Breeders enhance their value by having children

"Another way in which pro-natalism operates, even in the moral (and not merely the political) realm is that breeders enhance their value by having children. Parents with dependents are somehow thought to count for more. If, for example, there is some scarce resource—a donor kidney perhaps —and of the two potential recipients one is a parent of young children and one is not, the parent, all things being equal, will likely be favoured. To let a parent die is not only to thwart that person’s preference to be saved, but also the preferences of his or her children that their parent be saved. It is quite true, of course, that the death of the parent will harm more people, but there is nonetheless something to be said against favouring parents. Increasing one’s value by having children might be like increasing one’s value by taking hostages. We might find it unfair and decide not to reward it. That may make children’s lives worse, but must the cost of preventing that outcome be placed on the shoulders of those who do not have children?"