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Petition Tag - reform
1. Consider Individuality in determining the legality of consensual Sex 
The age of consent offers an abundance of protection to the world’s youth. However, certain aspects of what society means have been overlooked with this law; that is, individuality.
In order for the age of consent to be plausible in that applies to all persons, every individual would have to be of the same emotional, sexual, and intellectual maturity at the same age. Due to the prevalence of individuality in all of these facets, the age of consent can not be an equation of a certain age simply equalling said categories of maturity.
The remedy for this is to analyze each case regarding a violation of the age of consent and consider the individuals involved on a criterion of more than age. An under-aged person is not necessarily mature enough to consent to sexual activity with an adult, however, by the same token they are not necessary too immature to do so either.
People develop at various rates and it is therefore crucial to stop presumptuously entitling people who engage in sexual relationships with under-aged persons as predators or criminals. That is not to say these people do not exist, but rather to show that they do not exist in all cases.
Simply reaching the age of consent does not mean that a person is mature enough to consent to sexual activity, nor does not being the age of consent mean that one is not mature enough to consent to such activity. The purpose of this petition is not to lower the age of consent or abolish it by any means, but rather to change the law so it can permit the judicial system to look at the individuals in such cases as opposed to categorizing such relations as criminal because they fit one category. This category is age; it is the only factor of the individual being considered when such cases arise. All other facets of an individual are not allowed to be viewed in the law; maturity of the individual (be it sexual, emotional, or intellectual) is not of consideration despite its direct relevance.
It is for this reason that this petition is being proposed.
The law changes as society changes. Today, society is encouraging individuality as long as it does not harm another. Under the constitution, limiting one’s freedoms so they do not harm another is ‘reasonably justifiable’. However, it is not justifiable to simply assume that certain actions harm another based on age and age alone. The age of consent must not be a concrete determination of an individual’s maturity.
Therefore, this petition was created to reform the law into allowing people to analyze the individual and actually determine if such sexual engagements are in fact harmful.
2. Reform the double jeopardy law
My grandson Clayton Bohanon 17 y.o. was murdered, shot in the head ten times March 26, 2008 by an adult 28 y.o. He left home to visit his girlfriend at McDonald's restaurant where she worked. He was lured to a house, and introduced to the homeowner as his cousin from Indianapolis. He was later taken away in a car by this man and murdered. My Grandson lived with me and after working out difficulties he had, I enrolled him in Purdue C.C. where he majored in criminal justice and foreign language, he looked forward to being able to help other teens when he graduated.
He started classes at Purdue at 16 y.o. He did not deserve what happened to him. The animal that murdered him, after hiding was arrested and acquitted at the trial held June 4-2012.
3. Arrest Our Elected Members of Congress for illegally not passing a budget
It is written in the US Constitution that Congress must pass a budget. No budget has been passed in over 4 years.
Clearly Illegal.
4. People deserve to be treated for STDs
The City of Tyler Has very limited access to medical treatment of STD's. Clinics, Hospitals, and Public assistance organizations Deny treatment for STDs if you don't have money to pay up front.....
5. Support the lowering of restrictions on firearms in Australia while increasing background checks
Currently, there is a global focus on gun culture and its impact/relevance within our society.
This is especially true in America where politicians are trying to remove guns entirely from civilian possession (much like here in Australia) causing many civil rights movements to declare this as an attack on their 2nd Amendment Rights.
For the less informed, The Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes such as self-defense within the home.
While Australia has no Bill of Rights or anything closely resembling the Second Amendment, that should not discount Australians as having no rights to personal protection.
An article in the Brisbane Times, dated October 24 2012, indicated that "The overall crime rate in Queensland increased by 6 per cent in the last financial year - the first significant rise in at least a decade." and that "The rate of armed robberies across the state jumped 12 per cent".
While crime had initially decreased it is evident that crime is indeed increasing again and that the expansion to law enforcement numbers is not working. In addition to this, response times for police assistance on urgent matters on average can total almost an hour on some occasions.
This cannot be deemed acceptable and we need to recognize that police cannot always make immediate response calls and therefore the public need to be able to safely equip themselves with suitable defense.
It is often argued that more guns are not the answer and to that I answer that neither is taking them away.
One way or another, ill-minded people manage to obtain weapons (whether it be guns, knifes, bottles, etc) and harm others. If you disarm a nation you leave the citizens totally unprepared and at the mercy of police response times.
