From: AT
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2016 6:12 PM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Spanking debate
Dear Walter: Spanking is a “nice” word for hitting or attacking a child. In my opinion there’s a world of difference between it and restraining a child as you would do when changing his diaper. And if my experience with children counts for anything the child knows, and certainly feels this difference. Restraint will work if you’re willing to be patient until the child gets it. And in your hypothetical, what do you do if the spanking doesn’t work? Do you up the violence? Maybe the NAP should be amended. Best wishes, AT

I have received more comment on this thread, spanking children, than I have on any other. Dozens. Most of them polite. Many agreeing with me (I usually don’t share those publicly on this blog). My policy is to reply to all polite letters. But, I think we are now passing diminishing returns and entering the realm of negative returns, so this one will be the last I’ll copy on LRC (unless I get something really stupendous in future). I hope and trust this threat has been of interest to the readership of this blog. Now for my substantive comment on this last comment:

Yes, up the violence. You’ve got to save the kid’s life at pretty much all costs. Tie him down if the alternative is that he dies in traffic. Maybe, drug him. I’m not sure about means. All I know is that a good guardian, a good parent, puts that kid’s life at the very top of his to do list. As for amending he NAP, I think not. I think that the NAP of libertarianism is at its very core. And, that libertarianism is our last best hope for promoting peace and prosperity. And, likely, the very survival of the human race.

The Best of Walter E. Block