@LAF, that's twice you asked that question...with multiple question marks. Once to me and now to
@HagerHedgie. Maybe I owe you an answer since it seems you're quite curious, and we've gone full blown off topic already anyway...so why not stir the pot once more:
My answer is yes. Indeed I am not in favor of the Mortgage tax deduction, much like I'm not in favor of the electric car credit, much like I'm not in favor of subsidies to oil companies that for some reason were railed about earlier, etc...
Certainly I accept them and take them when I qualify because they're there, and I feel it's silly to not take free money that's offered up to me. The mere fact that I legitimately and legally erased 100% of my federal tax liability for 2018 is sheer lunacy to me, despite reporting a very solid income and being more than capable of paying into the coffers. And to me that illustrates just how severely our tax system is broken. It won't repeat, because those circumstances I had last year won't repeat and it was a very unique tax year for me. But it happened. I paid zero federal dollars in taxes all last year. Legally. It would pass an audit. About 50% of Americans did the same last year. And I feel that's beyond stupid that we have a tax system that allows this to happen.
So the truth is I'm not in favor of the credits and deductions, and would love to see them all given up and "reset" to zero all at once...and see where it takes us.
I am also open minded enough to admit I don't know the best answer to taxes. Flat federal sales tax on all non-essential product and/or service sales maybe? Maybe not. But I'd truly love to see the bandaid ripped off and a total tax structuring reset, and much of it would start with eliminating almost all subsidies, credits, and deductions for most every entity and person except the truly needy/disabled/ultra low/zero income individuals. And no I don't know how to establish those threshholds, and I fully am aware it's a complex issue with no quick and easy answers.
If only I were emperor...then the world would be a horrifyingly complex and difficult place...but in a MUCH different way than it is today!