Who cares what the American Academy of Pediatrics thinks? That group, like so many others, has surrendered to progressive national leadership and made pronouncement based on liberal politics rather than science or common sense.

The latest news flash is that people who are spanked as children will have more problems as adults than those who were spared the rod. And they are more prone to suicide.

Hogwash.

First, there is a difference between corrective spanking and child abuse. No parent should strike a child in anger but discipline should be thoughtful, consistent and corrective. Sometimes, that needs to include a swat on the bottom.

And while it is true that some parents go overboard with physical punishment, children need to be taught boundaries and the option of a spanking needs to be in play.

The American Academy of Pediatrics claims spanking can result in aggression, brain changes, substance abuse and suicidal behavior in adulthood. They state that spanking, while it works temporarily on some children, is no more effective that other forms of discipline.

Spanking makes children more aggressive and defiant, according to the report. It claims suicide, drug abuse and anger issues result from spanking.

Wise, caring and loving parents understand that discipline needs to come in different forms. The punishment should fit the crime, so to speak. Children need to learn that there are consequences to bad behavior and the result could include a variety of punishment, including spanking.

Spanking can be accomplished without physical or emotional harm to a child. It has worked wonders for generations. A ban on spanking in public schools is just one of many reasons for the lack of student discipline.

And parents, not the government, should be in charge of disciplining their children, regardless of the advice of some progressive pediatricians.