they are shocked with the moral degradation that is seen at all hours of the day.
What moral degradation is there during the day?
I walk down town regularly in the mornings and afternoons and don't see this... other than the one or two regular locals passed out on the sidewalk.
Or perhaps those less fortunate asking for help. At least, I don't notice it much different than in Santo Domingo.
In the night time the 'kids' that I see that are out on the street, are the younger sons, or cousins who are out, fist-bumping and asking for money. As they grow older, they're 'gererally' are the ones that become more agressive towards others.
There is one young woman, who is 21 but looks 15. Beyond that, I really don't see the 'in your face' child prostitution that I'm reading about here.
I think it's easy to mistake an old gringo walking around here with their child (I know a fair number), and perhaps their child was born from a mother of a questionable age...
I'm not saying it's not happening; it certainly has, but come on.
Focus on the crazy motos pulling wheelies down the street, or the guys shovelling snow in the south instead...