Staff Reports
Don Lemon says America’s falling birthrate is all about an “affordability crisis.” Ben Shapiro says that’s wrong. Both have a point, but the truth is less dramatic and more useful: costs matter, but so do choices. The media loves a single simple story. Real life is messier.
Don Lemon’s “Affordability Crisis” vs. the Real World
Don Lemon has been talking about rising gas prices, grocery bills and rents and calling it an affordability crisis. Ben Shapiro pushes back, arguing that “cost” is being used as an excuse for choices some people are making. The truth sits between them. Yes, basics cost a lot in many places. No, that alone does not explain why many younger adults say they don’t want kids.
What the Data Actually Shows about U.S. Births and Costs
The headline numbers are mixed: total U.S. births ticked up modestly in recent final counts to about 3.63 million, but fertility rates remain under replacement and vary by age. Surveys show split reasons. Pew found that among adults under 50 who say they’re unlikely to ever have children, 57% say they “just don’t want to,” while about 36% say they “can’t afford” kids. Childcare and housing are real pressures — center care often runs into the low‑to‑mid $13k a year range for one child and home prices still outpace many incomes — so affordability is a meaningful factor for a big slice of Americans.
Why “It’s Only About Cost” Is a Lazy Take
Demographers and the OECD tell us fertility is multi‑causal: delayed marriage, more women in higher education and work, contraception, shifting values, economic uncertainty, and real costs all play roles. Pointing only at prices is like blaming a sink leak when the whole plumbing system needs work. Conservatives should call that out — not to deny hardship — but to push policies that actually help families rather than spin moral panic or piety.
What Conservatives Should Say and Do
If you care about children and families, saying “affordability” and walking away won’t cut it. Support pro‑family tax relief, sensible childcare support, better access to housing and workplace flexibility. Fight the cultural rot that prizes consumption and delay over family formation. And yes, mock takes that turn complexity into a catchy phrase — because the nation needs solutions, not slogans.
