To be honest, I think that by taking God away and by handing us more freedom than we can handle, our nation has spoiled us to the point that we have no morals and we dehumanize one another. We don't look at other humans as having families, friends, jobs, and school anymore. They're just a walking lump of flesh. My mother is an amazing woman and she has always meant well by everything she does but when she handed me the reigns to my own life when I was 13 or 14, my life went downhill. She thought by giving me the control, it would make us friends. Holding kids in captivity until they're adults is NOT the answer, but allowing kids to act as adults even though they're still in the parents' care has led to a nation of out of control, unpredictable , drug-headed, sex-crazed, murdering teenagers. Parents, you cannot throw parenting out of the window and become your child's friend. It's a careful balancing act and in order to maintain your control, you have to be the bad guy sometimes. Being a friends is okay when it comes to shopping or comforting but teens need a firm hand more than anything in those years. I'm only 18 and when someone my age says that we're out of control, we need help.