> Whenever my mother-in-law provides childcare, the government should tax me for the money I would have spent on daycare. Rich people tend to have mothers-in-l

> Whenever my mother-in-law provides childcare, the government should tax me for the money I would have spent on daycare. Rich people tend to have mothers-in-law who are well off and don't need to work for money, so have time for unpaid childcare and other care work. Poor people tend to have mothers-in-law who are less well off, need to work for money, and don't have as much time for unpaid care work. Poor people might therefore have to spend money on childcare that richer people get for free. This is one of the ways in which wealth begets wealth, and an example for how expensive it can be to be poor. This is an important societal issue, and it is good of you to call attention to it. Child care should be free (as in, financed by progressive taxes) everywhere, for everyone. The government should absolutely tax those who have more disposable income more than those who have less. It's simpler and more economically efficient (you are in favor of economic efficiency, I can tell) to do this based on general income and wealth levels than by sending inspectors everywhere to determine whether they "would" have spent money on daycare.