"too many Americans are wedded to existing tax breaks: say, the deductions for mortgage interest and charitable contributions"   These are the only significant deductions left for a middle class taxpayer. Reagan killed the regular interest deductions and the bought and paid for Congress is only interested in continuing and adding to the 1%'s deductions.

 Trying to take mortgage and charitable deductions  away today would make the Whiskey Rebellion look like civil disobedience.