The Alternative Minimum Tax...

[Barnabas]

It is possible to be married by the Church while not being married by the State, there are cases.

[KrazyHorse]

The fact that you think it's hilarious satire demonstrates once more that you didn't absorb anything taught to you in college.

[Elok]

Somehow I don't think Kitty cares to be married by the church. Don't know about his wife. In any case, it sounds like he considers the whole institution of marriage to be an irrelevant rubber-stamp of societal approval of their relationship. Or some such.

Predictably, XPost.

[KrazyHorse]

1)I thought she was a lawyer for some reason.

2)I'm having a hard time understanding why you would entertain the idea of a divorce for financial reasons unless your marriage isn't providing any emotional, sexual or social benefits. I don't presume to know how your relationship is with your wife but it would take two exceptional people to get divorced for the financial maximization of their relationship, and remain in a relationship.

Why would it take extraordinary people? Wtf is the matter with you? Is the only thing holding you in a relationship a piece of paper?

[MRT144]

It is possible to be married by the Church while not being married by the State, there are cases.

Exceptional cases, I'm sure.

[The Mad Monk]

I think you're all missing the point. He's not saying he will divorce his wife over this, he's saying the jackassinine tax code encourages doing so.

[Elok]

I think you're all missing the point. He's not saying he will divorce his wife over this, he's saying the jackassinine tax code encourages doing so.

He did say he was "seriously considering" it.

[KrazyHorse]

I am. We can get remarried in 20 years when the tax consequences are less severe.

[The Mad Monk]

I suspect you are engaging in hyperbole, but I will say no more of it.

[MRT144]

Why would it take extraordinary people? Wtf is the matter with you? Is the only thing holding you in a relationship a piece of paper?

Because a relationship that goes from marriage to divorce and remains a relationship that for all intents and purposes functions as a marriage is a not even remotely common. The impetus for getting divorced for maximal financial benefit is uncommon. The couple getting divorced and remaining together in what resembles a marriage is uncommon. How many people in the US do you think have done this?

Obviously a piece of paper doesn't keep relationships intact. It doesn't prevent unhappy relationships. It doesn't fix problems within a relationship. But the piece of paper does reinforce the gravity of the commitment I've made to my wife, to ourselves and for others. It also does have some nice legal benefits for the spouse in situations related to death.

[Elok]

I can see his point, though I don't think the same way. Marriage, in our society, has historically served as a necessary precondition for three things:

1. Sex
2. Moving in together
3. Having kids

Society, or at least large chunks of it, stopped believing in 1 some time before I was born. Those who still believe in 1, largely religious types like myself, are at least so used to most others not sharing that belief that we are not horrified and can accept it. Fornication is no longer taboo except among a few diehards who are mostly elderly and dying off. 2 took a little longer to fall by the wayside, but it's now just as gone as 1. 3 held out for a long time, but is in the process of falling apart as we speak. I expect that, by the time my son is an adult, bastardy will be broadly accepted. I don't know if KH wants kids anyway.

So, if all the historical purposes of marriage are now irrelevant, why should a person value it? It conveys certain material benefits, like taxes--but in KH's case, it doesn't, so that's out. All that remains is symbolism, which some will value more than others.

[giblets]

Because a relationship that goes from marriage to divorce and remains a relationship that for all intents and purposes functions as a marriage is a not even remotely common. The impetus for getting divorced for maximal financial benefit is uncommon. The couple getting divorced and remaining together in what resembles a marriage is uncommon. How many people in the US do you think have done this?

Obviously a piece of paper doesn't keep relationships intact. It doesn't prevent unhappy relationships. It doesn't fix problems within a relationship. But the piece of paper does reinforce the gravity of the commitment I've made to my wife, to ourselves and for others. It also does have some nice legal benefits for the spouse in situations related to death.

He's not ending the marriage, he just wants to continue having a marriage while lying to the government and telling the government it's not a marriage

[KrazyHorse]

I have no idea what lying has to do with it. Marriage is a civil status. If the state says you're not married then you're not.

[giblets]

Okay, so you believe your marriage is just a piece of paper. Thanks for clearing that up

[rah]

Marriage has many legal ramifications that can offset the minor tax disadvantages that you're concerned with here.

Think of all the legal costs of setting up documents to replicate the same protection that marriage give you.