Another challenge for the Open Elections/Open Government Act in Arizona arose today, as Maricopa County officials announced  a review of petition signatures of voters from the county may not provide the number "sufficient to qualify" the measure for November's ballot.

During the last 4 national elections, the eligible voting population has grown from 198,381,943 in 2002 to 217,342,419 in 2010. The most recent mid-term election had the highest voter turnout percentage of the last three at a paltry 41.7%. The presidential elections have had a similar voter turnout percentage, hovering in the low 60% range. A roughly 20% difference between mid-term and presidential elections has held consistent throughout the last decade.

The Commission on Presidential Debates, the private corporation established by Democrats and Republicans to organize and moderate the presidential debates, is currently being petitioned by concerned citizens to invite third party candidates to the 2012 presidential debates.

Extreme partisanship among the big cable news networks has done its fair share in shaping the American political landscape. These days, a person’s preference in cable news networks can be a decent indicator of the party they affiliate with. However, trust in these networks has significantly dropped over the past few years.

The Wiki Weapon Project is raising money on the net to create open source 3D printing of weapons using technology available now. What changes everything is that all that is needed to 3D print a gun is the CAD file, which can be shared on the internet, and a 3D printer. Even more mind boggling, 3D printers are on the verge of being able to replicate themselves.

"I know what happens to people who only talk to people who agree with them. You end up not being exposed to alternative views. . . . If you never have your thoughts or your facts challenged . . . you live in an echo chamber."

-- Rush Limbaugh on how Congressman Todd Akin arrived at his explanation that a woman's body "shuts down" during rape.