How Nations Die

NEW YORK - The percentage of Americans who consider children "very important" to a successful marriage has dropped sharply since 1990, and more now cite the sharing of household chores as pivotal, according to a sweeping new survey.

The Pew Research Center survey on marriage and parenting found that children had fallen to eighth out of nine on a list of factors that people associate with successful marriages — well behind "sharing household chores," "good housing," "adequate income," a "happy sexual relationship" and "faithfulness."

In a 1990 World Values Survey, children ranked third in importance among the same items, with 65 percent saying children were very important to a good marriage. Just 41 percent said so in the new Pew survey.

Chore-sharing was cited as very important by 62 percent of respondents, up from 47 percent in 1990.

The survey also found that, by a margin of nearly 3-to-1, Americans say the main purpose of marriage is the "mutual happiness and fulfillment" of adults rather than the "bearing and raising of children." MORE

Here we have an example of a divergence between what is desirable for individuals and what is desirable for the common good. The fact is that our future depends on the continuing production of children, and families are the primary means of doing this. On some level we all know this, but most of us are still selfish enough to assume someone else will do the heavy lifting. (See here for more on this trend.)

The stakes are high. While birth rates in the West are falling to well below replacement level, the Islamic world exhibits a fecundity that may, if it continues, result in the defeat of our civilization by sheer numbers. We will fade into history much as the Romans did centuries ago, and for similar reasons. The trend is already well along in Europe.

So, loyal Americans, it is critical that you have more children. You need at least three to make up for those who are unable to do their part. Turn off the TV and get busy. There is no time to waste.

Hat Tip: James Taranto