I give it credit.
An LAT editorial today begins:
Who knew that in her spare time, Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) has been glued to her television, riveted by episodes of "Supernanny"?The rest of the editorial is here.
On the program, British nanny Jo Frost marches into chaotic homes and teaches clueless, overwhelmed parents how to discipline their little hellions, kindly but firmly. (Frost never spanks.) The children eventually get straightened out, the parents eventually relax, and everyone is happy.
Lieber apparently wants to be the Jo Frost for all of California's children. In a trial balloon that could remove all metaphor from the phrase "nanny state," the assemblywoman announced plans last week to introduce legislation that would make it illegal for parents to spank their own children under the age of 4. Convicted fanny-slappers would face up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine.
Lieber contends that a spanking ban would end the "ridiculous situation of having our law saying there's justifiable beating of children." But our laws say no such thing.
There are existing statutes against beating children. Teachers, peace officers and healthcare professionals (among others) are all mandated to report even suspected cases of child abuse that they come across.
Lieber can't seem to distinguish between a swat on the behind and actual abuse. The first is none of the state's business; the second already is.
To state what should be obvious, spanking does not typically cause more irrevocable harm to children than splitting up their families by hauling their parents off to the slammer. One shudders to imagine how such a ban would be enforced.[…]
“Lieber can't seem to distinguish between a swat on the behind and actual abuse. The first is none of the state's business; the second already is.” I agree. I’m just surprised and delighted the LAT would be so sensible.
Caution to LAT editorial writers: I like what you said today but be careful. A few more editorials like today’s could get you sent to PC time-out.
1 comments:
Having escaped from California many years ago and emigrated to the United States, I have some insight into the mores of the agglomeration of idiocies, er, uh, I mean California.
If the LA Times keeps making sense the powers that be may determine that they are too dangerous to roam free and commit them to a sane asylum. Last I heard there was only one in the whole state and it was at capacity. It's only a two bed facility. :)
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