Parents

[Inknsteel]

Awesome , I think those are both great values to teach kids. Don't do things which might damage other peoples property and don't do things which hurt others. Thats all great so long as you are using logic to explain to them why. Typically though folks will just say dont do X, why?, because I said so and if you do not do as I say I will give you Y punishment. Which doesn't teach kids critical thinking or how to universalize concepts which is very important for empathy.

Not sure what that has to do with giving them structure so they obey laws though .

You are apparently not a parent... As a parent, it is your obligation to mentor your children into becoming the adults you want them to be. I want my children to become productive, law abiding members of society. I have to instill those values in my children from an early age, meaning teaching them right from wrong and teaching them that their actions will have consequences. That translates into breaking the law = consequences.

Having a parenting debate with non-parents is futile because until you ARE a parent, you won't know what it truly means and the responsibilities that go along with it (responsibility to not only your kids, but responsibility to society to ensure your kids aren't going to become hooligans or thugs without any respect for other people or property).