low_delta | taxes

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What did the president mean when he said, "the unfair tax on marriage"?

. ."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.

I'm curious how your faith leads to higher taxes on the rich.....

(as a theologian, it's an interesting argument!)

I did skip over all the stuff in between, didin't I? I'll give a brief look at where I am, theologically, and then how that leads to my view.

I have a low Christology but not to the point I'm a Unitarian. Jesus is important to me because he demonstrated a God of justice, mercy, and compassion. (Not just taught--demonstrated) I do not follow or believe that "Christ had to die for our sins or we would all be separated from God forever.

Jesus had an overriding interest in the poor, disadvantaged, sick,
lonely etc. and I understand that he asked his followers to have the same. I do not follow Liberation Theology.

So, how does that affect tax law? My faith tells me it's "fair" for those who have much, to give more than those who have little. Not just in absolute dollars. In % also. A person with a modest income
has very little room between necessities and income. A more wealthy person has a larger amount in that space. I believe we're following Jesus' demonstration of God when higher income people do more to fund health care, schools, etc. from that cushion about necessities.

That's just me. As I said, someone with a different theology will see something else as fair. By the way, I don't use quotes from the Bible to prove points--nor do I accept them.

There is nearly nil outside the Bible to illustrate points concerning the attitude or direction of Christ, so not accepting that source means you have a position that cannot be debated. I'll have to say that the words of Christ disagree with your position, but we'll leave it at that, I guess.