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In my opinion, I think that the widespread use of Ritalin has more to do with overbooked parents and teachers than with problem kids. Because both parents often work and there is so little wiggle room in their schedules, anything that causes a disruption is a problem. Children are in school for longer times with less activity. From the minute a child enters school, he or she is supposed to sit down, shut up, and fill in the blanks. The parents panic and want a quick fix when the child doesn't behave as he/she is supposed to. Many teachers are also overbooked parents. Any child that doesn't fit in right away must be a problem which needs a quick and permanent solution. It is much easier to say that the problem is with the child than the parent or the school.
Sadly, I know many overbooked conservatives that just want the quick fix for their children. They don't have the time or patience to look beyond what is convenient.

They (the public school my son attended) tried to wear us down when my son was in kindergarten and then also when he moved on to first grade. Finally I had to take him out of the first grade class after a couple of months and put him in a Christian school. The badgering by the school was getting unbearable and making me very depressed. We decided it would be best if he re-did kindergarten. Thank goodness we did that because he was one of seven in his class. He didn't do perfectly but he did a lot better the second go around. In his kindergarten public school class there were over 25 kids. His first grade class had almost 30. Unfortunately we can't afford to send him to a full day of private school and this particular school only goes to kindergarten any way. I'm going to try and homeschool come fall.