What's worse, is that with weapons being nationally banned, any weapons obtained underground are harder to track back to an owner. Lengthening the investigation process by law enforcement. Why make police jobs harder than they already are?
History has also shown that government corruption can and has occurred before threatening the lives of many civilians. We cannot ignore history and we need to accept, despite how good things might be now, that the future can take a turn for the worse.
What I propose is that we loosen our ban on weapons and focus on performing background checks on those applying for licences in addition to giving psychological treatment to those ill-minded people.
We, as a nation, need to recognize that we are all entitled to safety and protection and we should not be judged as guilty before proven innocent.
6. Require a Form of Class and/or License Prior to the Purchase of Any Firearm
When purchasing a firearm the requirements are lenient and lacking depth.
With recent tragedies we have witnessed the horrific events that are made possible when a firearm is placed in the hands of an irresponsible/under evaluated owner.
This petition proposes that as a nation we require a form of class and/or licensing prior to the purchase of any firearm.
Including, but not limited to, sanity evaluation, awareness, and of course gun safety.
With a form of testing in order to be licensed and able to purchase/possess a fire arm.
7. LEGALIZE/DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA/CANNABIS LAWS IN ALL 50 U.S. STATES/TERRITORIES
To all our elected officials:
It is unfortunate that the economy is in such a state. By legalizing/decriminalzing marijuana/cannabis it would create jobs, bring much needed revenue, free up law enforcement and jail cells that are needed for VIOLENT criminals, provide alternative, cheaper medical options and the list goes on.
It has also been brought to my attention that for more than twenty years, Dutch citizens over age eighteen have been permitted to buy and use cannabis (marijuana and hashish) in government-regulated coffee shops. This policy has not resulted in dramatically escalating marijuana use. For most age groups, rates of marijuana use in the Netherlands are similar to those in the United States. However, for young adolescents, rates of marijuana use are lower in the Netherlands than in the United States.
Benjamin Franklin, a very wise man, stated:
"For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise." and he said
"The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice."
Lastly, "Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion."
It is time for change.
8. Outlaw Super Pacs in the US
The United States currently allows organizations to raise unlimited amounts of money through Super PACS to help support the election of political candidates.
This creates anonymity so we do not know who is supporting which candidate and allows supporters to run advertisements which may be untruthful and cannot be traced back to the individual or party running for office.
The individual or party running for office is not officially receiving funds but they benefit from donations and are ultimately tied to donors when they are elected.
This gives corporations an avenue to buy governmental favors. Donations may also be anonymous and voters cannot see who is donating to a particular campaign.
9. Citizens for Public Healthcare
We as citizens of this great nation have grown apart from the ideals that guided this country into it's golden days.
Where once we valued community and mutual progress, we now only value the individual and their doomed quest for personal success.
Therefore I ask you to think of the suffering of your fellow Americans and sacrifice of yourself so that nobody in this country should have to live in fear of medical bills.
10. Petition for the Essential Reform of the American Congress
The Congress of America has and is failing to legislate effectively due to partisan politics, back door deals, corruption, and the entrenchment of incumbent representatives who are aided by unlimited money donations from special interest groups and Big Business. We have a government that is of the people, but no longer is it for the people.
The book: Throw Them All Out; by Peter Schweizer, published in 2011, clearly documents the corruption in the Congressional Ethics Committee.
The massive government deficit is in danger of destabilizing the entire global economy and for four years our representatives have done nothing.
11. Abolish the death penalty in Florida
The death penalty has become time consuming, cost-inefficient and has had no clear effect on the deterrence of crime. In a time of economic recovery, the call to abolish a wasteful punishment is way past due.
It is time we stop allowing the government to put our budget in the death penalty and start putting it into education and health care.
12. Cairns Base Mental Health Unit Reform
A tragic young life was lost as a result of suicide following the release of a mentally ill patient by Cairns Base Mental Health Unit (CBMHU), undiagnosed, untreated and without professional support because the Psychiatrists do not treat anything that is not pharmaceutically treatable such as personality disorders and substance abuse or refer patients to the resident Hospital Psychologist.
Unfortunately many other parents in Cairns, like Jodi Kensley await the death of their children due to this current archaic practice and refusal to acknowledge Psychology as an evidence based practice, which does include treatment for all disorders.
