diff --git a/docs/upgrades/upgrade_5.4.4-5.5.0.sql b/docs/upgrades/upgrade_5.4.4-5.5.0.sql
index 0dfd2808e..57e06b4f3 100644
--- a/docs/upgrades/upgrade_5.4.4-5.5.0.sql
+++ b/docs/upgrades/upgrade_5.4.4-5.5.0.sql
@@ -153,11 +153,12 @@ delete from international where languageId=1 and namespace='WebGUI' and internat
 insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (512,1,'WebGUI','Go to next thread.', 1065280309,NULL);
 delete from international where languageId=1 and namespace='WebGUI' and internationalId=513;
 insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (513,1,'WebGUI','Go to previous thread.', 1065280287,NULL);
-delete from international where languageId=1 and namespace='WebGUI' and internationalId=1019;
 insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (1019,1,'WebGUI','Back to thread list.', 1065280160,'Return to the list of threads in a discussion.');
-delete from international where languageId=1 and namespace='WebGUI' and internationalId=1018;
 insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (1018,1,'WebGUI','Start a new thread.', 1065279960,'Add a new line of discussion to a forum.');
-delete from international where languageId=1 and namespace='WebGUI' and internationalId=1020;
 insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (1020,1,'WebGUI','Rating', 1065280882,'How useful/interesting a user thinks another poster\'s post is.');
 alter table forumThread add column status varchar(30) not null default 'approved';
+create table forumPostRating ( forumPostId int not null, userId int not null, ipAddress varchar(16), dateOfRating int, rating int not null);
+alter table forumPost add column rating int not null default 0;
+insert into international (internationalId,languageId,namespace,message,lastUpdated,context) values (1021,1,'WebGUI','Rate Message', 1065356764,'A label indicating that the following links are to be used for discussion post ratings.');
+alter table forumThread add column rating int not null;
 
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Forum.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Forum.pm
index a0b51fc0b..dc9848e20 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Forum.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Forum.pm
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ use WebGUI::Session;
 use WebGUI::SQL;
 
 
+sub canPost {
+        my ($self, $userId) = @_;
+        $userId = $session{user}{userId} unless ($userId);
+        return WebGUI::Privilege::isInGroup($self->get("groupToPost"));
+}
+
 sub create {
 	my ($self, $data) = @_;
 	$data->{forumId} = "new";
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Post.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Post.pm
index a9433e0ec..08cf237c4 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Post.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Post.pm
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use WebGUI::DateTime;
 use WebGUI::Forum::Thread;
 use WebGUI::Session;
 use WebGUI::SQL;
+use WebGUI::Utility;
 
 sub canEdit {
         my ($self, $userId) = @_;
@@ -54,6 +55,16 @@ sub getThread {
 	return $self->{_thread};
 }
 
+sub hasRated {
+	my ($self, $userId, $ipAddress) = @_;
+	$userId = $session{user}{userId} unless ($userId);
+	$ipAddress = $session{env}{REMOTE_ADDR} unless ($ipAddress);
+	my ($flag) = WebGUI::SQL->quickArray("select count(*) from forumPostRating where forumPostId="
+		.$self->get("forumPostId")." and ((userId=$userId and userId<>1) or (userId=1 and 
+		ipAddress='$ipAddress'))");
+	return $flag;
+}
+
 sub incrementViews {
 	my ($self) = @_;
 	WebGUI::SQL->write("update forumPost set views=views+1 where forumPostId=".$self->get("forumPostId"));
@@ -96,6 +107,25 @@ sub new {
 	}
 }
 
+sub rate {
+	my ($self, $rating, $userId, $ipAddress) = @_;
+	$userId = $session{user}{userId} unless ($userId);
+	$ipAddress = $session{env}{REMOTE_ADDR} unless ($ipAddress);
+	WebGUI::SQL->write("insert into forumPostRating (forumPostId,userId,ipAddress,dateOfRating,rating) values ("
+		.$self->get("forumPostId").", $userId, ".quote($ipAddress).", ".WebGUI::DateTime::time().", $rating)");
+	$self->recalculateRating;
+}
+
+sub recalculateRating {
+	my ($self) = @_;
+	my ($count) = WebGUI::SQL->quickArray("select count(*) from forumPostRating where forumPostId=".$self->get("forumPostId"));
+        $count = $count || 1;
+        my ($sum) = WebGUI::SQL->quickArray("select sum(rating) from forumPostRating where forumPostId=".$self->get("forumPostId"));
+        my $average = round($sum/$count);
+        $self->set({rating=>$average});
+	$self->getThread->recalculateRating;
+}
+
 sub set {
 	my ($self, $data) = @_;
 	$data->{forumPostId} = $self->get("forumPostId") unless ($data->{forumPostId});
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Thread.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Thread.pm
index 8772aed58..9102c32c0 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Thread.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Thread.pm
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use WebGUI::Forum;
 use WebGUI::Forum::Post;
 use WebGUI::Session;
 use WebGUI::SQL;
+use WebGUI::Utility;
 
 sub create {
 	my ($self, $data, $postData) = @_;
@@ -110,6 +111,15 @@ sub new {
 	}
 }
 
