A good parent leads with motivation. They find a way to reward children for a job well done to help prevent having to use discipline on the back end. The problem is not the spankings... its the fact that too many parents are reactive rather than proactive. At the same time a good parent practices multiple forms of discipline based on the child and the way they respond. Just because it worked on you doesn't mean it will work on your kids. I gave my daughter 7 years before I resorted to spankings... instant results. My son on the other hand doesn't need spankings. My parents beat the shit out of me growing up so its funny seeing how saying I'm disappointed in him holds more weight than my belt. Like a said each kid is different. As a parent you have the right (to a point) to make that judgement call. You cant say either way is right or wrong as a whole, they both work. Timeouts have created rapists just as spankings have created murderers. Hell, some of the kids that were ignored completely have grown up to be great people. But thats a different subject.
I will say one thing. People that were beat growing up are damn right for sure more likely to beat their kids. Why... because they know that shit works If I asked what your parents favorite belt was to beat you with a lot could give a response and would have a mini flashback! My dad had a leather belt with 100 holes that he said was for aerodynamic reasons. In the end he broke it on Big Steve's butt BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!