In a recent letter we received from Dr. Dobson, he outlined some of the chilling effects of the cultural disdain for children and parenthood.  Dr. Dobson writes:

Whitehead and Popenoe assert that in today’s economy, childless young adults are considered extremely desirable as both consumers and economic contributors because they are not "burdened" by the time constraints and other limitations associated with marriage and, especially, parenthood. Similarly, adults over 50 "make up a growing share of Americans with money to spend on second homes, travel, recreation, learning and entertainment."12

This conclusion might help explain why studies show an apparent link between our society’s wealth and materialism (what some have termed "affluenza") and its increasing aversion to children. Apparently, when people are caught up in the ongoing race for bigger houses, better jobs and faster cars, they have little time for or interest in bearing children. An article in Opinion Journal recently noted that San Francisco, which has a median house price of $700,000, also has the lowest percentage of people under 18 than any other city in the nation—14.5 percent (the nationwide average is 25.7 percent).13 And last year, a USA Today article noted that "In Seattle, there are nearly 45% more dogs than children. In Salt Lake City, there are nearly 19% more kids than dogs . . . It’s not that people in a progressive city such as Seattle are so much fonder of dogs than are people in a conservative city such as Salt Lake City. It’s that progressives [liberals] are much less likely to have children."14

This demographic shift has produced an adult-oriented, self-centered mindset reflected in a proliferation of "no kids allowed" housing developments, health clubs, stores, and so on. Social and travel groups are organized for "DINK" (dual income, no kids) couples, and anti-child Web sites abound, many of which derisively refer to children as "spawn" and their parents as "breeders."

The eventual result of this hostility to children and parents, as it spreads, will be a form of social suicide, leading to a world without springtime, regeneration or the idealism of youth. Remaining will be an increasingly aging community stumbling inevitably toward death and decay.