This is why the Federal tax system can’t be reformed, only destroyed. There are a number of proposals out there to accomplish this (the “Fair Tax” and “Flat Tax” proposals among them), but I doubt they’ll ever see the light of day until it’s too late.
In my not so humble opinion, people like Grover Norquist and their insistence that no tax break go away and no new tax be enacted are huge roadblocks to having a truly equitable tax system, one with no breaks for any special interest (and yes, I include the precious mortgage deduction in that, as well as deductions for health insurance, business R&D and anything else you can name). People like the average Democrat, who claim that government continually needs more, more, MORE! are the flip side of that coin. A pox on all of them.
I don’t like paying taxes and I’d rather not pay them, but I’d complain a lot less if I knew that everyone, from the least of us to the folks at the pinnacle of the economy, are all being treated equally by the tax code.