OK, though this current Core programs may be a problem, why do you think teens can't answer these questions? Partly because our education system has been dumbed down the other is a huge increase in family dysfunction and insane increase of digital technology in which young minds don't handle well...without direction the 'new technology' promotes a lazy dependency. We art and interactive education back in our schools which are, in actuality, grossly underfunded because of a gross lack of understanding of what is required

Actually, many of them are more just and simply believe that many or most religious orgs are overly controlling and judgmental...simply not good in dispensing justice. History backs this point quite vigorously...atheism is just a point of view and doesn't imply a lack of morals or ethics...I've known countless 'religious persons' who are and have been less than ethical...

law'; they act typically like they're above it and look at the small fines imposed as the cost of doing business...I need only point to the 'out-of-control' situation we have with Wall St and mega-corps who buy their way through regulation and enforcement. This is NOT what our Forefathers had intentioned as to the influence that corporations are wielding. Have you ever addressed this problem?

great effort to suppress the info. This always occurs when a sizable energy company is putting forth a major effort to save costs while taking large risks (note the BP Gulf disaster which is far from ever being clean; and not BP's effort to sequester info from being public; and take note of the spill in Arkansas...) You make good points about an overzealous effort from the 'extreme' faction of the 'environmentalists', and its impact on the current market, however, we must continue to pursue a healthy environmental policy approach to our resources or we'll bankrupt ourselves and bring ruin to future generations. The sad fact is that corporations continue to demonstrate their collective resistance to adhering to the principles of 'rule and

Ms Noon, the XL Pipeline is fraught with issues & employment projections have been shown to be overly exaggerated; minimal long term. There are issues with coal but we need to deal with the current reality as you point out. Fracking is a train-wreck that's already in the 'crashing' phase. Geographically, the problems showing up are innumerable and threaten local communities. The immediate issues are mostly due to the 'pollution' from the 'process' itself, i.e. the chemicals applied have already caused a great deal of illness (several have been hospitalized) and resulted in pollution of nearby rivers causing death of cattle as well as other wildlife. The resistance against this process are well founded in the facts though there has been a

spoon-fed by FoxNews and other talk radio mouthpieces. Most of the comments here are just reflecting this knee-jerk mentality as if it's an all or nothing kind of decision process...

Govt comprises all citizens and the solution that environmentalism brings to the table is for all to be educated on the value of the resources we have. Your 'big govt' is a very tired and lame 'kool-aid talking point' that is an empty criticism. The real problem is the corruption in both the private and public sectors, how Congress has been bought (both sides of the party line are guilty) and how the banks have gotten away with theft and fraud on the largest scale in history. Bush pushed TARP and the Obama folks just continued the dance. Any criticism like you used re 'Marxism' is completely absurd; if you understood it, you'd be amazed by how much you agree with some of its principles. But most folk won't self-educate and would rather be

I feel you represent the vast majority of teachers in our country and you are appreciated!!

Actually, this is very good point! Problem is that the real issues have more to do with a very suppressed and dumbed down society. The ignorance people into marriage and/or relationships is pretty dismal and sad. Sad/dysfunctional home life is what accounts for poor preparation, that is, people are very immature as they approach their adult lives. Also the Church is major dysfunction with regard to preparing people for 'adult' life...comments here would be much too long to include. Hawkins reasons are mostly bogus or he's gone way beyond what is real (a common problem he suffers from).

Because it is marriage! That translates as the recognition and celebration of the public declaration of a love bond between two people who are committed to one another in life; not about the 'plumbing' between their legs...capiche???

NO...hetero unions have been sanctioned by governments due to tradition. There is much presumed in the course of beliefs regarding what constitutes 'marriage' or any other traditional belief. Same-sex unions have, in the same way, brought "benefits to government and society": loving families, positive child rearing, etc. Your statements have zero basis in fact