The corollary to that is "So they will shut up and go away"
Maybe I am wrong but it seems to me that a lot of these kinds of parents don't actually like having children around. So they give them things that the kid can go off and do rather then give them things that would require the parents to spend time with them.
I agree 100% and that's why it makes me so upset when I see some parents abusing the privilege of raising kids with which they have been blessed.
It's a privilege that some of us dearly wish we could have.
I don't think you are wrong at all. I see 2 entirely different type "parent sets."
Those that make all the noises and go through the motions of bringing cookies to the bake sale, but give the kids anything and everything they want and allow them to basically run wild with no manners.
And those that actually would like an occassional night out and get a sitter, but pay attention to homework everynight, know they can take their child(ren) out to eat with out being embarrassed, and find creative ways to keep the chilodren occupied WITHOUT spending a bucket of money.
We try our best to firmly stay planted in the latter category, and tend to gravitate toward other parents with similar attitudes. And it does work. A group of us can go out together, and bring our children, and know they will keep themselves occupied together without being disruptive to anyone else.