a marriage is nothing more than a contract in the governments eyes. It has offer, acceptence and considerationo equalling a contract. That is one front the government comes in. The other is the government is given the responsibility and have a duty to protect individuals in a marriage. Take minors for example. When should the government come in, if at all, to protect a child? What about when the dissolution of a marriage is presented? The government has to decided on it. As for taxing, the government does that too. The government has a vested interest in our lives. That's a fact. How much and how far is the arguement.