I think that some of the past thinking is still around which was like MacD said, "if they just get their butts kicked hard enough", they will shape up. I know that was the thinking of my parents & of their parents. For those of us who weren't harmed by that thinking, some have decided that that philosophy is what works thus the continuance of that thinking. Those of us who were harmed by it or have decided that that approach isn't appropriate, have come up with better ways (I think) of handling the situations. I still look at the upswing of violent crimes & the age bracket that they are done by & still wonder what would have changed their actions if anything would have.

I know that my parents always went with the concept "if it worked for my parents, it will work for us". Our generation (I was born in 1953) has learned to think for ourselves & decide what works best for us, always coming up with new ideas when something doesn't work. We are much more open to new ideas & even creating our own ideas to handle problems that we encounter. Not saying that our results will be any better when the future looks back at us, But at least we are trying.

Debbie