With regards the sentencing...I DID think it was (almost) laughable to hear Hazel Blears rant about the rioters when she got away with THEFT and FRAUD! But whilst the sentences for these youths who were inciting violence (which came to nothing!) deserve some punishment, I see no benefit to locking them up - and those actually rioting deserve the 4 years imprisonment - but I DO agree that the sentencing as a whole HAS been far too soft for years - but it's also been totally inconsistent, which is why you see this 4 year tarrif for these youths whilst rapists (if convicted at all!!!!) can get 18 months! There has to be some consistency regarding REALISTIC sentences, NO MATTER WHO the perpetrator is: what public office they hold; how famous or rich they are; or how poor they are!! There should be a sentence affixed to each crime (or level of ie. in the US Murder 1, **** 2 etc!!) and that is IT!!! NO leniency depending on how influencial you might be or how many 0s are on your bank balance!
As for smacking children (and I mean a short, sharp smack on the backside, NOT a doing!!!!One equals discipline, the other, abuse!) I have no problem with that! My sister and I were both smacked - but it was always after several ignored warnings and mostly (in my case) a lot of cheek (I WAS a joy of a child!!) and any time we WERE smacked, we knew full well that we deserved it! Whilst visiting a friend last week she smacked one of her 8 year old sons after several warnings..one smack on his backside....don't see the problem....!!!