We're taking a closer look at this breaking story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Washington State House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill by Vote of 55-43
Submitted by joeredford

In a vote of 55-43, Washington state lawmakers passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and protects churches, religious groups, and affiliated institutions from being charged with discrimination against same-sex couples. Wednesday's vote sends the bill to Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law next week.

"I didn't think I would be in office to see marriage equality passed," Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said Wednesday night. "It was incredibly moving to watch a new generation of gay and lesbian lawmakers in the House standing up and carrying the torch."

The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote earlier in the day. Supporters in the public-viewing galleries cheered as many on the Democratic side of the House floor hugged.

The community shows its support with the state Senate approved the measure:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "Saw this coming in Washington! Great work!"

Leen61: "Excellent news! Nice to hear it. Good for Washington state! :))"

northernexpat: "One more step to equality for all. I hope the citizens of Washington do not let the anti-gay to reverse this decision. Their hatred shows no bounds. It boggles the mind why they should care what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home. If marriage between a man and a woman was so sacred, why are there so many divorces?"

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this developing story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

U.S. military beginning review of Syria options
Submitted by maasanova

The Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command have launched a preliminary internal review of U.S. military capabilities towards Syria. Administration officials are preparing options in the event President Obama were to call for them.

"Before we start talking about military options, we very much want to ensure that we have exhausted all the political, economic and diplomatic means at our disposal," Ambassador Susan Rice said on CNN's “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

The president has also said that the U.S. is working on non-military options first.

"I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention, and I think that's possible," Obama said in an interview with NBC News that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The community reacts to the U.S. closely monitoring developments in Syria:

Vierotchka: "Absolutely NOTHING fake about that humanitarian crisis - unless you think that it is normal to torture and kill children, women, old folks, young men, and to bomb their cities. Sheesh!"

rerushg: "It's a human rights issue, right? So why is this our job? I could go into a human-rights-start-at-home rant but I'll stuff that. There are 5 quite formidable nations bordering on Syria and you could throw a rock there from Saudi Arabia. Are they helpless? Or is human rights of no particular concern to them?"

remanns: "The military plans for everything they can conceive of,....and revises plans with some regularity. ( its those things they DONT plan for you need to try to worry about,.... assuming your powers of anticipation are more flexible or refined than theirs ! ) - nice to know that Syria has been recently reviewed a bit though."

letsliveinpeace: "First off, when I was in the USAF, we actually war gamed the first Iraq war during an readiness exercise, so no surprises in this at all, except for the claim provocateurs were used to start this up. I think Assad deserves full credit for that. And since we have seen armored personnel carriers and tanks used by the Syrians, Predator drones armed with Hellfire missiles should change up things real quick, since killing tanks is why they were built in the first place."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

30,000 Domestic Drones to Fill the Sky, Civil Liberties at Risk | Common Dreams
Submitted by figgdimension

Congress passed a bill that would increase the presence of drones to ply U.S. skies. The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rush a plan to get as many drones in the air as possible within nine months. An estimated 30,000 drones could fill the air by the end of the decade.

The Senate passed the bill on Monday, 75-20 and allots $63.4 billion to the FAA. Obama is expected to sign it into law.

ACLU, among other civil liberties groups, is expressing grave concern for civilian privacy, as the legislation does not restrict drone surveillance activities by police and federal government agencies.

The community raises its concerns:

circlesquared: "bad, bad, bad idea...more freedom lost in America and world wide"

figgdimension: "protecting and serving the sh*t out of you :/"

warman1138: "WTF are they looking for! Bunch of paranoid morons, you can't go anywhere in any store or public space without cameras around everywhere and they need more? Things are getting weirder and weirder."

oldbanjo: "I wouldn't have a problem with drones except for the fact that our Police departments are corrupt."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

A surprise Republican contender just pulled off a hat-trick and we're taking a closer look at this news story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Perverts Stun Caucuses in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri with Frothy Results
Submitted by ThirdSection

US presidential hopeful Rick Santorum pulled off a stunning victory sweeping three contests in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado on Monday night. Campaigning as the true conservative of the race, Santorum performed well with voters of the Tea Party and evangelical Christians.

"Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota," he said before the Colorado results were known. "I don't stand here to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama."

The former Pennsylvania senator, who had not won a contest since his narrow win in Iowa's caucuses in January, had been viewed as a long-shot candidate.

Tuesday's victories will inject new momentum into his campaign, as he hopes to displace Mr Gingrich as the Mr Romney's main challenger.

The community responds to Santorum shaking up the race:

dugdog47: "Makes me embarrassed to be from Missouri."

Leen61: "This is very frothy....and scary. When I heard last night he took Minnesota...whoa. I'll bet that was Bachmann's district that came out in force for him."

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "How could Romney do so poorly in MN when his campaign chairman Pawlenty is a former MN gov and his advisor Coleman is a former MN senator? More proof that Romney and his out of touch team just don't get it."

HarukoHaruhara: "Every time I think Republicans can be reasoned with, something happens like Rick Santorum winning three caucuses."

Plue: "Lets see if he can hold onto these wins when they become binding. I think that old Mittens will be on the atack. Love the headline Love the post."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

No food stamps for junk food: Florida bill would ban buying sweets with food stamps
Submitted by Radical_Centrist

Republican State Senator Ronda Storms wants to limit welfare funds that would include no longer being able to use food stamps to purchase sweets. The bill will require Florida to launch a  campaign to educate the benefits of a nutritious diet. The off-limit items would include: ice cream, pudding, sodas, potato chips, among others.

"Most individuals using public assistance dollars are using the funds to get by and to provide for their families. However, we should do what we can to prevent dollars intended to help Florida's poorest families from being spent in the wrong places," Storms said in a statement.

But critics say the government shouldn't dictate what people eat.

"What I choose to ingest even though I may be on food stamps, that's at my discretion. I don't need government telling me what I can and cannot purchase," said Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, a Pompano Beach Democrat who voted in committee against the bill.

Storms' bill (SB 1658) recently passed a committee and a companion bill in the state House (HB 1401) is being considered by a subcommittee. The community discusses the possible new ban on food stamps:

Radical_Centrist: "Sounds like a GREAT idea to me!"

KB723: "I cannot disagree!!! =)"

unimatrix0: "This is just another way for Republicans to demonize and scapegoat the poor. Disgusting. The gov. should not dictate what poor people can and cannot eat."

bailey78: "About Damn time. I see folks with a bunch of kids spend food stamps on crap every time I go to a Stop & Rob store around here. That or sell the card to buy dope. I know a lots of families need the help. But a lot of them are just abuseing the system as much as they can."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this news story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Revolution 99 Update: Occupy D.C. to protest CPAC
Submitted by joeeddy

Occupy Washington D.C. plans to protest the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and labeled the event a “gathering of bigots, media mouthpieces, corrupt politicians and their one percent elite puppet masters.” Republican presidential candidates are expected to attend, as well as notable members of the Congress.

“CPAC will parade and attempt to perpetuate the radical right wing’s imperialist ideologies with keynote speakers, movies and banquets dedicated to pursuing its racist, sexist, patriarchal and exploitative agenda,” the movement said on its website.

Occupy protesters will be joined by the AFL-CIO, SEIU, National Nurses United and the Metro Labor Council. The community reacts to the upcoming Occupy protest:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "It's only just the beginning folks..."

wolfess: "More power to them! When are the ditwads in power going to realize they can't break up this movement -- it's like water, the more they try to 'dam' it up, the more creative the 99% grow :-)! Pwr 2 the true American 99%! GUILLOTINE the naysayers! FREE Bradley Manning AND Julian Assange!"

MSII: "More power to them! Please do send a clear message to the “gathering of bigots, media mouthpieces, corrupt politicians and their one percent elite puppet masters.”!"

