7.8.98 Note: I would like to state that I am in favor of elimination of the marriage penalty, which is also highly supported by conservative Republicans...a partisan ideologue I am not.

Tax refunds for children? They have all finally gone mad. The recent tax cuts will supposedly benefit everyone, or so they say. Everyone who fits into right wing Congress's definition of a "family", i.e. the middle class with children. While some breeder with five kids who earns $70,000 a year gets a $2,500 tax refund for their contribution to overpopulating the planet, I get nothing. I'm a good citizen, I'm enterprising, intelligent, hard working, creative. Unfortunately that is not enough. When people decide to invest in the stock market instead of art or hire some yuppie graphic designer who dresses the part but lacks competency, I starve. I pay my taxes (more than my share), don't own illegal contraband and even drive the speed limit. Yet I'm labelled a subversive by this country because even though I'm married, I don't have kids and then cannot reap the benefits of post-modern United States citizenry.

There is absolutely no reason anyone should be given a tax refund or any financial incentive for breeding, whether they are on welfare or wealthy. We are sending mixed messages to young people: do not get pregnant, but if you do, here's $500! Since when in our post-agricultural technological society is it advantageous to have children? Children are a luxury and should be taxed as such! Although my husband and I try to take public transportation to work if at all possible, we find that since we both must work as well as deliver art for exhibits that our automobiles are more of a necessity. Yet we are taxed for those. Fortunately we hang onto our vehicles until they are shards of rust so our large initial tax outlay is only at the time of purchase, and since we've only bought used vehicles, the tax has been relatively low. But each year in the summer we are charged for our license plates; a hefty $40 per car charge just for the generic variety (you sure won't find us with the vanities).

I'm not necessarily advocating a $500 tax refund for cars (although some people think of cars as their babies), but with welfare reform it would sure help those who are just starting out in the workforce get to jobs which are not accessible by public transportation. What I am advocating is a luxury tax. A tax on children. And to not make breeding only for the wealthy, kids would be taxed using our progressive tax system (admittedly, an oxymoron). If you are in the upper tax bracket, your kids would cost you more.

Of course this wouldn't completely deplete the population base. People would still have kids. But with a tax on children, people would have to take a little more responsibility for their actions. And with a shrinking U.S. birthrate, we could open up our borders to more immigrants, people who have been persecuted for their political and religious beliefs, people who would truly appreciate the benefits our country could potentially offer. Potentially is the key word. With a per child tax, we could afford to fund universal health care. We could afford to clean up our natural resources. However, even if we did tax children, there is no assurance that our government would put that money to good use or just build more bombers.

I have heard that women who don't bear kids are more vulnerable to certain kinds of cancers than mothers. But childbearing itself and the stress in the 18+ years that follow certainly has its toll. I haven't heard that any physical or health benefits of parenthood outweigh those of non-parenthood. I have, however, heard that petting animals lowers blood pressure. People with pets live longer, healthier lives than people without pets. Now why the heck can't I get $2,500 a year for my 3 cats and 2 dogs?

 

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