Given the declining status of marriage in general it seems strange that tax laws are inclined to further provide an incentive to avoid tying the knot. Look at all the limits on family income for things like contributions to IRAs. They are never twice that of two single people, but less.
Consider the popular definition of “wealthy” these days, $200,000 for a single person and $250,000 for a married couple. So, a couple of living together each earning $200,000 can avoid higher taxes and the stigma of being in the 1% simply by avoiding the official seal of approval on their relationship, but a married couple earning
$400,000 are “millionaires” or is it billionaires? Two people each earning $150,000 are ok, but if they marry, OWS camps on their lawn.
Similar discrepancies apply to Social Security and welfare programs. In this day and age when we easily redefine marriage to the point you may be able to marry your pet turtle, it seems like the fairness of our laws is lagging.
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