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this insightful story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

The Cancer in Occupy
Submitted by Incredulous

In an article by Chris Hedges, the Black Bloc anarchists are exposed as the "cancer of the Occupy movement". The group dresses in black, conceals their faces, vandalizes and searches for physical confrontations with police during many Occupy protests. Actively opposing to strategy, "these anarchists represent no one but themselves."

Because Black Bloc anarchists do not believe in organization, indeed oppose all organized movements, they ensure their own powerlessness. They can only be obstructionist. And they are primarily obstructionist to those who resist. John Zerzan, one of the principal ideologues of the Black Bloc movement in the United States, defended “Industrial Society and Its Future,” the rambling manifesto by Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, although he did not endorse Kaczynski’s bombings. Zerzan is a fierce critic of a long list of supposed sellouts starting with Noam Chomsky. Black Bloc anarchists are an example of what Theodore Roszak in “The Making of a Counter Culture” called the “progressive adolescentization” of the American left.

“The Black Bloc can say they are attacking cops, but what they are really doing is destroying the Occupy movement,” the writer and environmental activist Derrick Jensen told me when I reached him by phone in California. “If their real target actually was the cops and not the Occupy movement, the Black Bloc would make their actions completely separate from Occupy, instead of effectively using these others as a human shield. Their attacks on cops are simply a means to an end, which is to destroy a movement that doesn’t fit their ideological standard.”

The community responds to the recent developments in the Occupy movement:

JanforGore: "Occupy is also being hijacked by politicians who only now come out and talk about constitutional amendments to get money out of politics when they were taking it themselves all along, just to get credit for themselves instead of just doing it. They just can't let the people have their voice. Last week Occupy members stood with farmers outside the courthouse in NYC peacefully to protest Monsanto. Didn't see anyone in the "media" covering that however."

Tyr: "If you really want to enact change then you have to have candidates that can get elected and makes the changes from within....shouting about how " unfair" capitalism is won't get it done...I got all thumbs down then and I expect I will again, but pinning your hopes on this movement is futile, whether or not you like to hear that does not change the reality of it...sorry."

kennymotown: "These anarchist need to wait incase the movement takes a turn for the worse. I fear it will eventually, the Elite like the way things are going!"

EmperorThan: "The government loves Occupy. Either they're non-violent so they're docile enough to round up like cattle and take away, or they are violent and they make the entire movement look bad in the process."

Leen61: "Great article by Chris Hedges. I don't want the Occupy movement hijacked by this Black Bloc movement, either. It's just what they and TPTB want."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this breaking news story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Prop. 8: Gay-Marriage Ban Unconstitutional, Appellate Court Rules
Submitted by ThatCrazyLibertarian

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. In 2008, California voters outlawed same-sex marriage by passing the measure. In a case that could head to the Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit's rules allow at least two weeks before a ruling takes effect, so same-sex marriages will not immediately resume.

“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.

The ruling upheld a decision by retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who struck down the ballot measure in 2010 after holding an unprecedented trial on the nature of sexual orientation and the history of marriage.

The community reacts to the court striking down the California gay marriage ban:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "Huzzah! Now we get to hurry up and wait some more..."

bailey78: "Well by gawd if folks want to get married let them."

joeredford: "A legal analyst on MSNBC just said the Supreme Court may not accept the case and allow it to stand because it does not apply to all states, or even the other states in the 9th Circuit. It only applies to California."

ThatCrazyLibertarian: "So long as it's appealed, I think it's likely that the Supreme Court will take it up. And so long as Justice Kennedy is sitting on that Supreme Court bench, it is highly unlikely that it would be overturned. But it now stands as binding precedent to all the states in the 9th Circuit if the Supreme Court does let it stand."

