Status quo as in those who earn exorbitent profits off of misery still are untouched, while those who suffer injuries under the system as penalized for wanting restitution. Is that fair? No, that is not fair... and you know it.
The definition of a shell game is making it seem as if something is so when it simply has been moved around, i.e. deception. All your tax benefits do is pass on the costs to the government, and we pay for those costs later on, either through this deficit you talk about, or higher taxes, or costs somewhere else. THAT is the shell game, and you cannot deny it, no matter how hard you try.