[quote=onetwo_threefour;1624581]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgaryborn
If that's really the problem, there's a simple solution I've thrown out before when debating this. If you want to give benefits to parents raising children only, then do it. Rather than having spousal exemptions and tax breaks, make them child-centric. Simply getting married should not produce a benefit if what you really want to do is promote child-rearing, giving benefits to families with children will. It's a pretty easy answer to the objection.
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Men and women who are in stable monogamist relationships tend to more interested in taking on the huge commitment of having/raising children. They are also better equipped as a unit to take on the task than a single women. Women know this and tend to wait for such stability before considering having children. Of course with what 50% of marriages ending in divorce many don't feel too terribly comfortable even when married. Financial stress is a leading cause of marriage breakdown and logically has a direct bearing on a couples decisions on when to have children. The government can assist in creating that stable environment by letting these couples keep a little more of their money. I'm all in favour of the government providing special benefits to family units of all kinds that are raising children. But, I think there is a lot of merit in also supporting the one family unit that can actually produce children without outside help.