The IRS should waive the 10% early withdrawal penalty on the use of Traditional and Roth IRA funds for cases of chronic unemployment and under-employment until the economy reaches a recovery level (suggested here at 6% unemployment for 12 month rolling period) where saving for retirement can continue again.  Ideally, this waiver should have started in 2008 or 2009 to be fair to all US citizens impacted by the financial crisis, but it should at least start with the 2011 tax filing.

US unemployment and under-employment is estimated at 15-16% of the workforce or approximately 23 million US citizens based on current Census and Bureau of Labor statistics.  Since those filing for unemployment benefits is currently estimated at 3% this leaves roughly 13% or nearly 19 million individuals who while trying to meet their current expenses are going into debt, selling all possessions, finding other unconventional resources, retirement resources or with all that failing becoming homeless and falling to reliance on charity.  If any of these 19 million individuals are using their retirement funds to meet expenses and are under the age of 59 1/2, they are required by the IRS to pay a penalty of 10% on early withdrawal.  This penalty is an unnecessary artifact of a time when the government believed these funds could accumulate tax-free for future use and represented a possible tax loophole.  Under current conditions, when the government is looking for easy ways to assist US citizens under financial stress, this is one simple fix to the tax code to assist.  It is important to note that due to the financial markets sustaining multiple episodes of stock market and securities losses since 2000, many of these IRA accounts have been and are experiencing losses.  Some have lost as much as 100% of their accounts.  With the current volatility in the market, it is not certain that funds will be available for future retirement purposes.  Withdrawing funds that remain in these accounts from the financial markets could be a better use than gambling on the current market instability.

for more discussion and explanation see THIS and please consider signing the petition HERE

[trigger warning: anti-trans, hate crime, assault, abuse]

madnessfillsmyheartandsoul:

nobleturnip:

whyohwhyfred:

sebmoran:

mydearsimonholmes:

angelaservello:

sowideasea:

Sign this; reblog it.

That’s fucking sick. Please don’t ignore this; sign the petition and demand that those people be criminally charged for what they have done.

This woman tried to use the fucking bathroom and was beaten by customers and employees while others stood by and took video footage  on their goddamn cell phones. From what I’ve heard, one or two people tried halfheartedly to help, but this is fucking sick, not to mention illegal. There is no way that this does not qualify as assault. Sign the petition. 

this made me physically shake in anger

Everybody needs to sign this, I watched this video yesterday and I was almost in tears

I’m fucking crying so hard. Everyone needs to sign this

DON’T SCROLL PAST THIS

oh my fucking god. i’m in tears right now, please go watch this video and more importantly, sign the petition. this is the most brutal attack I have ever ever seen, which ends up in the poor woman having a seizure on the floor of mcdonalds (which is also covered in her hair that has been ripped out) with everyone encouraging the attackers, watching, videoing and not giving a shit. it DOESN’T matter if she was a transwoman or not, she is a fucking HUMAN BEING and nobody deserves to be treated like that.

jesus christ, what the fuck is WRONG with some people?!

this is horrifying.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, go sign the petition and reblog.

i added trigger warnings (especially for the video).  anyway, you should sign this.

[trigger warning: anti-trans, hate crime, assault, abuse]

neutresex:

neutresex:

Here’s a petition link that specifically targets South Africa (the only African nation that recognizes the legal relationship of same-sex couples) who joined a list of mostly African countries that made pro-exclusionary votes removing LGBTQ persons from protection from extrajudicial killing during a UN general assembly.

The link I posted has gotten nearly 300 reblogs. Ok folks! You’re angry, now click this link and apply it.

bertiedav:

SIGN IT <3

thefeministhub:

The victim had been in a car accident earlier that day, so when the responding officer showed up at her door, she did what any normal person would do: she let him in. That’s when he raped her. When her boyfriend called the police to report the assault, the responding…

neutresex:

aprilspolitics:

fuckyeahmarxismleninism:

We say NO to Racism and anti-Islamic Bigotry
Stand for Unity and Solidarity on Saturday, September 11 

On September 11 the Tea Party and its racist and right-wing allies plan to again demonstrate…

mutedheartbeats:

…

Next week they are to stand trial. They face up to fourteen years in prison and hard labor. This is an outrage. I am concerned that they will be killed in the prison either by disease or the inherent violence that is part of prison culture.

