Letter to the editor: By not allowing a local sales tax, we are 'kinda stupid' - by Orville Bach

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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This letter writer supports more taxes, which is what a typical Leftist would do. But he goes farther and tells us we are stupid for not wanting more taxes. Specifically, a local option sales tax.

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With all of the news about how much tourists spend in Montana ($5 billion last year, probably more this year,) (Would the amount of tourism be impacted by the amount of taxation? Just curious.)

especially since so many fly into BZN, I couldn't help but think about comments some of my friends have made to me when they visit here.

It usually goes something like this: "We want to thank the good folks of Montana for their wonderful generosity, though we think you guys are kinda stupid."

Of course, what they are referring to is the fact that they can spend to their hearts' content without having to pay any sales taxes. They use and abuse our infrastructure but don't contribute a dime. (Ummm, $5 billion?

If Joe Blow owns Widget and Co. and sells a bunch of widgets to tourists, does Joe Blow not pay taxes on his revenue? 

If tourists buy gas as they drive through, do they not pay gas taxes? 

BZN airport had 2.62 million passengers last year. Each passenger paid a passenger facility charge of $4.50 to the airport. That is $11.79 million added to our local economy, just for one fee. In addition, there are several other taxes and fees, charged by the federal government:

• S. Federal Excise Tax (US TAX): 7.5% of the base fare.
• September 11th Security Fee: $5.60 per one-way trip.
• Flight Segment Tax (ZP): $4.50 per flight segment.

We know the federal government heavily subsidizes the airline industry, and sends loads of tax money to airports. 

We don't wish to demean Mr. Bach, but it's clear he's not very informed about how economics works.)

And that, of course, is because we actually DO have a very stupid Montana Legislature, controlled by Republicans, who do not allow the City of Bozeman to charge any taxes on the goods and services that our tourists purchase. (The obvious question is, the purpose of taxation is to raise the needed funds to properly operate government. Is there any evidence whatsoever that the City of Bozeman is lacking in funding?)

It would be such a simple matter to enact targeted sales taxes in Bozeman and then allow Montana residents to deduct sales tax expenses on our state income tax. ("Simple matter." Ah, yes. For the Left it's always simple, sensible, and fair. But of course it never stays that way, if it even starts that way. Taxes get more intrusive, more inclusive, and more abusive as time passes. And once a tax is enacted, it's like a vampire - you just can't kill it.)

That way, out-of-state tourists would pay their fair share of all of the necessary maintenance and upgrades of our infrastructure. (So the locals would see the cost of their share be reduced...

Unfortunately, the good folks of Montana continue to elect and send to office Republicans to our state Legislature who don't believe in local officials having local control. (It's really kinda funny to hear these Leftists talk about local control when everything they otherwise do is top-down central government coerecesion.)

So my answer to my visiting friends: "You are very welcome regarding our generosity. And yes, we are kinda stupid!"