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The horrific mistake that Merc is making is confusing control for instruction.
Kids who are controlled like automatons never learn how to exercise good judgement. Their first day in college, they will not know how to handle all the evils available to them because they have never had to make a decision in their entire life - all their decisions were pre-empted by Stalinist-level control.
You can't teach a child how to choose good over bad if they are raised in a hermetically sealed bubble.
All that Merc is accomplishing is deferring their exploratory years to when their actions are no longer Merc's problem. Basically, a philosophy of "screw up all you want just wait till you move out to do it."
That is nothing short of an abdication of parental responsibility.
Its really not that different than not teaching your child how to drive. You have to teach them then you have to give him (or her - this isn't a gender issue) the keys now and then and not let them see you pray to God that they come back in once piece.
If you don't show a child some trust, then don't expect any back.
I'm with Ibram on this one.
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