Are Our Children Getting Away With Too Much?

As the generation gap continues to increase, the way we raise our children has become more and more different versus the way our parents and grandparents raised us.  So, why are we allowing things that were unacceptable when we were children to be acceptable for children to do now? When a parent steps away from their parenting role and becomes more a friend to the child, does this contribute to the reason why children feel they can get away with unacceptable behaivors?  How does the lack of discipline and immediate reinforcement contribute to the up-bringing of a child? When you try to discipline a child, what are reasons that cause them to become defensive? Why does it seem that the laws are set against you punishing your child? What ever happened to the sense of respect for elders? Has our generation let down the children of this generation like the generation before us let us down?  What are some of the better methods we can use to improve the parenting of the children?