Is it me, or do many of the posts in this thread show an attitude of "it was good enough for me, it is good enough for my kids"? And that, irrespective of the poster's experience or inclination - liberal or otherwise. Colbert's words referred to in one post are one such example, but there are others to be found in the posters' own opinions.

Surely that is wrong? Surely we want better for our kids, and for their kids, than we had ourselves? And surely that does not only apply to materialistic things only but also to education, attitudes, chances of survival and hapiness.

The fact that we may have "broken the rules" and survived is no bragging matter - or it can become too easily the norm for our kids. I am not moralising, just trying to be pragmatic. And the attitude of "children will be children" can all too easily lead to a washing of the hands. I have seen it in TV interviews of the parents of delinquents, who should have known better. Lessons in parenting? Hell, yes, if it can help our sad state of affairs; and the fact that such lessons are needed at all is an indictment of sorts.

Yes, we are all people, with our feelings and our failings, sometimes easily tempted, and no less lovable for that. But humanity used to have the innate drive for improvement of its lot. Where did that go?