Firstly, I got whacked for doing something wrong....but if you think about it, you can be charged with assault for even pushing someone you don't know or spousal abuse, but you can smack your kids with a paddle or belt? They're just kids.
The key to good kids is discipline....but here's the issue. Discipline is not smacking.
It's very difficult and most can't deal with it.
It's not the best punishment, I would prefer a smack than a loss of privileges.
I think the reason why young people of today seem / are less respectful, sympathetic or aware as we are, is due to society itself. Parents don't have the time and the youth have it too easy.
A single mum lives upstairs from me. She is what you lot would call a Greenie. He is rarely disciplined, it's more common for them to have a full on argument. He is 10 and a good kid in private, but loves to break things and walk around with a stick or a gun substitute. He does no chores at all and last week gave his mum the finger twice and was just shouted at but no punishment. I looked after him the next evening and told him to cut it out and that if he did that to me I'd break it off in semi jest.
