Comments about ‘Dingell's proposal to limit tax deduction on mortgage interest sparks worry’

If the problem is energy consumption and its side-effects, the better approach is a federal tax on energy consumption. A 3-generation family living frugally in an energy-efficient 3200 sq ft house is better than a single person running a pool heater, spa, and air conditioning needlessly in a small house - while on vacation out of town!

If there's a specific thing you want to discourage, adopt a plan to specifically target that activity - USING energy, not LIVING in a big house. That said, I live in a 1000 sq ft house with neither spa nor pool nor A/C, so it doesn't much matter to me personally.

Besides, an all-or-nothing over-3000 or under-3000 rule is silly. Everyone will end up with a 2990 sq ft house. And if you close in a porch, you'll have just lost your interest diduction.

The squabbling and evasion problems would be endless. Much better to just add a 12% federal tax to the gas, electric, heating oil, and propane bills.

"Properly addressing climate change requires us to address the issue of consumption," Dingell said in a speech to the American Jewish Committee in Detroit. "We do that by making consumption more expensive."

It is not the role of government to legislate the cost of goods and services. This move towards socialism in America cannot be tolerated. Our free market economy and the principles on which our country was founded must be maintained. We can't act on what our perception of the consequences might be. We must make choices based on principle alone and let the consequence take care of itself.

There he goes again, Goreing the rich.