I'd be more inclined to say that language reflects changes in our cultural attitudes rather than causes those changes. Manners probably cannot be preserved by promoting the utterance of empty 'pleases' and 'thank yous'. We don't feel as dependent on each other as we used to, and so have no reason to communicate a recognition of the other's service or value.

I'd be more inclined to say that language reflects changes in our cultural attitudes rather than causes those changes. Manners probably cannot be preserved by promoting the utterance of empty 'pleases

The WSJ author is making a huge error when he says, "As wealth increases, the choices of adults play a much smaller role in determining the mental ability of their children". It is in fact the exact opposite. The kids from wealthier families show more generic determination precisely because their parents have the resources to express all if their genetics. Their genes make them WANT to send their kids to piano lessons and they can afford it so they do. The poorer parents lack the resources to give their kids the things they want to, so their environment accounts for more of the variance because they are not able to control many aspects of it.