What the hell happened?

Today.., you can own property jointly.., take care of children.., be in love and be together.., all without marriage.., In today's modern world.., marriage is out-dated.., and serves only a religious or ceremonial function..

However.., young boys are still socially programmed to view marriage as romatic.., as the last and final step.., the highest step in displaying love and affection to your partner.., and young girls are programmed with the fantasy of seeking out this highest step in love..

But when you ignore the fantasy of marriage.., and look at the reality of marriage.., it's hard to find anything really "romantic" about it..

Tax:

Married Filing Jointly is the best filing status in the country.., it gets the most favorable rates.., the most favorable income ranges.., and double the amount of certain exemptions and deductions.., the entire concept of a couple.., two people.. filing together.., as one.., "jointly".., a single entity.., is perhaps the only romantic thing about getting married..

Law:

Though Congress has very strong incentives to keep to motivate people to continue the institution of marriage.., despite their greatest efforts.., the way the law is structured today makes marriage useless.. It affords no more rights to any two people than not being married..

- Property Ownership: May still own property jointly.., and to be even more specific.., may form a Partnership with agreed upon profit sharing ratios and partnership interests to allow for detailed ownership of assets.

- Insurance: Considering the costs of divorce.., the extra costs of insurance for two single people versus two married people is really not that big.., As for life insurance proceeds.., You form a Trust.., they go to the trust.., and they are then part of the estate.., and you make the beneficiary of that trust your partner.., problem solved..

- Rights: Go to each state's attorney general's website.., and download healthcare agency forms and such.., and allow for your partner to be your primary agent in such matters.., problem solved..

- Children: Guess what.., legally.., you are both the biological parents of these children.., and for as long as you are both together.., there is no problem.., now.., if you both choose to seperate.., you will have a custody battle anyway.., so marriage really doesn't solve anything.., legally.., for parents outside of wedlock.., the law still provides for the same children's right and legal obligations from the parents..

So.., then.., we may now consider the following hypothetical:

Guy meets girl.., they fall in love.., she plays hard to get.., guy stops calling her.., and meets other girl.., she's open and honest.., they start to like eachother.., they fall in love.., (see what I mean.., everyone is waiting to hear the word "marriage".., it's so programmed into you that when you see the story play out.., you're like.. "they get married").., anyway.., no.., they don't.., they're in love.., and they choose to move in with eachother.., and live together.., and they choose to have children.., and they choose to raise these children.., and put them through college.., and continue to live together.., until they grow old..

What's the problem with this picture? There are no "what if's".., that's the way it happens.., and i'd like you to ask yourself.., what is wrong with this picture? Hmm? What's that? Can't think of anything? Nothing? Well.., that's because there's nothing wrong.., this is probably the kind of life that very few married people actually live.. So then.., let's ask ourselves.., "Why is there a NEED for marriage?"

Best,

GrkScorp

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