As a Christian constitutional father, engineer, author, and theoretical physicist, back bitten by our government, economy and society during a lifetime of 'family' court abuse, the author of Seventy Times American discovers the problems within these systems, and the corruptions that they have caused.
And he now has the solutions to solve these and many other problems on a national scale to save the next generation from there known consequences.
14. Emancipate Child Support at 18 Years Old
Please support a Bill to Support Divorced Parents rights by following law in states such as Calif. & Arizona by Emancipating Children at the adult age of 18.
NJ currently has an antiquated law that allows a Judge(Glorified Lawyer) to keep Parents arguing over Child Support, in turn allowing Lawyers to keep charging fees to the Parents while they keep them arguing. If the Law is passed to Emancipate at 18 then 50% of the time in court and legal fees that Lawyers are charging the parents are drastically reduced. If a young adult can be drafted into the military and risk life or limb at 18 then they are full fledged adults.
If they commit a crime then they are tried as adults not as a child(as in "Child" Support). A Judge(Glorified Lawyer) has no right to force a married couple to pay for an 18 year old adult's secondary education but they are give the "power" to make divorced couples do it. Isn't that discriminatory? Time to update the antiquated laws that allow the Judges(Glorified Lawyers) to preserve their Profession and give the Lawyers the right to make people go broke instead of really caring about the children. www.emancipatenj.com
15. Stop the self-serving Greed of Congress
The United States Congress has proven itself to be self-serving by voting itself:
1) A Lifetime Pension;
2) A Lifetime Free Healthcare Plan.
16. Social Services Reform in regards to Parents in America
Social Services has no boundaries, social workers are allowed to bully parents around while using the excuse "for the sake of the children" There's a clear difference between enforcing good parenting habits and using authority for the sake of self-gain.
These actions need to stop. There is no punishment for these workers who unjustly abuse their powers. When there is no clear punishment for childish behavior, then it's allowed to flourish and survive. If being in a position of responsibility is too much for these workers and acting with maturity is out of the question, then they should be fined in order to remind them that they shouldn't get complacent with the fact that there is no punishment for immature and arrogant behavior.
A standard should be implemented and Social Services should be obliged to it, to ensure equal and fair treatment for parents going through such a difficult ordeal. Having no obligations to it's own contracts of reform enables immaturity and arrogance. This needs to stop.
17. Support Public Charter Schools in Kentucky
The children in Kentucky’s schools today represent the future of our Commonwealth. However in too many instances, Kentucky children are badly under-performing their potential.
Take for instance the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress which shows only thirty-five (35) percent of Kentucky 4th graders and thirty-six (36) percent of Kentucky 8th graders read at or above a proficient level. The data is even more troubling among African American children where forty-eight (48) percent of African American 4th graders and forty-two (42) percent of African-American 8th graders are below basic in reading. To be below basic means these children lack even a partial-mastery of the building blocks of how to read. These are statistics we find simply unacceptable.
We cannot fail to educate all our children and expect to grow and attract good paying jobs over the next generation. In the face of a struggling economy and scarce job opportunities, having a good education, especially an education which allows children to succeed in college, is essential to a child’s future success.
There are strategies which are working for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them a chance to make incredible academic progress. Public charter schools have demonstrated that they are capable of accelerating the academic achievement of the students attending them. Over forty states have charter schools, including Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia and Tennessee. Research shows that charter schools – when designed properly and held accountable for results – are reaching children in ways that traditional public schools cannot.
With over 5,000 Public Charter Schools serving more than 1.6 million children in 41 states we ask you, why not Kentucky? Why shouldn’t Kentucky children have the same opportunity as those in Indianapolis and Nashville to meet and exceed their potential in an innovative classroom? Why shouldn’t Kentucky try a new approach to an old problem? We believe Kentucky should and the time to do so is now.
18. Enough is Enough - NYS-County Medicaid Boycott
Message: The cost of the Medicaid is out of control. The financial burden of the program is placed on County’s and ultimately being shouldered by property tax payers.
The State must take action to take financial responsibility for the program in an effort to lower property taxes in New York State.
Until the State takes responsibility for this burdensome program we are advocating that Counties withhold Medicaid payments made to the State of New York.
Objective: Passage of a bill that requires the State to take over the funding of Medicaid.