Johnny_Los_Angeles: "Well of course it is unconstitutional, why we even allow things like this on a ballot is a serious problem, and this took years too long to get decided."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Obama gets Biblical on Republican tax critics
Submitted by KB723

At the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama delivered a personal speech about his religious beliefs - help those who are struggling, for personal humility, and to be closer to God. During this mostly conservative forum, the president quoted scripture in a effort to gain Republicans support for a fairer tax code and caring for the poor.

“When I talk about our financial institutions playing by the same rules as folks on main street, when I talk about making sure insurance companies aren’t discriminating against those who are already sick or making sure that unscrupulous lenders aren’t taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us, I do so because I genuinely believe it will make the economy stronger for everybody,” Obama explained. “But I also do it because I know far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years. And I believe in God’s command to love thy neighbor as thyself.”

“And when I talk about shared responsibility, it’s because I genuinely believe at a time when folks are struggling, at a time when we have enormous deficits, it’s hard for me to ask seniors on a fixed income or young people with student loans or middle class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone. And I think to myself, if I am willing to give something up as someone who has been extraordinarily blessed, give up some of the tax breaks that I enjoy — I actually think that’s going to make economic sense.”

He added: “But for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus’s teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required.”

The community responds to the president revealing a more personal side:

rerushg: "Clever speech. Begins with humble acknowledgment of his own belief then progresses into the fundamental tenets of virtually all religions: basic universal morality. Uses it all to underlay that "he cares". A very nice tapdance on the head of the pin. Bet the WH staff pored over this little talk for quite a while."

cherry5000: "Finally, Obama calling out the hypocrites."

jubal: "Obama is growing some Christian Cahones....Good For Him!!! Hurray!!!"

wolfess: "Spouting religion from the 'bully pulpit' has no place in a nation that was founded on SEPARATION of church and state! He doesn't need to show them how much like them he is -- he needs to remind them that religion has NO place in the governing of this nation!"

GRC54: "It's about time he used the bible against the Bible beaters. Give them a tast of what they preach."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this developing story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Breaking News: Komen Apologizes; Pledges To Continue Planned Parenthood Grants
Submitted by letsliveinpeace

After public backlash, the Susan G. Komen foundation backtracks on its disputed decision to cut ties to Planned Parenthood. Komen for the Cure just released the following statement from Nancy Brinker and the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors:

"We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives.

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair."

Komen plans to revise a new policy that barred the organization from funding Planned Parenthood. The community responds to the foundation's new promise to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer:

ampersand: "Good on the board members who resigned to protest this attempted political coup in a public health organization. To really save the Koman Foundation long term harm the Komen board members who supported the original move to attack Planned Parenthood services and funding should resign."

ZiggyStrange: "Not good enough for me. That was a political hit on the people, saying I give when the nation and it's own contributors turned on Komen for being a compromised organization. I don't trust them anymore, and nobody should, I do not accept the apology. To hell with them."

jackhole: "The heat needs to remain on then demand transparency. Demand an investigation of The Komen foundation lets see what atrocities happen behind the scenes."

lazloman: "I wouldn't rest easy just because they reversed their decision. The wacko fringe on the right really, really, really, really wants to impose its way on the rest of us and they won't be deterred by public opinion. They will likely try to find another way to attack PP."

northernexpat: "I will still not support them ever again. They only apologized because they saw a major impact on their gravy train. The President of National Organization for Women said that because of this very political decision by the SKC that she predicted that this organization would not be around in three years. I say let's make it happen. What have they really done to find a cure for breast cancer? Just making people aware of breast cancer is not enough."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Hunting Nazis: Anonymous snares Ron Paul in Operation Blitzkrieg
Submitted by unimatrix0

While Anonymous were attempting to take down the white supremacist American Third Party (A3P) network, the collective claims to have found numerous connections between Republican candidate Ron Paul and A3P. The following is from a statement issued by Anonymous hacktivists announcing the successful "Operation Blitzkrieg" mission:

"In addition to finding the usual racist rants and interactions with other white power groups, we also found a disturbingly high amount of members who are also involved in campaigning for Ron Paul. According to these messages, Ron Paul has regularly met with many A3P members, even engaging in conference calls with their board of directors. Ron Paul's racist politics and affiliations are already well known, being viciously anti-immigrant, anti-abortion and against gay marriage -- not to mention having authored the racist "Ron Paul Papers" and receiving financial support from other white power groups.

