder

  Veterans Affairs Whistleblowers Coalition

  Sonia Silbert, Co-Director

  Washington Peace Center

  Nada Khader, Foundation Director

  WESPAC Foundation

  Janine Blaeloch, Director

  Western Lands Project

  Gloria G. Karp, Co-Chair

  Westchester Progressive Forum

  Greg Costello, Executive Director

  Western Environmental Law Center

  Mabel Dobbs, Chair

  Livestock Committee

  Western Organization of Resource Councils

  Ann Harris, Executive Director

  We the People, Inc

  Janet Chandler, Co-Founder

  Whistleblower Mentoring Project

  Dan Hanley

  Whistleblowing United Pilots Association

  Linda Lewis, Director

  Whistleblowers USA

  John C. Horning, Executive Director

  WildEarth Guardians

  George Nickas, Executive Director

  Wilderness Watch

  Tracy Davids, Executive Director

  Wild South

  Scott Silver, Executive Director

  Wild Wilderness

  Kim Witczak

  WoodyMatters

  Tom Z. Collina, Executive Director

  20/20 Vision

  Paula Brantner, Executive Director

  Workplace Fairness

  « less full details »

  14 comments

  Submitted by shannad 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  567 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  There is No Reason Why CRS Reports Should Not be Public

  The Congressional Research Service does some excellent research and analysis on all manner of things. These reports are not officially accessible to taxpayers.

  CRS reports to Congress or individual members of Congress should be readily accessible via the World Wide Web within two weeks of their delivery to the requesting member(s).

  13 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  557 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  End the failed Drug War

  Lets make 2009 the year we end the failed "War on Drugs" it isn't working. And we all seen failed policies in the past, and it costly to tax payers and our Government. Lets fund Drug Treatment Programs instead of locking up and jailing non-violent drug offenders, so they can get the help they need. We can rehabilitate people with drug addictions, instead of having them take up space in jails, prisons, of correctional ...more »

  Lets make 2009 the year we end the failed "War on Drugs" it isn't working.

  And we all seen failed policies in the past, and it costly to tax payers and our Government. Lets fund Drug Treatment Programs instead of locking up and jailing non-violent drug offenders, so they can get the help they need. We can rehabilitate people with drug addictions, instead of having them take up space in jails, prisons, of correctional facilities. Drug offenders can become useful and productive member of society with the proper treatment and counseling. We need to Decriminalize Marijuana. Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession would be a step in the right direction, and would free up police, courts, jails, prisons, and save billions in enforcing criminal marijuana laws. President Jimmy Carter asked Congress in 1977 to Decriminalize Marijuana, I would like to President Barack Obama do the same in 2009.

  « less full details »

  12 comments

  Submitted by jmylett 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  555 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Government Operations More Open »

  One Bill = One Idea

  One thing I find frustrating is that congress can pass a bill with "hidden" mini laws. For example, congress recently passed a bill to reform credit card companies and it also included a provision allowing people to carry handguns into national parks. What? How do those two ideas relate? Those items should have been two separate bills. I know politics is about compromise; but, I want congress debating the details ...more »

  One thing I find frustrating is that congress can pass a bill with "hidden" mini laws.

  For example, congress recently passed a bill to reform credit card companies and it also included a provision allowing people to carry handguns into national parks. What? How do those two ideas relate?

  Those items should have been two separate bills. I know politics is about compromise; but, I want congress debating the details of credit card reform and not slipping in a gun law so that they can get a few extra votes. This seems disingenuous.

  Each bill should focus on one idea/concept/law. This only seems fair.

  « less full details »

  15 comments

  Submitted by mrjstarr 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  540 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Government Operations More Open »

  Bills should stand alone -no earmarks -no pork

  All Bills should stand clean -no earmarks and non-related.

  All Earmarks should be stand along Bills.

  All non-related should be stand along Bills.

  It seems simple and honest.

  24 comments

  Submitted by Josh Senecal 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  537 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  Verifying eligibility to be president of the USA

  Where is Obama's birth certificate and why is he spending all the money to keep it and his school records sealed? I have to cough up my BC, my kids' BC's, death certificates... you name it, to navigate the gov't red tape. So I ask... why doesn't Obama have to? Is Obama above us all? Is Obama and his ilk 'special' ??? Obama not showing his real BC is a joke. Sorry, a photo-shopped BC won't get me past the DMV lady!!! ...more »

  Where is Obama's birth certificate and why is he spending all the money to keep it and his school records sealed?

  I have to cough up my BC, my kids' BC's, death certificates... you name it, to navigate the gov't red tape.

