Spotlight Special Report What happens when fewer people choose to have children? | The Ethical Life podcast Scott Rada Jun 3, 2026 Jun 3, 2026 Updated Sep 19, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAmkDEC@?8mtA:D@56 achik^DEC@?8m u@C >@DE @7 9F>2? 9:DE@CJ[ DE2CE:?8 2 72>:=J H2D D66? 2D 2 ?@C>2= A2CE @7 25F=E9@@5] %@52J[ E92E 2DDF>AE:@? :D 492?8:?8] p4C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 >F49 @7 E96 H@C=5[ k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A@542DED]2AA=6]4@>^FD^A@542DE^E96\8=@32=\76CE:=:EJ\4C:D:D\:D\H@CD6\E92?\J@F\E9:?<^:5`dhccf`_abn:l`___fefhbg`daQm3:CE9C2E6D 2C6 72==:?8k^2m[ 72>:=J D:K6D 2C6 D9C:?<:?8[ 2?5 >@C6 25F=ED 2C6 564:5:?8 E92E A2C6?E9@@5 :D ?@E A2CE @7 E96:C 7FEFC6]k^AmkAmx? E9:D 6A:D@56[ 9@DED #:492C5 zJE6 2?5 $4@EE #252 6IA=@C6 H92E >2J 36 5C:G:?8 E92E D9:7E 2?5 H92E :E 4@F=5 >62? 7@C D@4:6EJ] pC6 4@?46C?D 23@FE 9@FD:?8 4@DED[ A@=:E:4D[ 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 64@?@>:4 F?46CE2:?EJ 42FD:?8 A6@A=6 E@ 56=2J @C 2G@:5 A2C6?E9@@5n ~C :D D@>6E9:?8 566A6C 92AA6?:?8 2D >@56C? =:76 364@>6D >@C6 :?5:G:5F2=:DE:4 2?5 =6DD 46?E6C65 @? 72>:=J 2?5 4@>>F?:EJnk^Am People are also reading… Glade Spring woman arrested on Smyth felony warrant Smyth supervisors, school board learn about facilities study, 1% sales tax referendum Virginia Tech football falls to Pitt on missed field goal Wiring the world: Saltville company continues innovation legacy Saltville Town Council appoints Carneal to fill open seat 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Saltville museum to celebrate opening of American Revolution exhibit this Sunday The ‘Guillermo Effect’ takes out a good dancer on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Flock camera debate continues in Marion Smyth schools receive about $9.4M in grants for projects at CHS, MSHS Smyth enrollment report shows elementary school is home to most students By the numbers: Smyth financial advisor looks at school needs, 1% sales tax referendum Monarch Watch: Citizen scientists tag, launch monarchs to join migration to Mexico Virginia football blown out in nightmarish loss at Florida State Feels Like Home: Lewis' Country Store prepares to open in Chilhowie kAm%96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 6I2>:?6D 9@H 2EE:EF56D E@H2C5 49:=5C6? 92G6 6G@=G65 @G6C E96 A2DE 76H 564256D] {2C86 72>:=:6D E92E @?46 D66>65 @C5:?2CJ ?@H @7E6? 2EEC24E 4FC:@D:EJ] !2C6?E9@@5[ @?46 H:56=J 6IA64E65[ :D :?4C62D:?8=J G:6H65 2D @?6 @AE:@? 2>@?8 >2?J] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 8C2AA=:?8 H:E9 28:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D[ 564=:?:?8 D49@@= 6?C@==>6?ED 2?5 E96 =@?8\E6C> 67764ED @7 92G:?8 76H6C J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ DFAA@CE 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D]k^AmkAm%96 9@DED 5:D4FDD H96E96C >@56C? D@4:6E:6D 92G6 364@>6 =6DD H6=4@>:?8 E@ 72>:=:6D[ ?@E E9C@F89 9@DE:=:EJ 3FE E9C@F89 2 8C@H:?8 6>A92D:D @? 4@?G6?:6?46[ :?56A6?56?46 2?5 A6CD@?2= 7F=7:==>6?E] %96J 2=D@ 4@?D:56C E96 C@=6 @7 AF3=:4 A@=:4J[ :?4=F5:?8 49:=542C6 DF3D:5:6D 2?5 A2:5 72>:=J =62G6[ 2?5 H96E96C 8@G6C?>6?E AC@8C2>D 42? >62?:?87F==J :?7=F6?46 72>:=J 7@C>2E:@? @C :7 E96 :DDF6 :D F=E:>2E6=J 4F=EFC2=]k^Am kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ E96J C67=64E @? E96 492==6?86D 2?5 C6H2C5D @7 C2:D:?8 49:=5C6?[ E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 :?E6C86?6C2E:@?2= 4@??64E:@?D 2?5 E96 H2JD 72>:=J =:76 42? 3C@256? A6CDA64E:G6D 36J@?5 @FC @H? :>>65:2E6 :?E6C6DED]k^Am Scott Rada is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)." This article was prepared with the help of AI technology using information collected and verified by journalists. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Scott Rada Author email Follow Scott Rada Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story How much income do you need to afford daycare in 2026? ConsumerAffairs found annual toddlercare costs more than average in-state tuition at a four-year public college in 37 states.
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How much income do you need to afford daycare in 2026? ConsumerAffairs found annual toddlercare costs more than average in-state tuition at a four-year public college in 37 states.