The community reacts to the possible connection:

fiberbundle: "This revelation should only enhance Ron's status as a member in good standing of TODAY'S Republican Party."

chew_chew: "I do not support Mr Paul's campaign, but I have felt all along he was getting a raw deal from the media and pundits. But there is SO much smoke billowing up from Mr Paul around this particular issue, chances seem to be increasing exponentially there is fire."

maasanova: "Gay marriage, pro-illegal immigration, hatred of Christianity and hyperventilating about racists and white supremacists are anti-fascist Communist issues, not Ron Paul issues. Ron Paul's issues are war and the economy, which of course the anti-fascists could care less about."

unimatrix0: "Exposing Nazi scum - Good. No rights, no freedoms, were violated. Documents were released linking Paul and his supporters to Nazi scum."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this unbelievable story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

'I'm going to destroy America and dig up Marilyn Monroe': British pair arrested in U.S. on terror charges over Twitter joke
Submitted by Anonmaly

A British couple were detained by Homeland Security for joking on Twitter about 'destroying America' and 'diggin' up Marilyn Monroe'. The term 'destroy' is a British slang for 'party', and the questionable Monroe tweet referred to a Family Guy joke. After being interrogated and spending 12 hours in separate holding cells, the couple were put on a plane home.

Leigh, an Irish national, and Emily arrived at Birmingham Airport last Wednesday afternoon.

Emily said: 'The officials told us we were not allowed in to the country because of Leigh's tweet. They wanted to know what we were going to do.

'They asked why we wanted to destroy America and we tried to explain it meant to get trashed and party.

'I almost burst out laughing when they asked me if I was going to be Leigh's lookout while he dug up Marilyn Monroe.

'I couldn't believe it because it was a quote from the comedy Family Guy which is an American show. 'It got even more ridiculous because the officials searched our suitcases and said they were looking for spades and shovels. They did a full body search on me too.

'We just wanted to have a good time on holiday. That was all Leigh meant in his tweet. He would not hurt anyone.'

Leigh posted the tweet on January 16 before the pair flew to LA last Monday.

The community chimes on how Twitter is changing the way the government officials are watching us:

kbshana: "So we know that the u.s. government is monitoring world wide twitter accounts and matching up the names with passenger lists, we know the u.s. government doesn't watch family guy, and british slang is stupid."

Leen61: "The guy was dumb to Tweet that, but still. Who in their right mind thinks that REAL terrorists would be so out in the open with their plans? This couple will be put on a terrorist watch list the rest of their lives."

maasanova: "A. Stupid for using Twitter B. Just plain stupid"

DEM46: "I keep telling people that the NSA's supercomputers don't find humor in jokes tweeted or over cell lines. You will be detained."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this Occupy story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Occupy Oakland: Over 400 Arrested As Police Fire Tear Gas, Flash Grenades at Protesters
Submitted by letsliveinpeace

Over 400 Occupy protesters, along with a number of journalists, were arrested in Oakland over the weekend.  Saturday marked the largest mass arrests since the nationwide Occupy movement began last year. Occupy marches are becoming more violent, as one group vandalized City Hall.

We get a response from Occupy Oakland member, Maria Lewis, to Oakland City Councilmember Ignacio De La Fuente's accusation that the Occupy Movement is engaging in "domestic terrorism." "They are more interested in protecting abandoned private property than they are the people. The idea that opening up a social center is terrorism, is very telling of the narrative of the police state," Lewis says.

