Why should I pay taxes to protect you from yourself?

The March 30 story of Robert and Colleen Nowak's building nightmare does not provide justification for a new building department.

In the story, the Nowaks claim that without a building department, contractors are taking advantage of people building a home here. They also said "We're law-abiding citizens providing money and jobs to the area, and we expected a home we planned to be built properly. Shouldn't there be rights that protect us?"

Yes, Robert and Colleen, there are "rights" that protect you. You have the right to hire any builder you want, properly structure your contracts, to attempt to enforce them in civil court, manage your own project and hire competent, independent inspectors along the way.

You have a lot of power to get your building done right, but just because mistakes were made, by you and your contractor, you want to lay the burden on big government. Well, I for one, do not see your story as good rationale for a new building department. I believe in personal responsibility and do not want to pay through taxes to support a building department to protect you from yourselves.

Simply consider that you have learned some good lessons and move on. Don't ask big government to protect you in areas that you should be protecting yourselves.

SCOTT HERNDON

Sandpoint