Strategy: Build a Coalition of support to withhold Medicaid payments to New York State through the Boycott Petition.
[11/17 Update: In Chautauqua County, the Tea Party Chapter and friends are also circulating a paper petition. This is especially important for those that support the effort but are not online. At present they've collected over 300 signatures. To download a copy usable in any county, go to "www.sttpp.wordpress.com"]
19. Law for YUE YUE (Wang Yue)
Wang Yue (nicknamed YUE YUE), a 2 year old toddler who died 2 days ago (October 20th 2011) in Foshan City of China.
Wang Yue wandered away from her mother when she was run over by a truck. The truck stopped for a moment, then ran over her again with the back wheels. People passed by with nothing as much as a glance to her body on the floor. A second truck ran over her body, 18 pedestrians passed by her and a motorcycle drove around her body.
Wang Yue was then picked up by a woman (Chen Xianmei, 58) who put her aside and her mother was found. She was sent to the hospital. The doctors reported her condition as 'brain dead but stable' for a few days.
Wang Yue perished yesterday, October 21st.
Instead of labeling YUE YUE a victim, let her be a lesson and encouragement for reform and awareness.
This is a petition focusing on the Canadian-Chinese Ambassador. I encourage everybody to make a similar petition and forward it to their respective country Ambassadors.
The surveillance tape of the event (GRAPHIC CONTENT) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Tc0QpXx-Q&feature=related
Wherever you are, sign the petition.
20. Support the right for Mauritians abroad to vote
On 14 September 2011, The Prime Minister's office issued an Electoral Reform communique. However, no mention has been made on the right of Mauritians abroad to vote.
It is essential that every citizen gets an equal chance during an election.
Hello all! My name is Brittany Hicks (Hurt). I am 23 years old from Johnson County, KY. At age 19, I was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance. In 2009, I was convicted of said charge. I was given a 5 year sentence with possibility of shock probation. After spending 7 months in KCIW, I was granted the said shock probation. Immediately after release, I signed into a substance abuse rehabilitation program.
I completed the program at the very end of 2009, and began my journey as a sober, productive member of society. In early 2010, I enrolled in KCTCS and began taking classes towards earning an Associated degree in Medical Information Technology with an administrative option. Many things such as financial aid eligibility has stood in my way. I am a fighter, so I fight for what I truly believe in. I believe in myself and i believe people can change. I know, understand, and accept that laws are placed in order to protect the citizens and maintain justice for all. However, justice for me (a citizen) would be being allowed to to have a fresh start. I can't do this without expungement of my record when the time comes for that to happen.
I am found that with a felony conviction that you are so limited. I mean i know I committed a crime and I must be punished for it, but as i see it, it is though I am getting continuously punished over and over again each time an application asks about a criminal record. I try my best to always do what's right and cause no trouble. I was just young and dumb and made bad decisions.
22. Urgent Change Needed for our Children
Since Australian parents were told there was a very long wait before/if the Family Law Reform actually happens there has already been another child die due to abuse,
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8293046/toddlers-death-was-suspicious-police-say
Today we have another news article where a father has stormed into a court office with a bomb strapped to himself and is holding a girl (believed to be his 11 year old daughter) hostage inside the Family Court building.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/father-straps-bomb-to-himself-holds-daughter-hostage/story-e6frf7l6-1226130337269
Australia urgently stopped the live export of cattle to 11 Indonesian abattoirs after footage of animals being mistreated in a slaughterhouse.
http://www.news.com.au/national/government-told-to-end-live-cattle-exports/story-e6frfkw0-1226065999439#ixzz1X8mOG5bv
Why are Australia's cattle given better protection than Australia's children?
23. نداء لرئيس الجمهورية لإنشاء هيئة قومية لتفعيل اصلاح منظومة اخلاق المجتمع المصري
لقد وصلت منظومة القيم والأخلاق في جزءا كبير من المجتمع المصري إلي مستوي من التدهور بحيث أصبح يهدد مستقبل مصر الإقتصادي وحتي أمن و أمان مصر
وبدون تخطيط محكم و جهودا إضافية مركزه الآن بأيدينا نحن المصريين لن نستطيع وقف هذا التدهورأو البدأ في إصلاح منظومة القيم والأخلاق التي أوصلتنا إ لي ما نحن فيه. والجدير بالتنويه أنه فقط بإصلاح منظومة القيم والأخلاق في المجتمع في أسرع وقت ممكن سيكون من الممكن البدأ الحقيقي في تطوير المجتمع المصري إجتماعيا وإقتصاديا وسياسيا وبدون هذا الإصلاح فإنه من غير الممكن من تفادي فتن مجتمعية وطبقيه.
