I totally disagree with the idea that the Mortgage Interest Tax deduction should be ended. My husband & I do not make a large income and worked hard to buy our house (at a fixed 30yr mortgage even though we were STRONGLY encouraged to go “Interest only with a 10 yr fixed rate that would then change to a ARM” by the mortgage company we were using, NO THANKS, but that is another story). The Mortgage tax deduction is the difference between getting a refund & paying more in taxes.If anything, I think it should be based on total household income levels with higher incomes phased out of the deduction. Also in MA, the state offers a break on State taxes for renters that is similar to the interest break on the Fed return. Maybe more state should offer something like this to renters.

Rather than focusing on the income tax rate “percentages” of the various income groups, perhaps it’s time to re-consider the old idea of a flat tax system. Evaluating a flat tax system, one with little or no deductions and tax code complications, may be a better use of current efforts to re-assess the tax system. We should focus on lowering the tax rate percentage for all and not the taxes paid by those fortunate enough to be successful or above an arbitrary dollar limit. Set a bottom limit of something such as the first $20,000 of earned income is not taxed. Beyond $20,000 all income is taxed at the same rate, regardless of source (earned, capital gains, etc.). Essentially the more you make, the greater your tax obligation. If all sources of an individual’s economic success were taxed, the actual tax rate would likely be below 10%. The quantity of deductions should be kept very limited, to deductions such as the current family exemptions, educational, charity, medical, etc. Focus on societal morals (charity, hunger, etc.) and economic goals (education, etc.) when defining the tax system. Requiring for example that 10% of charity deductions must be to food and homeless shelter charities in order to qualify for the deduction would go a long way toward eliminating hunger and poverty. I could go on but I think the point is clear…take this opportunity to completely overhaul our tax system. Make it more equitable and eliminate the numerous complexities that allow those who “have” to hide behind their moral obligation and to not place an unfair burden on those who “have not.”

Please have your guest talk about the lack of a viable rail connection between New York and Connecticut.

Mr. Lowenstein seemed to be a bit late on his understanding as to when mortgage interest was allowed as a deductible. It happened in the early 50’s when the Republicans were in power via D.D. Eisenhower. This apparently was to help WW2 GIs fund houses. There was a real lack of rental housing for returning GIs and their spouses. It was sort of a GI bill benefit

How can a serious music journalist call anything “the sensitive female chord progression”?! First of all it’s invidious. Secondly, it’s incredibly short sighted. Western music is composed of recognizable chord progressions that have been used for hundreds of years. Rock and roll was built on the I, IV, V progression. The Blues is I7, IV7, V7. Jazz tends toward the ii, V, I, or the iii, vi, ii, V, I. and so forth. A musician’s caliber in my view is based upon laying a beautiful and original melody down against established chord progressions. So some of the artists you point out have done a good job, and others, not so good, in my view, with that progression. Joan Osborne and Sarah McLachlan are two originals, in my view (in my ears). But “sensitive female chord progression”! Please! I’m gonna go bang on my guitar using the “angry male listener” chord progression…

I really enjoyed the piece on the chord progression. Could you tell me the name of the British comedian whose name is not mentioned on the site who did a routine of rock songs? Robin played a clip of him.

Thanks,
Gwen

Hi Gwen,

Thanks for your interest in the show- you can watch Comedian Rob Paravonian’s Pachelbel Rant video on our website, here’s the link– http://www.hereandnow.org/shows/2009/03/rundown-34/

Please let us know if you need anything else,

-the Here and Now Staff

I loved the story on the Sensitive Female Chord Progression. NPR – in fact most news media – seem obsessed with misery lately. If I hear another story about how some aspect of my life is just getting worse, I feel like I’ll scream. You should all just have one last “misery” story that wraps it all up with these words: “The Economy, the Gaza Strip, global warming, job loss, Zimbabwe, the auto industry, Iraq, Iran, Health Care, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Madoff Ponzi Scheme, the credit disaster, the stock market, housing, the deficit, TARP, Illegal immigration, and everything else is just going to keep getting worse until they start to get better. We will spare you any further updates on progressively worsening stories because you already know what’s happening. We will return to those stories when something DIFFERENT happens. In the meantime, we will provide you with stories like The Sensitive Female Chord Progression, because they are smart, funny, educational and insightful. They also present information most of the audience has not heard a thousand times before.

As an insensitive male who never knew what a chord progression was, I thank you.