| SamuelRSmith said: Do you think the tax benefits are just? What valid reason is there for giving a tax break to married couples, versus unmarried? Conservatives often argue that the tax benefits are good because they promote the institution of marriage... but they don't. How many couples get or stay married because of the tax benefits? And, if that number is substantial, is that really keeping in with the traditional view of marriage? For a tax break. Always seemed like an odd argument. However, based on your quick defence of liberals in the other thread, I'd wager that you probably don't buy the Conservative arguments for tax breaks, anyway. Under your proposal, you're already throwing out many of the traditional customs of marriage, why not throw out these tax breaks/laws, too? |
Why should couples get the break? Because oftentimes, one member of the couple goes and works, while the other one tends to the home, does the various chores, etc. Keep in mind that I said nothing about love when I advocated registered relationships. I didn't even say anything about registered relationships between family members. It wasn't a mistake - I don't see why sexual/romantic love should be relevant to registering your relationship.
Of course, as I said, it can't be all positives, as it pretty much is right now. There have to be negatives to the arrangement. But those are all details to be worked out.
And the legal benefits aren't like the tax benefits - I'm talking about things like what happens if one of them is in hospital, for instance. Also wills, family structure (for adoption of the partner's kids, for instance), etc. Essentially, it's a way to formalise, as far as the government is concerned, the fact that they are family, with all of the legal associations involved.
