Time on Their Hands

As Debra Saunders points out, one needn't be a proponent of spanking to be absolutely appalled at an effort on the part of California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber to pass a law, under which a single swat to the bottom of a child under three would be punishable by a year in prison or a $1,000 fine.

Ms. Lieber is entirely entitled to her views on child rearing. What, it seems, she should not be entitled to do is to impose that view -- using the heavy hand of an authoritarian state -- to impose her beliefs on others (and one would think that, as someone who has never been a mother, she'd have a bit more humility about trying to do so).

If the legislation prevented parents from abusing or hurting children, that would be one thing. But this is just another example of an overintrusive government -- that isn't even performing its core functions all that well -- looking to extend its authority more and more over individual families.

What's more, let's not even pretend this is "for the children." Help me understand why it would be in a 2 year old's best interest to have her mother -- who might have swatted her behind once -- in prison for a year. Heaven preserve the children from such state "protection."