Today I share the wealth.

A recent column on female teachers who sexually abuse their students, and society's tendency to go easier on them than on male predators brought some reaction:

* "Do you believe if the roles were reversed (male teacher/female student) there would be jail time? I do. It's almost ironic that several of these cases with a woman teacher end up with probation - basically a slap on the wrist. These women should be in jail just as a man should and would be." - S.P.

* "I'm a man who was 14 once, and I had friends who were 14. All we talked about was sex with women, all ages, all races, all the time. I've seen your 'predator' and have heard what she has done. Ask any guy who's not gay if he wouldn't have jumped at the chance to be with her. One day you'll learn that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, truly. Guys do not think about sex the way you do - they like pretty women and at about age 12 start thinking about sex 24/7. Whatever. Like this letter will change your view. I bet deep down you don't like [the woman involved] because she's beautiful. - M.K.

I wrote a column based on The Broken Branch, a new book by Washington, D.C., authors Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein. Their thesis is that nonstop campaigning, bolstered by big money and lobbyists' unchecked power, has allowed Congress to neglect its obligation to check and balance other branches. Some reader reaction:

* "Thank you for putting into print what needs to be said. When the state Legislature was gutting out rules at one point for citizens initiatives, one of our wonderful leaders said something to the effect that citizens out here should have no say in how [lawmakers] manage the government because 'they have no idea what we are trying to accomplish up here.' You may be too kind in defining them as arrogant. The sad truth is they can't be blamed. They only do what we allow them to get away with. Until we learn to leave blind faith where it belongs and start taking our brains into the voting booth, we will have to learn to live with corrupt arrogance." - J.C.

A column critical of Salt Lake County Republican Chairman James Evans for his ownership of several "payday loan" businesses in the county drew this observation:

* "As I read your column about James Evans and the hypocrisy of his claiming to be injured by Mayor Rocky Anderson's words when his own loan-sharking fortune comes from harming our society's least-protected and most-vulnerable citizens, I felt like you pulled your punches too much. Unscrupulous loan-sharking individuals should not be tolerated in this state.

* "Your column alluded to, but did not ask, an important question. Why have our state and local governments, and in particular our Legislature and the attorney general, allowed any of these operations in our city and state?" - S.M.

And finally, a few readers have taken the opportunity to comment on my new photo. Some of you cut right to the chase:

* "Hey Mullen, please spare us the photo. You look like a guy." - S.F.

hmullen@sltrib.com