Your fine article "Town Shopping" describes "realtors’ rise to power" (HCN, 3/20/06: Town Shopping). That rise to power rests on the rise of American Socialism, in my opinion — the use of government (from the halls of Congress to your county board of commissioners) for personal gain. It’s seen prominently in various targeted benefits to agriculture industry, oil industry, etc., but in your article it is most visible in the federal/state income tax structure, in which the more you borrow for homes and second homes, the more that expense is deducted from tax payments — that is, is paid by the other "working stiffs" who do not use that socialist subsidy.

Neely Bostick
Morrison, Colorado