I've considered the flat tax a viable alternative as well, but as long as it means eliminating the mortgage deduction, and most models do, it would single handedly destroy the housing industry, housing market, wreak havoc on related industries...and pretty much decimate the hub of most middle class families retirement/financial planning.

Any serious effort to eliminate the mortgage deduction for a flat tax would be as deadly a third rail as cutting Social Security, maybe worse.

That said, if it could be worked around, a flat tax is fair.