+sub recalculateRating {
+	my ($self) = @_;
+        my ($count) = WebGUI::SQL->quickArray("select count(*) from forumPost where forumThreadId=".$self->get("forumThreadId")." and rating>0");
+        $count = $count || 1;
+        my ($sum) = WebGUI::SQL->quickArray("select sum(rating) from forumPost where forumThreadId=".$self->get("forumThreadId")." and rating>0");
+        my $average = round($sum/$count);
+        $self->set({rating=>$average});
+}
+                                                                                                                                                             
 sub set {
 	my ($self, $data) = @_;
 	$data->{forumThreadId} = $self->get("forumThreadId") unless ($data->{forumThreadId});
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Web.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Web.pm
index 7ef4c82a2..05698da53 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Web.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Forum/Web.pm
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ sub _formatPreviousThreadURL {
 	return WebGUI::URL::append($_[0],"forumOp=previousThread&amp;forumThreadId=".$_[1]);
 }
 
+sub _formatRatePostURL {
+	return WebGUI::URL::append($_[0],"forumOp=ratePost&amp;forumPostId=".$_[1]."&amp;rating=".$_[2]);
+}
+
 sub _formatReplyPostURL {
 	return WebGUI::URL::append($_[0],"forumOp=post&amp;parentId=".$_[1]);
 }
@@ -89,6 +93,7 @@ sub _getPostTemplateVars {
                 }
                 $sth->finish;
         }
+	$var->{canPost} = $forum->canPost;
         $var->{'post.date.value'} = _formatPostDate($post->get("dateOfPost"));
 	$var->{'post.date.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(245);
         $var->{'post.date.epoch'} = $post->get("dateOfPost");
@@ -109,6 +114,13 @@ sub _getPostTemplateVars {
 	$var->{'post.user.Profile'} = _formatUserProfileURL($post->get("userId"));
 	$var->{'post.url'} = _formatThreadURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"));
 	$var->{'post.id'} = $post->get("forumPostId");
+	$var->{'post.rate.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(1021);
+	$var->{'post.rate.url.1'} = _formatRatePostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"),1);
+	$var->{'post.rate.url.2'} = _formatRatePostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"),2);
+	$var->{'post.rate.url.3'} = _formatRatePostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"),3);
+	$var->{'post.rate.url.4'} = _formatRatePostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"),4);
+	$var->{'post.rate.url.5'} = _formatRatePostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"),5);
+	$var->{'post.hasRated'} = $post->hasRated;
 	$var->{'post.reply.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(577);
 	$var->{'post.reply.url'} = _formatReplyPostURL($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"));
 	$var->{'post.edit.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(575);
@@ -153,14 +165,23 @@ sub viewForum {
 	my (%var, @thread_loop);
 	$var{'thread.new.url'} = _formatNewThreadURL($callback,$forumId);
 	$var{'thread.new.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(1018);
+	my $forum = WebGUI::Forum->new($forumId);
+	$var{canPost} = $forum->canPost;
 	$var{'thread.subject.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(229);
 	$var{'thread.date.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(245);
 	$var{'thread.user.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(244);
 	$var{"thread.views.label"} = WebGUI::International::get(514);
         $var{"thread.replies.label"} = WebGUI::International::get(1016);
+	$var{'thread.rating.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(1020);
         $var{"thread.last.label"} = WebGUI::International::get(1017);
 	my $p = WebGUI::Paginator->new($callback);
 	$p->setDataByQuery("select * from forumThread where forumId=".$forumId." order by isSticky desc, lastPostDate desc");
+	$var{firstPage} = $p->getFirstPageLink;
+        $var{lastPage} = $p->getLastPageLink;
+        $var{nextPage} = $p->getNextPageLink;
+        $var{pageList} = $p->getPageLinks;
+        $var{previousPage} = $p->getPreviousPageLink;
+        $var{multiplePages} = ($p->getNumberOfPages > 1);
 	my $threads = $p->getPageData;