The community reacts to the police action toward the demonstrators:

Johnny_Los_Angeles: "Just another day in the Fascist Police States of America."

letsliveinpeace: "So lets me get this, the mayor sends her cops to gun down and beat the protesters, and nobody is held accountable yet the protesters do not deserve the support of the people so she said. Sounds to me like EVERYBODY in that city hall needs to be unemployed RIGHT NOW, this sound like the start of some serious fascism. This administration has blood on it's hands and is provoking violence to hide it's incompetence."

circlesquared: "Grow Occupy grow...we need to take our world back from the few."

Novek: "I stopped going my local occupation for the exact reason that I know many others are not. Staying peaceful in this kind of environment where our civil liberties are shattered to dust and ruin cannot be allowed to continue and the nazis (police) cannot be looked upon as friendlies when they are 'just following orders'."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at this insightful story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

FBI seeking social media monitoring tool
Submitted by KB723

The FBI is asking information technology contractors about the possibility of creating a tool that would enchace ways to find breaking news or threats along social media platforms.

“Social media has become a primary source of intelligence because it has become the premier first response to key events and the primal alert to possible developing situations,” the FBI request said.

“Intelligence analysts will often use social media to receive the first tip-off that a crisis has occurred,” it said.

The FBI said the tool “must have the ability to rapidly assemble critical open source information and intelligence that will allow SIOC to quickly vet, identity, and geo-locate breaking events, incidents and emerging threats.”

The community reacts to the proposed tool that would collect 'open source' intelligence.

dudefromtherock: "Obama's favorite book....Nineteen Eighty Four."

COMMONSENSEFORCOMMONGOOD_COM: "It seems that we must up our insistence on social media privacy. That's why I use Ixquick instead of Google, because I don't want the F.B.I. noting which dog food or underwear I buy online. However, it's the site we visit that we Must Insist on insuring our privacy, or we Must Refuse To Patronize them! Sellers, beware."

LivingPong: "Mine social media for intelligence? So much for the billions of dollars spent on surveillance technologies. I did notice they were going to avoid Facebook and Youtube, that's got to avoid Terrabytes of useless data. It's probably more likely to offer up useless information in an untimely fashion."

warman1138: "Mining information seems to be the only growth industry the government is interested in."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a closer look at another highlight from President Obama's State of the Union address - our community can't get enough! Check it out and add your two cents:

Obama: States should require kids stay in school until 18 or graduation
Submitted by Anonmaly

In his address, the president, wants states to change their laws to require that all students be required to stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18 years old. President Obama has set a goal by 2020 for all adult Americans to commit at least one year of higher education.

“We also know that when students aren’t allowed to walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma,” he said in the State of the Union. “So tonight, I call on every State to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn eighteen.

The pace is too slow to meet the national goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020. We must calibrate our educational system to the greater demands of the 21st century through a Civic Marshall Plan to make more accelerated progress in boosting student achievement, high school graduation rates, and college- and career-readiness for our nation to meet national goals and fulfill the promise of the next generation."

The community shares its thoughts on the education issue:

FoosMaster: "Instead of making states require kids stay in school maybe we should Properly Fund the schools!"

MotherForTruth: "Teach our children love for knowledge, give our children a quality education, assure our children their ingenuity is needed. How will forcing children to stay at school without a positive vision for their future is helpful?"

unimatrix0: "Please. Let's be honest. Without a high school diploma, or at least a GED, you are f*cked. Most employers won't even consider you without the credential. I teach adults at a local community college who dropped out of high school and are now working to get their GED. 99% of them regret dropping out of high school, and wish they had made different choices. Obama is promoting education for everyone, which is a good thing."

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "Forcing our kids to stay in system is not the way to fix the catastrophic problems our educational system is facing! Not by a long shot. We are looking at a near complete re-write of it at this point if we want any hope of improvement. I am sorry but there are things that need to be done in education and the general raising of our children that won't sit well with either party."

