This subject goes far beyond access to information. "We the people" should mean that EVERY decision the government makes should value both the short and long term impact on the human beings we call citizens above the impact on the corporations and special interest groups that have gained the rights of citizens vis-a-vis access to and impact upon government policy and legislation. The goal of the economy and business MUST be to improve the quality of life for every person that populates this country, and not to improve corporate protifs, executive bonuses or shareholder returns at their expense. Too often the government believes the BS promulgated by special interests that serving THEIR interests is in the best interest of the people. This must end with this administration.

Finally,

I am generally opposed to abortion, but I have greater opposition to forcing a recognized human being to carry a zygot to term against her will. Of course, we can greatly reduce the abortion rate if we provide higher quality sex education, easily available controception and access to 'morning after' pills, the latter to prevent the zygot from existing in conditions conducive to fetal development, just like those cheek cells.

Second, carrying a zygot to term is the responsiblity of the woman. Note that a zygot is a "cell" that results from fertilization. It is NOT a person, a baby or a child. More importantly, it is an undifferentiated cell that, given the right physical environment, will reproduce and differentiate into a human being. In this regard, there is no difference between a zygot produced by fertilization of a human egg by a human spern, or an umbillical or skin cell (both the result of an earlier fertilizaton) that can be coaxed into reproduction and differientation (cloning). For those of us who chew on our cheeks, we are canibalizing millions of potential babies a day.

First, civil rights cannot have religious basis. By definition, religion depends upon belief in those things that have no basis in objective fact. Those things are in the realm of science. So lets leave religion out of this discussion if possible.

I strongly support the ACLU proposal, especially:

1) End Faith Based programs. While some may do actual good, others use this funding to support aggressive religious conversion efforts under the cover of "drug rehabilitation" or other social benefit. I DO NOT want my tax dollars supporting religions programs.

2) End sexual minority workplace discrimination. Go beyond this by ending sexual monority discrimination by ANY governmental agency that receives federal funding. Specifically, states can not discriminate against sexual minorities when issuing marriage licenses.

3) Keep religion out of politics. The Mormon Church recently solicited millions of dollars from their members, opened phone banks in Utah and turned their membership contact information over to a California political group, all in support of Proposition 8. They should lose their tax exempt status with the IRS as should any church engaging in political activities or interference. In some parts of the country, a particular religion has enough influence to control the legislation through applying pressure on its membership. How is this different from a theocracy?

We need to come up with creative programs to keep the baby boomers (I am 56 years old) engaged in productive work during their retirement years. We have just been robbed of our retirement savings and we shouldn't expect the government to provide complete support for us. Perhaps government funded programs to put retirees into public school classrooms without having to go through years of teacher training. Perhaps setting a new minimal standard for teachers and paying for retirees to be trained at this level. I have spent 30 years in the computer industry but would have to (in WA state) go through one to two years of training before I am allowed in the classroom. This is rediculous when we have such a high need and so many people already much more qualified in their fields than a textbook educated teacher will ever have.