20 January 2007

Save the family - beat the kids!

California legislator Sally Lieber has suggested that the state should adopt a ban on spanking children. Rather ironically given their name, the Campaign for Children and Families thinks this is a bad idea. According to their President, Randy Thomasson, the legislation is "intrusive, unenforceable, and the most blatant violation of parental rights I’ve ever seen". He went on to say that "God gave children to parents" thereby suggesting that parents have been given divine carte blanche.

A note to Mr. Thomasson: should you ever come to the UK you will find that smacking is banned here and you could face arrest. I would also suggest that you never, in public at least, tell your child that you are "going to spank their fanny" especially if the child is question is female. The word "fanny" has a materially different connotation here and is not a cute way to refer to one's bottom. Should you use that phrase you are likely to have some serious explaining to do to the Old Bill.

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