The following article is by N. Gregory Mankiw, “First Principles,” Fortune, January 24, 2000, p. 36. Discuss the article’s assertion.

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Why Getting Married Still Costs You If a man and woman have similar incomes, their wedding will almost certainly raise their [U.S.] tax bill. But a mar- riage bonus is likely if one partner earns much more than the other, especially if only one of them has earnings. When considering what an ideal tax system would look like, most people are attracted to three principles: Marriage neutrality: A couple's tax liability shouldn't change when they wed. Equal treatment: A couple's tax liability should depend on total income, not on what each partner makes. Progressivity: Taxpayers with higher incomes should face higher tax rates. Here's the problem: As a matter of mathematical logic, reaching all three goals at once is impossible. The president can hope to change the laws of taxation. But the laws of mathematics aren't so easily repealed.