Check out all things State of the Union from the Current staff:

• State of the Union: Visualizing Obama's 2009-2012 speeches
• The State of the Union in 44 tweets
• BFD: Are there issues you wish Obama had focused on more in the State of the Union?

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a look at some of the most popular stories from the Current community, and we've rounded up some highlights to share. Check them out and add your two cents:

Children 'dumped in streets by Greek parents who can't afford to look after them any more'
Submitted by Dagum

Some families are so devastated by the Euro crisis that a few Greek parents are abandoning their children on the streets. 

Athens' Ark of the World youth centre said four children, including a newborn baby, had been left on its doorstep in recent months.

One mother, it said, ran away after handing over her two-year-old daughter Natasha.

Four-year-old Anna was found by a teacher clutching a note that read: 'I will not be coming to pick up Anna today because I cannot afford to look after her. Please take good care of her. Sorry.'  

US Marines urinating on men 'barbaric' says Taliban
Submitted by Scott_Pert

The Taliban called deemed an online video "barbaric" as it shows supposed US Marines urinating on slain insurgents. The US military is investigating the terrible footage of four servicemen dressed in United States military uniform.

"This is yet another barbaric act by foreign forces. Over the past 10 years there have been hundreds of similar cases that were not revealed," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told AFP.
"We strongly condemn this," he said.

A Taliban spokesman later said that the video would not affect proposed peace talks.

The community responds to the crude video:

chew_chew: "It is barbaric. And the Taliban certainly knows barbarism when they see it. When we behave in a manner such as this, we are no better than those we fight against."

TanzaniteDiamonds: "Too revolting for words."

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "Distasteful and immature, yes. Barbaric, no. Barbaric would be acid attacks against women, no education for females, murder based on adherence to one interpretation of one religion, stoning of adulterers, execution of homosexuals, etc."

On January 18 Reddit to shut-down in protest of SOPA - What will Current do?
Submitted by MotherForTruth

On January 18, the user-generated aggregator of content, Reddit,  plans to will black out their own site in protest of Stop Online Piracy Act.

“Instead of the normal glorious, user-curated chaos,” the site will suspend its content and instead post a message about the dangers of both SOPA and the Protect IP Act, a sister legislator of sorts about to go before the US Senate. The site will also post a live stream of the House hearing that will discuss SOPA, which Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian will be testifying at.

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community

We're taking a look at some of the most popular stories from the Current community, and we've rounded up some highlights to share. Check them out and add your two cents:

Gingrich: ‘Occupy’ protesters ‘blocking’ my free speech
Submitted by KB723

Newt Gingrich shared his frustration against the Occupy Wall Street protesters who blocked entrances at his campaign headquarters, forcing him to cancel the event.

“Some of the Occupy Wall Street people, frankly, have a touch of anarchism in them,” Gingrich declared. “I think, ultimately, the society’s going to have to say there are limits to those kind of folks blocking people from having their right to free speech. But we decided it wasn’t worth risking some kind of big confrontation and so we, frankly, decided to skip past that particular event.”

“I do think we can’t be held hostage by those kind of people,” he added.

The community responds to Gingrich's claims on protesters infringing on his free speech:

gypsysailor: "No Newt we are not blocking your right to free speech. We are however shouting you down just like the teabaggers did to our candidates. Guess you don't like it much Mr. Divisive."

jim_b: "History genius doesn't understand the constitutional right of free speech?"

artemis6: "The state can't give you freedom and the state can't take it away. You're born with it, like your eyes. like your ears. Freedom is something you assume, then you wait for someone to try and take it away . The degree with which you resist, is the degree to which you are free. __ Utah Philips. Occupy Is my freedom speaking."

Romney campaign financed by big banks, Paul campaign financed by US military
Submitted by maasanova

Newly released records reveal Mitt Romney's campaign support comes almost exclusively of the biggest private banks in the world.

Among Romney’s top twenty donors are Credit Suisse Group, Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo and Citigroup Inc.

