Spoilt Children - Whom To Blame?

Moooom, I don't want this, I want that! Mooom, I hate you, everybody has it but me! Dad, give me some money! Well teacher, if you don't give me a higher grade my dad will come for a visit!
This is just a few classic examples of how spoilt children react when they don't get what they want (possibly accompanied with a great deal of stumping, yelling, screaming and crying) and it seems there is more and more children like that. But why is that happening? Whose fault is it? What will happen to those children when they grow up or will they ever really grow up?
A typical and at the same time the utmost example of a spoilt child could be Eric Cartman, and even though he is a fictional character from the South Park series, I bet no parent would want a kid like that running around the house. The ironic part is that in the majoirity it is their fault (although we cannot exclude the effects of the society) the kids are who they are and how they behave. It seems that modern parents are unable or refuse to set limits for their children which results in a mannerless, manipulative, immature, narcissistic (not to mention even worse negative personality traits) individual. I don't think they realise how much time you have to put into your offspring to get at least half decent results. It is true that the work hours are longer and that the job plus commuting takes up at least half of the day, but this should not and must not be the excuse for the children to be left on the side, expected to be raised by themselves.
The result of such upbringing cannot be a mature, responsible and independent individual. If one has not been taught about what is right or wrong and always got what they wanted (possibly because parents felt guilty for not being there for their children and tried to buy their affection) they are often unable to determine when something has to be done, even if it is not very pleasant, what must not be done (the basics of the morale) and whom they have to respect (which happens to be the biggest issue of the new generation of youngsters).
So what can we do about it? Parents, spend as much time as possible with your children, play with them, talk to them and most of all be a ROLEMODEL. Don't forget that children will copy your beahvior, and if you suck, there is a great deal of chance they will suck too.


+ Two statements to think about:

"People complain about the generation of spoilt kids, but forget they are the one who raised it."

"Kid: But mom, what if I get kidnapped?
Mom: Trust me, they'd bring you back."