Statism: Penalizing Marriage While Incentivizing “Shacking Up”

I originally posted the following information and commentary onto my Facebook wall…

2016-08-04-statism-penalizing-marriage-while-incentivizing-shacking-up

IRS Increases “Marriage Penalty,” Unmarried Cohabitants To Get Twice The Mortgage Interest Deduction:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2016/08/01/irs-increases-marriage-penalty-unmarried-cohabitants-to-get-twice-the-mortgage-interest-deduction/

(Tony Nitti) There are a thousand good reasons to never get married: in-laws, divorce attorneys, and the inevitable ravages of age on one’s attractiveness come immediately to mind.

But there are also significant tax hits that come with getting hitched, or as they’ve collectively been coined, the “marriage penalty.” For example, the 28% tax bracket kicks in at $91,150 of income if you’re single, but at only $151,900 — an amount basic math tells you is less than double $91,150 — for married taxpayers. In addition, single taxpayers start to lose 3% of itemized deductions when adjusted gross income exceeds $258,250; married taxpayers, however, will lose itemized deductions once adjusted gross income exceeds only $309,900.

(Read entire article here…)

My Commentary: Statism: penalizing marriage while incentivizing “shacking up.”

Love Conquers Hate!

The following correspondence originally took place upon the Facebook wall of an acquaintance, after they shared a photo from here

Sri A.: They married in spite of the brutal threats from Israelis. One way to stop the occupation is to marry each other. You can then have your own fights without murdering Palestinians. She is Jewish Israeli, he is Palestinian Muslim.

Rayn

The Apartheid State of Marriage in Israel

I originally posted the following information and commentary onto my Facebook wall…

The "Am I legally allowed to marry in Israel?" flowchart

The “Am I legally allowed to marry in Israel?” flowchart

Who Would You Be Allowed to Marry in Israel Today?
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/shavuot/.premium-1.596576

(Ariel David, Haaretz) On the website of Hiddush, a nonprofit organization that promotes religious freedom and equality in Israel, there is a world map showing countries that restrict freedom of marriage. The countries given as imposing “severe restrictions” include most states between Morocco to the west and Pakistan to the east. And Israel is no exception.

Marriage in the Jewish state is a complex matter, and is almost entirely under the purview of religious authorities.

There is no civil marriage. Jews can only be married in a religious ceremony, by an Orthodox rabbi under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, the top religious authority for Jews in Israel. This means there is also no interfaith marriage between Jews and non-Jews, since Orthodox Judaism does not allow mixed unions. Israelis who belong to other streams of Judaism, such as Reform or Conservative, must still tie the knot in front of an Orthodox rabbi in a traditional ceremony if they want their marriage to be recognized by the state.

(Read entire article here…)

My Commentary: Repeat after me: Israel IS NOT an Apartheid State! 😉

Legitimate Government MUST Be Consensual and Contractual

The following correspondence originally took place here, on the Facebook page, “Liberty Evolution“…

Liberty Evolution: An interesting take on it. Most of your day is based on consensual interaction, so Voluntaryism isn’t all that far-fetched. Stay optimistic, friends.

"This is anarchy Can you imagine if your relationships were coerced?"

“This is anarchy
Can you imagine if your relationships were coerced?”

Rayn: Indeed! I often tell others that my government must be like my marriage in order to be legitimate: consensual and contractual!