Should tax breaks for children born out of wedlock be denied as a way to discourage the single-mother plague?

Question

Taxation is a way to discourage behavior because it raises the price of that behavior (and hence lowers the demand for it). In the United States, filers who have dependents get a tax deduction (and child tax credit if that dependent is a child). Would it be a wise policy decision to eliminate this tax credit for children born out of wedlock so that we can discourage such irresponsible behavior?

Answer 1

Absurd. Being a single mother due to having a child out of wedlock is not necessarily irresponsible behaviour. Many women choose to become single mothers. Single parenthood is not a plague. Even in cases where BOTH parents have been irresponsible, you do not have the right to punish the child, or hold a "mistake" against a person for the next 18 years.



There is nothing wrong with being a single mother or father. Eliminating tax cuts would not solve this "problem" because (1) it is not a problem, and (2) people will continue to have unplanned pregnancies because they are UNPLANNED. In cases where people choose to be single parents, it has nothing to do with irresponsibility, and those individuals can probably afford not to have a tax break. This change you propose might result in an increase in abortion rates, nothing more.

Answer 2

That's a ridiculous thing to suggest. You really think women that are right about to have sex are going to stop and think "Hm, maybe I should use a condom because now I won't get a tax break from having a kid?" You're also being really judgmental of single-mothers. What about the "guys who think that when they get women pregnant it's not their responsibility to take care of the child" plague? It makes more sense to address this issue. If the guys were held more accountable and actually had to share the financial burden of the child, more single mother's would not have to rely on financial assistance (i.e. welfare) from the government. The government can also make birth control more affordable and readily available. Child care is another thing that needs to be affordable to single moms can work, thus again eliminating these women's dependence on welfare. Also, accidents happen. Birth control fails. Do you suggest that the government should punish all women that have sex before marriage? Because as many women know, accidents happen easier than you would think. Sometimes it just takes on tiny act of irresponsibility to cause a pregnancy and it's wrong to judge someone on that. We have all been irresponsible at some point in our lives, and some just have more long-term consequences than others.

Answer 3

why would you want to reward someone for being married and then having children? Wouldn't that further dilute the sanctity of marriage further? Then we would have people marrying each other for a tax break.



Furthermore, an elimination of the credit MAY result in fewer children born out of wedlock, however most school districts receive funding based on the amount of children attending school, so they wouldn't necessarily equate to more money in education.



Good question though but I don't think it is plausible in this society since it would be a way to control the population, which would end up making us more like China than anyone else.

Answer 4

Aaaah... the predatory politics of fiscal discrimination. Taxation is good a way to discourage economic behaviors but social engineering through the tax system is very dangerous territory when serving personal value and belief systems. These tactics would never work under the tax laws and principles of a democratic country. Try China or countries in the middle east or Africa maybe. But if the USA became a fundamentalist Christian totalitarian state and destroyed its legal structures to enact such crazy extreme punishing tax laws, then they'd be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Answer 5

Then the children suffer which isn't exactly desirable either, what about just putting the energy and resources into educating our children better. I've read that the better educated women are in a country the more the birth rate decreases.



Again I disagree, people don't think about the tax breaks when they're knocking boots, however if they were taught the consequences properly, short term and long term they might think twice. Education should never be seen as a drain on the tax payer, it should be seen as an investment in the future, the generation that will be paying for our nursing homes

Answer 6

By making the mother suffer, you're also making the child suffer.

Children don't ask to be born into the circumstances they were, they shouldn't be denied compensation due to the decisions of their mothers.



My mom's never been married. I was born out of wedlock, and the tax money usually bought me school clothes/supplies..

Answer 7

Right because all these women plan their single motherhood, the guy is never at fault, and nobody would have sex out of marriage if they didn't get tax breaks. You'd think already things like STDs, children, etc. would be stopping irresponsible people having sex irresponsibly, and/or breaking up when they have a pregnancy, but if that doesn't work, I reckon tax breaks will do the trick!



Harriet

Answer 8

i agree yet disagree as my sister is now a single mum her husband left her with 2 kids but she works part time and her kids are well behaved looked after and she adores them but some girls have kids purely for money houses so yes in that sense i agree and i also think asylum seekers who have children should not get a penny these are 1 of the many reasons why this country is in recession too generous overpopulating the list is endless

Answer 9

I agree only because improper behavior should not be rewarded. Should it be implemented, no. Children should not be punished for the ignorance of the parents.



Fems- please notice I stated parents. No reason to attack men by saying it is there fault because they didn't stay with the mother.