Sally wrote:

...the overriding impression I get is that real, open commitment of whatever kind might in fact be less common than in our own society.

An interesting point, which seems borne out by the few examples of couples within the series. Especially interesting, perhaps, as there appear to be two lines of evidence that suggest that the Administration might wish to promote *higher* birth rates among Federation citizens:

(1) Population depletion on Earth -- whatever the catastrophe that led to the Domes, one would imagine it entailed a substantial decrease in the Earth's population;

(2) Large number of new worlds to colonise.

So perhaps stable commitments reduce the birth rate?

Tavia