By far and away Romney’s largest campaign contributions have emanated from employees and officials at Goldman Sachs, with a total of $354,700 donated.

Parents upset after Georgia elementary school uses slavery examples in math worksheet
Submitted by JanforGore

A elementary school in Georgia caused an uproar, after teachers used examples of slavery in math problems. The teachers explained they were only trying to incorporate history into their math lessons.

“Clearly, they did not do as good of a job as they should have done,” district spokeswoman Sloan Roach told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Examples on the worksheet included “Each tree had 56 oranges. If 8 slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” and “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in 1 week?”

The community rightfully so shares its anger:

jennilamb007: "It was just a poorly written question"....are they serious? This is heinous. How is this excusable on any level? Asking a child to count how many beatings someone is going to get in a given day is stupid and amoral and RACIST."

warman1138: "There is no excuse for this whatsoever, blatant racism at its ugliest."

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a look at some of the most popular stories from the Current community, and we've rounded up some highlights to share. Check them out and add your two cents:

Obama pledges to exempt Americans from indefinite detention law
Submitted by KB723

On New Year's Eve President Obama signed a bill that gives authorization for the military to indefinitely detain American citizens. While he did not follow through on his threat to veto the bill, he did issue a statement pledging not to detain citizens.

“My administration will not authorize the indefinite detention without trial of American citizens,” President Obama said in a signing statement, a tactic presidents occasionally use to clarify how they interpret laws. “Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation. My Administration will interpret section 1021 in a manner that ensures that any detention it authorizes complies with the Constitution, the laws of war, and all other applicable law.”

Work Halted at 4 More Ohio Fluid-Injection Wells in Wake of Earthquakes | Linked to Fracking?
Submitted by EthicalVegan

Ohio officials have prohibited four fluid-injection wells from operating in the wake of increased seismic activity in the area, until an investigation can be conducted into possible links to frakking.

Andy Ware, deputy director of Ohio's natural resources department, told CNN on Sunday that Zehringer and Gov. John Kasich subsequently ordered that four nearby injection well projects will not open in the coming weeks, as had previously been planned. They 'll be inoperational until a determination is made in an investigation of a possible link between the earthquakes and the fluid-injection wells, he added.

Rash of arson fires continues, spreads across wider area ! Just guessing, but looks like a disgruntled citizen's work!
Submitted by kennymotown

A wave of arson fires has hit Los Angeles, with most of the fires being set overnight as residents are sleeping.

Extra firefighters were reporting to stations across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Burbank and Glendale, while investigators set up a telephone hotline, interviewed witnesses and ran down tips. Officials announced at least $35,000 in rewards for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.

We're taking a look at some of the most popular stories from the Current community, and we've rounded up some highlights to share. Check them out and add your two cents:

Thousands Sterilized, a State Weighs Restitution
Submitted by squarethecircle

North Carolina weights the possibility of restitution for victims of an aggressive sterilization program run by the state from 1933-1977.

Now, along with scores of others selected for state sterilization — among them uneducated young girls who had been raped by older men, poor teenagers from large families, people with epilepsy and those deemed to be too “feeble-minded” to raise children — Mr. Holt is waiting to see what a state that had one of the country’s most aggressive eugenics programs will decide his fertility was worth.

This 28-Year-Old Wants to Kill Credit Card Use
Submitted by misfit20

Founded by a 28-year-old, there's a small 12 person startup in Iowa that's aiming to kill credit cards.

Dwolla was founded by 28-year-old Ben Milne; it's an innovative online payment system that sidesteps credit cards completely.

Predator Drone Used By USA Police, On USA Soil, Against USA Civilians
Submitted by squarethecircle

Privacy concerns are being raised over the fact that North Dakota police have used unmanned Air Force planes to assist in surveillance efforts.

But that was just the start. Local police say they have used two unarmed Predators based at Grand Forks Air Force Base to fly at least two dozen surveillance flights since June. The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration have used Predators for other domestic investigations, officials said.

Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.