Women like this are scoundrels and I know there are just way too many of them. Not all women are like this; I know many who do at least a reasonable job of earning their stay. I live in NYC and the two income family is the norm here. While there are plenty of American women who suck, I will say that at least economically, many women in larger cities are at least bringing some bread home.
All I can say is just...don't be that guy. Don't be the fool of this story. The only scoundrel bigger than the parastic woman of this this story is the sucker of a man who subsidizes her. He is the one who chose to marry this woman and thus relinquish 50-75% of his income. He is the one who accepted her staying at home, quitting her job, and doing nothing all day.
He is the biggest scoundrel of all.
Don't let this get you down too much. If others want to play this game, let them; that is their choice. And in the age of the internet, this is becoming and increasingly INFORMED choice. While the last generation may have gotten married with blinders on, just because that's what you're "supposed to do", and not knowing the legal ramnifications of marriage, today's generation has no such excuse. People are increasingly knowing damned well what a sorry bet marriage is. It is all risk, almost no reward, for the man, at least from a legal point of view. Yes, if you want to be romantic and all, yes, you may be marrying a wonderful person. Yes, she may bring joy and sunshine and love and all that stuff into your life. But LEGALLY, you are getting yourself into a commitment that is almost all risk, all responsibility, and almost no benefit/reward. YOU, the man, incur almost nothing but liabilities in a marriage from the legal perspective.
With the internet, today's consumer is the most informed consumer of all. Because of the the wealth of information on the internet, people can make more informed, and better decisions than ever. We can buy better products, move into better neighborhoods that more closely reflect our needs and desires. In America, the internet has changed the face of the medical industry, with consumers of healthcare being far more informed partners with doctors in the making of healthcare decisions, as opposed to the old model of the passive patient that accepted the gospel of the doctor.
Not any more. More people are wising up.
And more people should be wising up to marriage. Galt, don't give up just yet. Keep working hard. Keep innovating. Keep saving. Become wealthy, and enjoy the fruits of your own labor. If you wish to have relations with women, relate to women from a position of strength and avoid government marriage, as all it is is a defacto transfer of wealth to the woman. Or just avoid relationships with women all together.
Keep doing the right thing, and be SMART. Maybe us men don't have to shrug just yet. Maybe, if we do things right, and keep the government at bay...things may be better than ever.