[xoxoxoBruce]

Of course the answer is, and always has been, better parenting. I'll wager there's as many parents feeding their kids crap food, or ignoring them completely, as there are beating their kids constantly. Corporal punishment is a valuable tool for a parent, but those against it immediately go to Digr's child medieval torture chamber scenarios, and glatt's "horror" at mom catching her kid rioting and slapping him around.

Yes, life in the ghetto is violent, and kids grow up tough in self defense. But that's not because Mom slapped them around. The streets are ruled by thugs, armed thugs because people in the ghetto don't have a choice other than get out, and that takes money. They know it's safer to duck and cover than call the cops.