Those actions are skillset actions – they need to acquire the right skillset before they can cut with a knife. Or touch the stove. And I should never go into the street wihtout looking, just as he shouldn’t. He understands (at least in his 2 year old mind) that as he gets older he will get more responsibility. With more responsibility, comes more freedom. I understand why you equate hitting in the same category, but I disagree that its something they should ever learn is acceptable.
Also, kids do get to be in positions of power where they are responsible for the discipline of other kids (think babysitting). Spanking will be a tool in their arsenal.
However, that is not the primary reason I am against spanking. I am against it because it doesn’t TEACH your child why the action was wrong or how to rectify it.
Can you name a situation where spanking is necessary and there are no ways around it? So far, no one has been able to.