24. A Healthy Dole
The Unemployment Benefits in Australia do not do what they are designed to do. There are many*, many** examples of "Dole Bludgers" exploiting the system to get themselves more money to spend on irresponsible, unhealthy personal ventures.
And then there are the numerous individuals who genuinely need the assistance, but increasing prices of living are starting to make this impossible.
There is also the problem of youth choosing to not get a job simply because the dole is a better option financially.***
The solutions may be one and the same: A healthy dole program. If there was a way for the unemployed to have access to the healthy eating proportions that the government tries to encourage, then we would be less likely to have an unemployed population that is obese and wasteful. It would also serve to deter those who wish to live 'the good life' on the dole, as they will be getting what they are recommended and nothing more.
Of course, the program would also need to account for other costs of living like transport and housing, but with a free public transport (including taxis) account and a direct debit for rent/mortgage to the government, this could combat every problem we have with the current system.
* http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/money-matters/dole-bludgers-exploiting-weak-welfare-system-job-agency-campbell-page-says/story-fn300aev-1225896852646
** http://www.7perth.com.au/view/today-tonight-articles/dole-bludgers/
*** http://7pmproject.com.au/dole-wages-apprentice.htm
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on proposals to scale back the provision of legal aid. The reform will leave large areas of civil and family law outside the scope of legal aid reducing access to justice and placing the vulnerable at risk.
The proposals regarding criminal, family and civil fees will make legal aid uneconomic for many and will result in large numbers of practitioners leaving this practice area.
Overall the public will suffer a reduction in quality of service provided by a profession that will be less representative of the people it serves.
There is a concerted campaign by Unions (eg NUT) and others against the creation of new Free Schools in the UK.
The government and all those involved in creating Free Schools should feel encouraged to keep going in the face of this opposition.
27. Stop Opt-in
Opt-in should be scrapped. The other FOFA proposals will achieve the outcome intended by this reform, without adding a further level of administration.
28. Support South Carolina Family Court Reform
South Carolina Family Courts do not serve the purpose they were intended to serve.
Who ever has the most money wins and children, mother's, and father's are suffering while attorneys, guardian ad litems, and judges are making a lot of money by pitting the parties against each other.
Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to scrap child benefit where one parent earns about £44,000 a year. This is due to come into affect in 2013.
Ministers estimate the change will affect about 1.2 million families. These families are not "super-rich" but working hard and getting by.
Mr Osborne confirmed the cut would hit homes with a single or two high earners but families with two parents on incomes up to £44,000 - which might add up together to over £80,000 - would keep the benefit.
This proposal has provoked a huge response from the media, political parties and from "middle Britain".
Please sign this petition and show your support. More information on family finance and saving money can be found at www.babytod.co.uk
30. Reform Sunderland's Lap Dancing Laws
Lap dancing clubs are part of the sex industry and fuel a sexist culture in which it is increasingly acceptable to treat women as sex objects, not people. This has been recognised by the UN Convention on Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination Against Women since 1979 as having clear links to discrimination and violence against women. Areas surrounding lap dancing clubs can become ‘no-go’ areas for women, with many women and girls reporting that they feel unsafe in the vicinity of such venues, and research reveals that individuals performing in the clubs face exploitative working conditions.
However, until now they have been subject to the same licensing regulations as other entertainment establishments (e.g. cafes and restaurants). This has meant that local authorities have been prevented from considering these issues when deliberating license applications from lap dancing clubs, and have been unable to stipulate conditions and controls - such as the maximum number of lap dancing clubs permitted in our community or whether private booths are permitted in the clubs. This is in contradiction of the council’s legal obligation to to consider the impact of their decisions on women and men and to promote gender equality in all they do.
However, as of 6th April 2010, local authorities have been granted new powers and can now license lap dancing clubs as ‘Sexual Entertainment Venues’ under Schedule 3 to the LGMPA 1982, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009. This allows local authorities to license lap dancing clubs in the same way as sex shops and sex cinemas – i.e. to apply relevant and necessary controls.