  So I ask... why doesn't Obama have to? Is Obama above us all?

  Is Obama and his ilk 'special' ???

  Obama not showing his real BC is a joke. Sorry, a photo-shopped BC won't get me past the DMV lady!!!

  « less full details »

  810 comments

  Submitted by BunnyNebraskaPanhandle 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  523 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  End Corporate Influence/Control of Our Government

  Due to a clerical error in the Supreme Court header notes of a decision made in the late 1800s, corporations have been granted all the rights of people. Legally speaking, they've been given "personhood" and therefore are entitled to all the rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution, except for the right to vote. Consequently, corporations have been granted the right to "freedom of speech" which our founders had ...more »

  Due to a clerical error in the Supreme Court header notes of a decision made in the late 1800s, corporations have been granted all the rights of people. Legally speaking, they've been given "personhood" and therefore are entitled to all the rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution, except for the right to vote.

  Consequently, corporations have been granted the right to "freedom of speech" which our founders had never envisioned. Furthermore, their ability to spend their economic resources in electoral politics has been determined to be an exercise of their free speech.

  Because corporations hold far more wealth than all the human citizens of the U.S. combined, they have massive undue influence in our electoral and political process. As a result, government often acts to benefit corporations and at the expense of the public.

  Over the years, giant corporations have continued to consolidate their power and control of our political system, our media, our educational system, our economy, our public institutions and even over the non-profit sector and our leisure and entertainment.

  This has not been good for our society, for our livelihoods, or for our government. If this trend is not stopped very soon, we will reach a point where it cannot be rolled back.

  The solution doesn't have to be complex. Revoking corporate "personhood" and enforcing existing laws would be a start.

  « less full details »

  12 comments

  Submitted by toddputnam 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  514 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  Provide an online, visually interactive, one-stop-shop, federal budget website.

  A single website that allows users to interactively and visually explore the federal budget. The site should start out with basic high-level information about revenue, expense, deficit, and then allow users to click on a category of interest to drill down into the details and see precisely where money is being spent. Most people are not economists so the information should be basic but allow users the opportunity to ...more »

  A single website that allows users to interactively and visually explore the federal budget. The site should start out with basic high-level information about revenue, expense, deficit, and then allow users to click on a category of interest to drill down into the details and see precisely where money is being spent. Most people are not economists so the information should be basic but allow users the opportunity to get technical information if desired. The ability to drill down into the details of the budget through a simple point-and-click of the mouse is where the value of this system lies.

  « less full details »

  21 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  510 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  Lobbyists

  This information may be somehow available somewhere, I don't know.

  But since the lobbyists control Congress by their "contributions," it would be nice to find out easily what lobbyist, working for what interest group/corporation, is contributing how much money, to what Congressmen, regarding what legislation, pro or con.

  18 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  469 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Between Federal, State, and Local Governments »

  Encourage State and Local Governments to Become More Open and Inclusive

  President Obama’s historic commitment to open government has inspired people across the country with a renewed belief that government can and should be transparent, participatory and collaborative. In Seattle, WA, the City Council has formed an Open Government Committee to explore and recommend ways to improve citizens’ access to public documents and seek more diverse community input on issues affecting the city in advance ...more »

  President Obama’s historic commitment to open government has inspired people across the country with a renewed belief that government can and should be transparent, participatory and collaborative. In Seattle, WA, the City Council has formed an Open Government Committee to explore and recommend ways to improve citizens’ access to public documents and seek more diverse community input on issues affecting the city in advance of legislative action. In Owensboro, KY, citizens have signed an Open Government Pledge and asked local government leaders to adopt a set of principles committing to more transparent and participatory practices.

  As President Obama develops and implements his Open Government Directive, he should support local governments in doing the same by offering guidance for the steps that cities, towns and counties can take to become more transparent, participatory and collaborative. The President should convene mayors, city administrators, city council members, county executives and county commissioners who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to open government principles. This Local Open Government Commission would pursue the following objectives:

  1. Develop a set of Open Government Principles that may be adopted by local governments

  2. Develop a set of Open Government Best Practices in the areas of Transparency, Participation, and Collaboration

  3. Develop an Open Government Seal of Approval that may be awarded to those local governments that demonstrate a commitment to open government principles by adopting the best practices described above

  4. Create a program to recognize local leaders for excellence in open government

  « less full details »

  26 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  462 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  Legislation

  All legislation being considered by Congress should be posted in full on the internet for at least 72 hours prior to a vote on that legislation.

