[echelon]

> Then don't marry.

What about people with partners that are non-citizens? I know a lot of people in that situation, myself included.

Double income households are penalized outside of marriage.

Marriage also shackles you to the other partners' debts. Lots of people have mountains of student debt.

Divorce, even without kids, incurs alimony and division of property. And you have to deal with expensive lawyers and the court. This is stupid if both partners have jobs.

> Monogamy is still the dominant lifestyle form.

I didn't suggest that it wasn't. I said marriage is outmoded, and the article this thread is attached to agrees.

> It's also a safety if children are involved.

We're not having many of these now. Population growth is now driven mostly by immigration.

[gsich]

>What about people with partners that are non-citizens? I know a lot of people in that situation, myself included.

Marry or become a citizen. Or don't, depending on where you live this may not be a problem.

>Double income households are penalized outside of marriage.

Yes, because POV from the state is that you are 2 unmarried people. If you want something that is like marriage but doesn't have the same name (ie civil union), I am all for that.

>We're not having many of these now. Population growth is now driven mostly by immigration.

Which in term leads to population decrease from the other country. So not directly a solution.

[dzhiurgis]

> people with partners that are non-citizens?

In NZ you become de-facto partner after living together for few years. Marriage has become pointless and mostly done as a token party.

So wherever you live the problem is lack of partnership laws...

[aivisol]

> We're not having many of these now. Population growth is now driven mostly by immigration.

Suggested correction: We're not having many of these now in this <country name>