Something must be done to stop…

please read, sign, and reblog this if you agree.  they are sending the petition in the morning. 

http://www.petitiononline.com/ilh605/

from the Huffington Post

My name is Mia Kirshner and I am the director of I Live Here Projects. The aim of our organization is to provide urgent care to communities that have slipped through the cracks. Our first project is in Kachere Juvenile Prison in Malawi, where we are forming a full-time school, permaculture garden project and legal rights. These children had slipped through the cracks when we first arrived in Kachere.

That is not what this piece is about.

I am writing about an issue that I can no longer keep quiet about.

While I was in Malawi in December, Malawi’s first gay couple got married in a public commitment ceremony. Their names are Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza. I read the headlines detailing their wedding and sardonic commentary of the journalists writing the pieces. Two days after they married, they were met with both public cheers and humiliation. They now face over a decade of hard labor in a Malawian prison for their actions.

I was amazed that one relationship had become news when issues such as poverty, HIV and the slow wheels of the juvenile justice system cripple the country.

At first, I chose to refrain from writing about this, in fear that my position would risk our whole program being shut down in Malawi — my views are in conflict with the law.

I can and will no longer be silent.

That is why I formed I Live Here projects.

I am angry. I am angry because the right to marry is the choice of an individual rather than a state. I am angry that a dusty law book decides who we have a right to love. I am angry because I know it’s hard to find love in the world and no one should ever stand in love’s way. I am angry because no one should be asked to have relationships in secret. I am angry that so many are forced into the closets, furthering shame and stigma.

What I know is true is that there is no shame in being gay. Love does not understand gender.

These two men did something brave. They spoke up and they spoke out.

No one in Malawi has done this publicly before.

They are fierce and brave.

The Guardian News spoke with the couple to which Tiwonge said the following.

“I love Steven so much. If people or the world cannot give me the chance and freedom to continue living with him as my lover, then I am better off to die here in prison. Freedom without him is useless and meaningless.”

Next week they are to stand trial. They face up to fourteen years in prison and hard labor. This is an outrage. I am concerned that they will be killed in the prison either by disease or the inherent violence that is part of prison culture.

Something must be done to stop this.

Malawi is a beautiful country and is rich in culture and diversity. This ruling will be a stain on its beauty and richness.

Please. I ask that the International Community of activists, UNICEF, politicians in Malawi and International Human rights lawyers speak up and help these men.

By doing this, protection of individual rights will be served and precedent set to in order to open the doors for other couples to be able to stop living in fear.

As for me, I will continue to work in Malawi and continue to speak up and out. No one can stop me.

I won’t give up on this beautiful country because I know that these draconian laws betray the great beauty of this country I love so much.

You can take action write now. Sign this petition to encourage UNICEF and the United Nations to pressure Malawi to forgo this trial and release these innocent men. The text of this petition is below:

To: UNICEF and The United Nations

In December, Malawi’s first gay couple got married, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza.
Next week they are to stand trial. They face up to fourteen years in prison and hard labor for their actions of proclaiming their love for each other and getting married.

Malawi is a beautiful country and is rich in culture and diversity. This ruling will be a stain on its beauty and richness. We ask that the International Community of activists, UNICEF, politicians in Malawi and International Human Rights lawyers speak up and help these men. By doing this, protection of individual rights will be served and precedent set to in order to open the doors for other couples to be able to stop living in fear.

Please sign this petition in support of these two men and stop this trial and its violation of human rights. Let’s uphold the right to love, regardless of gender, protected from court punishment and discrimination.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Write to us at info@i-live-here.com

please go sign this and pass it along.

you can read about it here

kristinetuna:

crookedindifference:

Save the Elephants: STOP BLOODY IVORY

This week, two countries are seeking to break the worldwide ban on ivory trading — a decision that could wipe out whole elephant populations and bring these magnificent animals closer to extinction.

But many African states and conservationists support extending the ban on elephant-slaughtering ivory trade. The decision will be made at a UN meeting in Doha on 13 March, and global public opinion could tip the balance!

Sign the petition now

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please sign the petition you guys.

thelovelybones:

There is a dangerous proposal that threatens the human rights of LGBT people in Uganda. If passed, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill would start a witch-hunt for homosexuals in the country.

The bill’s punishments include:

• a life sentence for people in same-sex marriages
• jail for anyone who doesn’t report suspected LGBT activity within 24 hours
• extradition and prosecution of LGBT Ugandans living abroad

The bill also endangers HIV/AIDS programs, and may be exploited by those wanting to abolish these programs.

This proposed legislation is anti-ethical, anti-equality and anti-human rights. President Museveni must denounce and oppose this law.

Sign here!