Dr. Domenick Maglio’s column in the Jan. 22 edition of Hernando Today advocates the use of punishment as bringing our country to act in a more honorable manner. That’s wrong and is more a reflection of his age and upbringing.

Honor in our country will be regained when fairness is applied to everyone and when everyone is allowed to participate in the decision-making process of living and working and not being told what to do all the time by an authoritarian figure.

Fear is not the answer, doctor. Mutual respect and sharing the rights and rewards of our society, along with the responsibilities that come with such benefits, will make people act in a more respectful and honest way.

Right now, they see the hypocrisy of our society, the unfairness, the inequities and the abuse, and they react in different ways, many times, out of frustration or anger. They rebel, protest, dissent, fight, lie, steal and cheat, because they see those who have the rewards, privileges and inherited riches conduct themselves in the same way, but under the radar screen of social conduct.

There are many unwritten rules in our society that are condoned and embraced, despite their evil results and dishonest actions.

Brian P. Moore, Spring Hill, Florida