Completely relevant
Your tax deductions are equivalent to handouts. You are no better than a welfare mother getting help to take care of her family
The only way you can compare the two is if you look it as all money is governments first, and anything they allow you to keep is a gift from them.
That's not the way it is. It's my money first--not governments. Until you accept the concept, then you will always have a hard time deciphering between a handout and a reduction. A reduction (or write-off) is where government takes less of what you have. A handout is when they don't take anything from you, but instead, give.