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January 20, 2007
Up the Creek Without a Paddle
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| In my blog I rarely touch on state or federal
level politics. It's not that I'm totally uninterested or uninformed of
the shenanigans going on in those arenas. It's more that I'm severely
annoyed
by lengthy
left-right rants about oil companies and taxes by people who can't do anything
to create any change. On the other hand local stuff is something we can take part in and after a good rant, go down to City Hall and point some crooked, angry finger at our leaders. But here is something I need to comment on. Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, (D-Mountain View) wants to make spanking children up to 3 years old a misdemeanor. Now let's all recognize that beating your child, of any age, is against the law. But this law isn't designed to protect kids from a disciplinary beat down that makes some jackass feel like a big man, that's already a no-no. It's supposed to put a parent in cuffs after spanking a child for playing with matches. |
| You know, if our government is going to get into the
parenting business let me make some more concrete suggestions. 1. Misdemeanor - If your kid doesn't know the alphabet by the time he/she starts kindergarten. 2. Felony - If you haven't saved $2,000 for you child's higher education by the time he/she is 5. 3. Life in Prison - If you bought Bratz for your little girl (or boy). 4. Death Penalty - For letting your kid become the "stinky kid in class". When I read about efforts like this I alternate between outrage and laughter. It's reminiscent of Texas sodomy laws. You've actually got to be in someone's house to enforce it, and more to the point it's none of your business. Government needs to quit telling us how to live our lives. I also recall the Oklahoma legislature endorsing spanking, which is equally ridiculous. The Nanny-State needs to die a fast death, but it won't. I blame both political parties for this nonsense. You should be building roads not legislating personal behavior. Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, (D-Mountain View) you are an idiot. Because of you I'm on the verge of forming a militia. If anyone out there has some muskets they can loan me for a short revolution, please contact me offline. Alternatively, I can just ignore this law like I ignore all the others that try to wrench personal decision making from the populace. |
Posted by Lon at January 20, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
I grew up in Arizona. I still remember wearing long johns and two pair of levis to school when I knew I was going to get some "swats".
The teacher or principal would make us grab our ankles in front of the snickering class and whack us with paddles that had holes drilled in them for aerodynamics and maximum friction. Girls would usually cry, so they might be spared the humiliation and be taken out to the hallway.
The whole school could count the cracks that echoed through the halls and for several minutes everyone would be on their best behavior.
Posted by: Gregg Payne at January 19, 2007 09:43 AM
Gregg,
I had one teacher in elementary school that spanked. Her name was Mrs. Barrows, and she had a paddle.
On one side it said "Bad News", and on the other it said "More Bad News". I had the priviledge of receiving "bad news" and then "more bad news" for karate chopping a brand new box of super-sized crayons.
To this day I have a deep respect for school supplies, and particularly for things manufactured by Crayola.
Lon
PS. How many of you made the mistake of letting your mom know that her "spanking" had become inneffective? I laughed at my mom after she swatted me to no effect. When dad came home his wrath brought mountains low. After that, mom (instead of spanking) would simply say "wait till your dad gets home". And I'd spend the next 4 hours sweating bullets and trying to make amends.
Posted by: Lon at January 19, 2007 10:02 AM
My old high school principal, Les Byram, is now the Mayor of Kingman Arizona. I'd bet half the town grabs their rears whenever they see him.
The penalty for ditching class was a three day suspension. I strategically ditched the Friday the week before the upcoming Thanksgiving vacation which would have given me a ten day vacation counting the suspension. I stopped by that afternoon to confess and graciously accept my punishment.
He saw through my plan, thanked me for my honesty, and gave me three days worth of swats instead.
Posted by: Gregg Payne at January 19, 2007 10:22 AM