  13 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  461 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Reform patriot Act Section 215, Think of Tommy Chong

  What is Section 215? Section 215 allows the FBI to order any person or entity to turn over "any tangible things," so long as the FBI "specif[ies]" that the order is "for an authorized investigation . . . to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities." Section 215 vastly expands the FBI's power to spy on ordinary people living in the United States, including United States citizens ...more »

  What is Section 215?

  Section 215 allows the FBI to order any person or entity to turn over "any tangible things," so long as the FBI "specif[ies]" that the order is "for an authorized investigation . . . to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities."

  Section 215 vastly expands the FBI's power to spy on ordinary people living in the United States, including United States citizens and permanent residents.

  The FBI need not show probable cause, nor even reasonable grounds to believe, that the person whose records it seeks is engaged in criminal activity.

  The FBI need not have any suspicion that the subject of the investigation is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power.

  The FBI can investigate United States persons based in part on their exercise of First Amendment rights, and it can investigate non-United States persons based solely on their exercise of First Amendment rights.

  For example, the FBI could spy on a person because they don't like the books she reads, or because they don't like the web sites she visits. They could spy on her because she wrote a letter to the editor that criticized government policy.

  Those served with Section 215 orders are prohibited from disclosing the fact to anyone else. Those who are the subjects of the surveillance are never notified that their privacy has been compromised.

  If the government had been keeping track of what books a person had been reading, or what web sites she had been visiting, the person would never know.

  *If you think this is just about library books your wrong. The FBI regularly conducts sneak and peeks without any explanation. Another great tactic these trained federal agents use is entering a home or building and destroying everything inside, they may have a warrant specifying what they are there for but it doesn't matter, they will take or break everything but! These Agents to get to whom ever will threaten wifes, children, parents, anyone regardless to get cooperation from a person, doesn't matter what they have or have not done.

  Is Section 215 Constitutional?

  Normally, the government cannot effect a search without obtaining a warrant and showing probable cause to believe that the person has committed or will commit a crime.

  Section 215 violates the Fourth Amendment by allowing the government to effect Fourth Amendment searches without a warrant and without showing probable cause.

  The violation of the Fourth Amendment is made more egregious by the fact that Section 215 might be used to obtain information about the exercise of First Amendment rights. For example, the FBI could invoke Section 215 to require a library to produce records showing who had borrowed a particular book or to produce records showing who had visited a particular web site.

  Section 215 might also be used to obtain material that implicates privacy interests other than those protected by the First Amendment. For example, the FBI could use Section 215 to obtain medical records.

  The provision violates the First Amendment by prohibiting those served with Section 215 orders from disclosing that fact to others, even where there is no real need for secrecy.

  The provision violates the First Amendment by effectively authorizing the FBI to investigate U.S. persons, including American citizens, based in part on their exercise of First Amendment activity, and by authorizing the FBI to investigate non-U.S. persons based solely on their exercise of First Amendment activity.

  The provision violates the Fourth and Fifth Amendments by failing to require that those who are the subject of Section 215 order's be told that their privacy has been compromised.

  Thank you ACLU

  « less full details »

  7 comments

  Submitted by quarzacc 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  455 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  New Strategies and Techniques »

  Open Up Presidential Debates to Third Parties

  For far too long in this country, politics (and debates in general) has been run by the two major parties – Democrats and Republicans. While both of these parties are close to the center of the political spectrum and represent a lot of people, there are others out there with other ideas. Yes, we have third parties, but they haven't won an election (or even been competitive) in decades. Part of the reason they aren't more ...more »

  For far too long in this country, politics (and debates in general) has been run by the two major parties – Democrats and Republicans. While both of these parties are close to the center of the political spectrum and represent a lot of people, there are others out there with other ideas. Yes, we have third parties, but they haven't won an election (or even been competitive) in decades. Part of the reason they aren't more competitive is that no one knows about them. People in this country have grown up know Republicans and Democrats.. and if you're not one of those two, you don't really matter. If you want to vote, you pretty much have to choose the lesser of two evils.

  Also, third parties are very hard to get started. The third party laws in many states are so insane they are nearly impossible (but that's a different issue). If third parties were allowed to contribute to televised national debates, awareness would drastically increase. Instead of being forced to choose the lesser of two evils, people would actually have a broadly publicized candidate for whom to vote.

  In the end, the issue comes down to equality. We say we're ALL equal, but then we turn around and say if you're not a Democrat or Republican, you're screwed. Open up the process and make it easier for third parties to participate!

