Why not abolish marriage certificates for everyone?

[Minimalist]

Effectively, it's a tax cut for married people...just because they are married. I think that's unfair on single people. Note that this allowance is given even if the couple don't have children / aren't planning on having children. It has nothing to do with children.

The US has both, Divi Tiberio.


Still...I find this far more infuriating.

4. Federal tax breaks for wealthy hedge fund managers: Special tax breaks for hedge fund managers allow them to pay only a 15-percent rate while the people they earned the money for usually pay a 35-percent rate. This is the break where the multimillionaire manager pays less of a percentage in taxes than her secretary. The National Priorities Project estimates this costs taxpayers $83 billion annually, and 68 percent of those who receive this special tax break earn more than $462,500 per year (the top 1 percent of earners).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-quigl...89188.html

[Ryantology]

Most people shouldn't need tax cuts of any kind, because the rate of personal taxation should be directly in proportion to annually-declared income and assets.

[Mr. Moncrieff]

Most people shouldn't need tax cuts of any kind, because the rate of personal taxation should be directly in proportion to annually-declared income and assets.

It's a pity the real world doesn't work like that. I vote you are ruler of the world.

When can you start?

---

I've stopped worshipping you as a deity like.
It's a bit of a step down.

[Tiberius]

Still...I find this far more infuriating.

4. Federal tax breaks for wealthy hedge fund managers: Special tax breaks for hedge fund managers allow them to pay only a 15-percent rate while the people they earned the money for usually pay a 35-percent rate. This is the break where the multimillionaire manager pays less of a percentage in taxes than her secretary. The National Priorities Project estimates this costs taxpayers $83 billion annually, and 68 percent of those who receive this special tax break earn more than $462,500 per year (the top 1 percent of earners).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-quigl...89188.html

We're definitely in agreement there.

[Minimalist]

There is one over-riding problem with the US tax system - I won't attempt to speak for anywhere else - but I do have some up close and personal experience with our own.

It began as an attempt to fund the government. It has instead been used for every form of tinkering/manipulation/patronage imaginable.

I recall one senator commenting years ago that he was amazed that we ever got anyone to move west without offering tax breaks.

[Angrboda]

Rituals guide us into social channels. The marriage ritual ends certain expectations, creates certain others. It's a role being adopted, and while homosexual partners should be allowed equal participation, there is nothing wrong with having ritualistic roles geared toward having children, and protecting those who do.

[Clueless Morgan]

there is nothing wrong with having ritualistic roles geared toward having children, and protecting those who do.

Do married people with kids get more tax benefits than single people with kids? (Honestly asking, I'm single with no kids so I don't know what benefits married people or people with kids get) If the point is to protect and support people who have kids than there should be no difference between the tax breaks a married couple with kids receives and the tax breaks a single parent receives and there should be no tax benefit simply for signing a piece of paper.

As for tax breaks simply for getting married, from my totally unbiased vantage point as a single person , that is totally crap. Why should I pay more taxes because through, choice or circumstance, I am unmarried? Everyone who earns a taxable income should be taxed individually. Just my opinion.

[Minimalist]

http://taxes.about.com/od/Federal-Income...x-Year.htm

Scroll down, compare the various percentage brackets for each income level at each filing status.

Kids also generate a dependent exemption which reduces the taxable income.

The answer to the question is "Yes," Ras.

[Minimalist]

Meanwhile....Bill Maher from last Friday.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/01/bi...cry-about/

Scroll down for the video.

[CapnAwesome]

There is one over-riding problem with the US tax system - I won't attempt to speak for anywhere else - but I do have some up close and personal experience with our own.

It began as an attempt to fund the government. It has instead been used for every form of tinkering/manipulation/patronage imaginable.

I recall one senator commenting years ago that he was amazed that we ever got anyone to move west without offering tax breaks.

I totally agree. Taxes used for social manipulation goes back ages. In fact that's the method that Muslims used to convert most of North Africa when they conquered it, different tax rates for Muslims and non-Muslims. Also on topic, why do we want more of society to be married and have children? Aren't there enough people in this world?