I respond to some comments

These comments appeared on the Bozeman Chronicle website in answer to my recent column. I do want to dissect them a bit because of their astonishing fecklessness.

First, magicdragon: "I want him to post his tax forms so we all can see how much he writes off. When I was self employed, I was able to write off thousands that a man working for someone else could not. Does Rich pay a higher percent than his receptionist?"

This is the classic progressive mindset. This writer seems to think he is entitled to see my private financial records, apparently to determine if I pay enough taxes. So I'll make him a deal. If magicdragon would publish all the details of his sex life so that we can determine the appropriateness of his behavior and then penalize him for any, shall we say, inadequacies, I then would be happy to publish my tax records. In other words, it's none of his damn business.

If magicdragon was able to pay lower taxes as a result of being self-employed, he was guilty of tax evasion. A business owner pays both the employer and employee portions of Social Security on himself, rent, phone, postage, utilities, employee salaries and benefits, buys equipment, and of course, pays a plethora of taxes. If there is any money left, then the owner gets a paycheck.

Next, Sonechka: "According to manta.com: '[Rich's company] is a private company which is listed under insurance. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $500,000 to $1 million and employs a staff of 1 to 4.' You can afford your taxes, Rich."

So this means, I assume, that the only relevant factor regarding taxes is affordability? This would mean that taxes can never be too high, unfair, illegal, or punitive if the target has the ability to pay them. It also suggests that government ought to have to power to determine who has too much money and take it from them.

Implicit in this is the idea that your wealth belongs to the government, who "kindly" allows you to keep some for yourself. However, the principle of private property is a founding concept of our country, an idea which separates us from the monarchy, where the people are subjects or serfs, and the King owns all property. The Constitution notes that we have the right to be secure in our persons and property.