  « less full details »

  36 comments

  Submitted by dudemanfellabra 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  413 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Uncategorized »

  Legalize marijuana and end the senseless "War on Drugs'

  The people of this country want marijuana decriminalization. The 'War on Drugs' is ineffective. Millions of our citizens have been incarcerated for nonviolent drug offences.

  47 comments

  Submitted by felkakarp 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  381 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Making Data More Accessible »

  Legitimate President?

  Show that you are a legitimate President, show the citizens of this once great country (you are destroying it with your policies) your documentation. You can start with your "real" Live Birth Certificate, not the counterfeit one you posted on your website. Even though I didn't care much for John McCain,he proved his eligibility to run for president by releasing his live birth certificate, you have not! Then show us "all" ...more »

  Show that you are a legitimate President, show the citizens of this once great country (you are destroying it with your policies) your documentation. You can start with your "real" Live Birth Certificate, not the counterfeit one you posted on your website. Even though I didn't care much for John McCain,he proved his eligibility to run for president by releasing his live birth certificate, you have not! Then show us "all" of your passports, including your Indonesia one. Stop spending millions of dollars on lawyers protecting and concealing all of your records. Do you have something you are hiding from the citizens?

  Until you do this, you are a usurper of the Office of the President and Congress should remove you from office.

  « less full details »

  30 comments

  Submitted by 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  351 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Prohibition didn't work in the 20th century ... and needs to END.

  The USA government should at the very least be embarassed by its attempt to prohibit certain activities and the use of so-called "controlled substances". Not only is the War on drugs a war they have lost, but it is one that the government can not win. It must end now. Legislators seem to have a mentality that just because they pass a law which bans something, that people will obey. Reality is often the opposite. ...more »

  The USA government should at the very least be embarassed by its attempt to prohibit certain activities and the use of so-called "controlled substances". Not only is the War on drugs a war they have lost, but it is one that the government can not win. It must end now.

  Legislators seem to have a mentality that just because they pass a law which bans something, that people will obey. Reality is often the opposite. Look back at the Prohibition of Alcohol and it seems obvious why that was later overturned. I just wonder why no one is smart enough to stop the stupid prohibition we have going on now.

  « less full details »

  7 comments

  Submitted by gmclam 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  348 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  New Directives to Protect Whisleblowers from Punishment

  Directives and legislation providing protection for whistleblowers who disclose waste, fraud, or abuse within an agency, and punitive processes for managers who retaliate against those whistleblowers in their performance reviews should be established. irectives should clarify to all agencies, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the expectation that whistleblowers be robustly defended from reprisals and ...more »

  Directives and legislation providing protection for whistleblowers who disclose waste, fraud, or abuse within an agency, and punitive processes for managers who retaliate against those whistleblowers in their performance reviews should be established. irectives should clarify to all agencies, including law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the expectation that whistleblowers be robustly defended from reprisals and that whistleblower claims be dealt with quickly and fairly.

  The president should establish a culture that supports whistleblowers by rewarding disclosure and punishing retaliation in performance appraisals. The president must also work with Congress to enact comprehensive federal whistleblower reform that extends meaningful protections to law enforcement and intelligence agency whistleblowers.

  - From the 21st Century RTK Agenda

  « less full details »

  4 comments

  Submitted by 21stCenturyRTK 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  347 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Legal & Policy Challenges »

  Legalize Marijuana

  Legalize Marijuana.

  16 comments

  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  Voting is Disabled

  339 votes

  I disagree
  This idea is active.
  Records Management »

  Stop the Commercialization of Personal Data Held By Government Agencies

  People are required to provide information to the government for lots of purposes – to pay taxes, to obtain licenses, to receive benefits. The personal information that we all provide to the government should not be commercialized or data-mined. Also, our interests in government programs should not be turned over to advertisers without our consent. EPIC recommends the use of new technology to promote the efficiency ...more »

  People are required to provide information to the government for lots of purposes – to pay taxes, to obtain licenses, to receive benefits. The personal information that we all provide to the government should not be commercialized or data-mined. Also, our interests in government programs should not be turned over to advertisers without our consent.

  EPIC recommends the use of new technology to promote the efficiency of government and to enable new forms of participation. But we also believe that this should not lead to the “monetization” of citizens.

  « less full details »

  3 comments

  Submitted by Electronic Privacy Information Center 3 years ago

Displaying 1 - 25 of 4,166 Ideas

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next »

All feedback received through the Open Government Dialogue is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

• Crowdsourcing
• Crowdsourcing Software
• iPhone Feedback
• OpenGov
• Suggestion Box
• Idea Management Software
• Employee Suggestion Box
• Brainstorming Tool
• Innovation Management