The bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debate’s (CPD) 15 percent rule exacerbates the political divide in the US, leaves millions of voters unrepresented in presidential elections, and undermines fundamental democratic principles in order to protect the two-party duopoly.

As ballot measure activists gather petitions to put various propositions up for a vote on the 2018 California ballot, a few stand out as -- shall we say -- rather bold.

If they get enough signatures by the deadline, 2018 might have one of the wildest slate of voter initiatives in recent memory. It's as if activists might be thinking:

We talk about the political divide in Washington and the gridlock that prevents anything from getting done on Capitol Hill. Yet, if there is one thing both parties can agree on, it is the topic of defense, war, and foreign policy.

It’s every politician’s worst nightmare. They wake up in the morning to find negative stories trending about them on Twitter. Angry comments, calls, emails from their constituents flood the airwaves.

The PR team is assembled with one goal; squash the approaching firestorm.

Asbestos, widely used for centuries given its strong, heat-resistant properties, is a grouping of minerals usually found in soils and rocks. Predominantly made out of silicon and oxygen fibers, asbestos is used to insulate buildings and homes. It’s also used in ship-building, cement, car brake pads and hundreds of other products.