Ariel Levy gets at this well in her profile of Cindy McCain, but the now famous story of McCain going to Bangladesh, taking pity on a child, and bringing her home without consulting her husband is actually a bit of a weird story. There's no doubt that Cindy McCain's generosity was salvation for this child, but in most families, and in most marriages, adding new members requires some consultation between the principles. Either communication in that house was pretty deeply eroded or extreme wealth lightens the burdens of child-rearing to the point that it wouldn't really be a big deal if your wife showed up with a new baby.
