> Please correct me if my guesses are wrong. It's possible that the tax break > preceded this period. Since then, it's been a sacred cow. Not many people paid the Federal personal income tax before WWII, so if it existed (I don't know if it did or not) the deduction would have been a minor matter on that account alone. Clearly as you say major political factors included returning veterans coming home and rapidly growing economy and living standards. MBS "People say I'm arrogant, but I know better." -- John Sununu =================================================== Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-8810 (voice) Ste. 1200 202-775-0819 (fax) Washington, DC 20036 http://epn.org/sawicky Opinions above do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute other than this writer. ===================================================