In my line of work I get to see a lot of kids who have never had parameters of conduct established. Folks, this country has a lot of kids who have no respect for authority, no respect for society, and no respect for anything else except their thieving, doper, amoral "friends." Yes, many of these kids were physically and/or emotionally abused by substandard parents. Many more have been taught that they may defy authority without recourse by parents who are afraid to discipline their children, or who believe that corporal punishment is wrong. Neither side cancels out the other.Over the years many jailers and prison guards have abused their authority. Should we abolish jails and prisons because of that? Parents who go beyond what is reasonable when disciplining their children should be corrected, certainly. We're surrounded by do-gooders eager to intervene when parents get out of line; kids being abused can report the problem in school, church, or on 911, and the situation WILL be investigated. I've lost count of the number of homes I've been to where the 12, 13, 14, or 15 year old kid is into drugs, burglary, theft, and skips school on a regular basis (if he/she hasn't been expelled yet). The kid comes and goes at will, keeps company with other misfits like him/her, and the parents haven't a clue what the kid is doing or with whom. When the parents attempt to question the kid's activities, or whereabouts, or choice of associates, the kid responds with a "F^@k you." If the parents attempt to restrict the kid's errant ways, the kid responds with a "F^@k you." If the parents threaten to physically restrain this kid he tells them, "F^@k you, you can't make me stay home! If you touch me I'll call the cops and YOU'LL go to jail." The really sad thing is that way too many parents believe that laying a hand on their kid is illegal. We can thank all those PC do-gooders for that. I see FAR more kids who are misfits, and budding young felons, due to a LACK of parental discipline than I can attribute parental abuse. These people proposing this are the same morons who believe that taking away an honest citizen's firearms will prevent a crook from using a firearm in the commission of a crime.These people proposing this are the same morons who believe that allowing animals to starve slowly to death is more humane than hunting them. Parenting is a complex and difficult task. A politically correct cutesy-poo doctrine will not solve the world's parenting problems. Each kid is different, and each parent is different, and many kids require a strong hand to start them down the correct path in life.It is already illegal to abuse a child, and laws have been enacted to facilitate the investigation of abusive parents. I think that making corporal punishment illegal would be a MONUMENTAL error.
When I was married...last century, My wife's brother who is a psychologist said that I should not spank my kids with my hand, but rather that I should use a belt.So, I hit him with a belt, and then I slapped the AppleSauce out of him with my hand. I then ask him which he preferred. All that schooling went out the window. He said that it would be better to use my hand on their buttocks. I agreed.
