B"H
Regarding: Applying the Tochecha to Jewish history/nowadays:
I would point out that Moshe did not say the Tochecha to women (and children?). This follows the general principle of "Tomar li'Beis Yakov" vs. "Tagid li'Bneis Yisroel."
Obviously, Moshe did not feel that everyone would take this kind of harsh rebuke in a constructive way.
I think that we can broaden this to concept and say that before any such application, one must be sure that the outcome on the listeners will be positive.
I would suggest that today, we are all like the women of Moshe's day in this regard. I think that today's culture is too sensitive to humans suffering to react favorably to such an approach.
In any event, I do not think that the Tochecha is meant to be an angry threat, but a statement of caution of what can happen to society without morality.
