There are definitely people in society that are simply "bad eggs" (bleeding heart "rehabilitation" theories notwithstanding.) But I don't think they are common, and in my non-scientific observation there is a whole lot of bad parenting going on. "Good" parenting is not determinative, and there are no guarantees with any child, but good parenting, education can definitely have positive effects, as can the opposite. Without a whole lot more information, I'd have to make my guess at bad parenting.

I'm not one of those "ah, for the good old days" people, but just a few years ago the primary question might be: "Who gets a 12-year old an iPhone?"

I couldn't agree more. I even like the way you expressed it.

When I first held my son, who had been born an hour earlier, and looked into his eyes, I saw a person in there looking back at me. I said to myself that this was not a blank slate upon which I could write any story I wished, but a separate individual.

Parents can guide and influence and certainly have an effect. But you can't assume that you have complete control of or responsibility for the results.

More of the entitlement mentality at work.