- Joined
- Sep 3, 2011
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- Look to your right... I'm that guy.
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- Political Leaning
- Centrist
Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination of a benefit and yet take advantage of said benefit?
Example #1: Child tax credits. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination child tax credits on principle yet claim child deductions on your tax return?
Example #2: Mortgage deduction. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination the mortgage deduction on principle yet claim the mortgage deduction on your tax return?
Example #3: Social Security. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination Social Security on principle yet take the money when you reach retirement age?
All of these are "if you qualify", of course.
I don't think it's hypocritical at all. In fact, not taking something... as long as it's legal... that you can is outright dumb. I do not agree with the idea of child tax credits/deductions, but when my kids were young enough I sure as hell took them. No guilt whatsoever on my part.
And, yes, if they had eliminated said credit half way through, I would have been fine with it. Sure, I would have missed the money, but I was never one to finance my kids based on tax implications. We would have gotten by just fine.
I feel the same way about the mortgage deduction. I'm less critical of Social Security, and do not advocate for its elimination, though some reform would be nice (another topic for another thread).
Example #1: Child tax credits. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination child tax credits on principle yet claim child deductions on your tax return?
Example #2: Mortgage deduction. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination the mortgage deduction on principle yet claim the mortgage deduction on your tax return?
Example #3: Social Security. Is it hypocritical to advocate the elimination Social Security on principle yet take the money when you reach retirement age?
All of these are "if you qualify", of course.
I don't think it's hypocritical at all. In fact, not taking something... as long as it's legal... that you can is outright dumb. I do not agree with the idea of child tax credits/deductions, but when my kids were young enough I sure as hell took them. No guilt whatsoever on my part.
And, yes, if they had eliminated said credit half way through, I would have been fine with it. Sure, I would have missed the money, but I was never one to finance my kids based on tax implications. We would have gotten by just fine.
I feel the same way about the mortgage deduction. I'm less critical of Social Security, and do not advocate for its elimination, though some reform would be nice (another topic for another thread).