I'd abolish the standard deduction. Rather, move it into the tax brackets. At an absolute minimum the 0% bracket should extend to the poverty line, I think 15

I'd abolish the standard deduction. Rather, move it into the tax brackets. At an absolute minimum the 0% bracket should extend to the poverty line, I think 150% of the poverty line would be a better fence. The standard deduction basically says you don't get to deduct many things you should be able to deduct. All the games we play with deductions are a shell game by Congress to stealthily raise taxes on the poor/middle class.