. ."people aren't taxed on themselves alone but on their circumstances as well. It's up to you if that's fair or not". . .
Maybe it's a combination of "themselves" and circumstances. Married or not, own a home or not, a college student working or being supported by a trust fund or by a parent are all circumstances. I'm not sure if we would say being over 65 is a circumstances or "myself". So, I agree with that statement. However. . .
In addition, we've known for a long time that tax law encourages those things that the Powers That Be want encouraged and discourages those things they want discouraged. For instance, the intent to encourge home ownership fueled the tax advantages for home owners.
It seems to me that what anyone thinks is "fair" is determined more by a value system than by neutral economics. If a person values one woman/one man legal marriage AND strongly devalues unmarried people living together, even if in a committeed relationship, then they feel it is fair to give married couples a boost. If not, something else will feel fair.
I said in these comments, previously, that I valued putting richer people in higher tax brackets. That value is determined, for me, by the Christian faith which I follow. Other may agree for different reasons, or disagree because of their faith.
Re: Bush=morass of stupidity....
Maybe it's a combination of "themselves" and circumstances. Married or not, own a home or not, a college student working or being supported by a trust fund or by a parent are all circumstances. I'm not sure if we would say being over 65 is a circumstances or "myself". So, I agree with that statement. However. . .
In addition, we've known for a long time that tax law encourages those things that the Powers That Be want encouraged and discourages those things they want discouraged. For instance, the intent to encourge home ownership fueled the tax advantages for home owners.
It seems to me that what anyone thinks is "fair" is determined more by a value system than by neutral economics. If a person values one woman/one man legal marriage AND strongly devalues unmarried people living together, even if in a committeed relationship, then they feel it is fair to give married couples a boost. If not, something else will feel fair.
I said in these comments, previously, that I valued putting richer people in higher tax brackets. That value is determined, for me,
by the Christian faith which I follow. Other may agree for different reasons, or disagree because of their faith.