“Though I think eliminating deductions is a good long term goal, I don’t think it is either fair or economically advisable to just - Wham! - slam the door on them. People have based their lives and their budgets on the current rules and should be given time to adjust - a phase out over at least five years.”
Eliminating deductions on Mortgage and Charity should NOT happen. Charities would be hurt and most middle class home owners as well. For many, the difference between mortgage deductions vs not having them...is the difference between buying a home or renting foreever. Mortgage deductions are GOOD for the economy because they DO increase home purchases.
I guess some of us only believe that big government handouts are bad when they are for other people.
Every single time government steps in to subsidize something, they drive up the price of that thing. They've driven up the cost of homes, medical care, and education, among other things. But as long as you get your piece of someone else's pie, that's all okay, right?