I suspect that your letter, Chuck, is in response to my most recent article in L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise, in which I questioned the candidacy of ex-Governors Gary Johnson and William Weld. However, a couple of the things you say lead me to believe that you have me confused with somebody else, perhaps libertarian science fiction author and movie-maker J. Neil Schulman. For example, I have never seriously asked "What Would Gary Johnson Do?" about anything. I know all too well what a statist—or, if you insist, a mini-statist—like him would do when it comes to rights of individuals subject to his rule.

In answer to your implied question, "Mr. Smith" makes me feel old—but then, what the hell, I am old. Actually, I greatly prefer "Neil", or, as my regular readers sometimes call me "El Neil". Also, sadly; I have never once attended or addressed a Libertarian Supper Club; I haven't set foot in the People's Republic of California since 1987.

Chuck, please understand that there is no such thing as a "fair" tax. Is there a "fair" form of theft? Is there a "fair" form of slavery? If you take something from someone who wants to keep it, and insist that he labor for months to pay what you demand, you're a thief and a slaver, no matter how you dress it up. Forcing merchants to collect your protection-money for you is simply another form of slavery. There's nothing "fair" about it. And calling me a "purest" (you spelled it wrong—look it up) is not an argument that anybody decent makes. I think and act as consistently as I can with what I reason to be right.