 	foreach my $thread (@$threads) {
 		my $root = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($thread->{rootPostId});
@@ -170,9 +191,15 @@ sub viewForum {
 		} else {
 			$last = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($thread->{lastPostId});
 		}
+		my @rating_loop;
+		for (my $i=0;$i>=$thread->{rating};$i++) {
+			push(@rating_loop,{'thread.rating_loop.count'=>$i});
+		}
 		push(@thread_loop,{
 			'thread.views'=>$thread->{views},
 			'thread.replies'=>$thread->{replies},
+			'thread.rating'=>$thread->{rating},
+			'thread.rating_loop'=>\@rating_loop,
 			'thread.isSticky'=>$thread->{isSticky},
 			'thread.isLocked'=>$thread->{isLocked},
 			'thread.root.subject'=>_chopSubject($root->get("subject")),
@@ -263,6 +290,7 @@ sub www_post {
 		});
 	if ($var->{isReply}) {
 		my $reply = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($session{form}{parentId});
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($reply->getThread->getForum->canPost);
 		$var->{'form.begin'} .= WebGUI::Form::hidden({
 			name=>'parentId',
 			value=>$reply->get("forumPostId")
@@ -283,6 +311,7 @@ sub www_post {
 			value=>$session{form}{forumId}
 			});
 		$forum = WebGUI::Forum->new($session{form}{forumId});
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($forum->canPost);
 		if ($forum->isModerator) {
 			$var->{'sticky.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(1013);
 			$var->{'sticky.form'} = WebGUI::Form::yesNo({
@@ -307,6 +336,7 @@ sub www_post {
 	}
 	if ($var->{isEdit}) {
 		my $post = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($session{form}{forumPostId});
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($post->getThread->getForum->canPost);
 		$subject = $post->get("subject");
 		$message = $post->get("message");
 		$forum = $post->getThread->getForum;
@@ -358,7 +388,6 @@ sub www_postSave {
 	my $forumId = $session{form}{forumId};
 	my $threadId = $session{form}{forumThreadId};
 	my $postId = $session{form}{forumPostId};
-	my $thread;
 	my %postData = (
 		message=>$session{form}{message},
 		subject=>$session{form}{subject}
@@ -371,6 +400,7 @@ sub www_postSave {
 	if ($session{form}{parentId} > 0) { # reply
 		%postData = (%postData, %postDataNew);
 		my $parentPost = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($session{form}{parentId});
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($parentPost->getThread->getForum->canPost);
 		$parentPost->getThread->subscribe($session{user}{userId}) if ($session{form}{subscribe});
 		$parentPost->getThread->lock if ($session{form}{isLocked});
 		$postData{forumThreadId} = $parentPost->getThread->get("forumThreadId");
@@ -380,12 +410,15 @@ sub www_postSave {
 	}
 	if ($session{form}{forumPostId} > 0) { # edit
 		my $post = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($session{form}{forumPostId});
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($post->getThread->getForum->canPost);
 		$post->set(\%postData);	
 		return www_viewThread($callback,$post->get("forumPostId"));
 	}
 	if ($forumId) { # new post
 		%postData = (%postData, %postDataNew);
-		$thread = WebGUI::Forum::Thread->create({
+		my $forum = WebGUI::Forum->new($forumId);
+		return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient unless ($forum->canPost);
+		my $thread = WebGUI::Forum::Thread->create({
 			forumId=>$forumId,
 			isSticky=>$session{form}{isSticky},
 			isLocked=>$session{form}{isLocked}
@@ -406,6 +439,14 @@ sub www_previousThread {
 	}
 }
 
+sub www_ratePost {
+	my ($callback) = @_;
+	my $post = WebGUI::Forum::Post->new($session{form}{forumPostId});
+	return WebGUI::Privilege::insufficient() unless ($post->getThread->getForum->canPost);
+	$post->rate($session{form}{rating}) unless ($post->hasRated);
+	return www_viewThread($callback,$session{form}{forumPostId});
+}
+
 sub www_viewThread {
 	my ($callback, $postId) = @_;
 	$postId = $session{form}{forumPostId} unless ($postId);
@@ -430,6 +471,7 @@ sub www_viewThread {
 	$var->{'thread.next.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(512);
 	$var->{'thread.list.url'} = $callback;
 	$var->{'thread.list.label'} = WebGUI::International::get(1019);
+	$var->{canPost} = $forum->canPost;
 	return WebGUI::Template::process(WebGUI::Template::get(1,"Forum/Thread"), $var); 
 }