> It doesn't make sense that married people can willfully lower standard of living but non custodial parents cannot.
Of course it does - because both parents are responsible for the welfare of the children, and so if they both decide that they want to lower the standard of living that is a shared/joint agreement.
If the non-custodial parent decides they want to lower their child's standard of living, a) that is a unilateral decision, and b) they (the non-custodial parent) don't have to bear the implications of that lowered standard of living.
> your system would have me a criminal were it I didn't have custody.
Yes, sadly, having children means that sometimes you lack flexibility and can't make the decisions you would like to make.
Of course it does - because both parents are responsible for the welfare of the children, and so if they both decide that they want to lower the standard of living that is a shared/joint agreement.
If the non-custodial parent decides they want to lower their child's standard of living, a) that is a unilateral decision, and b) they (the non-custodial parent) don't have to bear the implications of that lowered standard of living.
> your system would have me a criminal were it I didn't have custody.
Yes, sadly, having children means that sometimes you lack flexibility and can't make the decisions you would like to make.