Give Us a Reason to Use Our Franchise : Ethics: Lack of civic trust adds to the problems government is supposed to solve. The proposed code for L.A. officials is a hopeful step.

Perhaps I should not have been surprised. Leaving early for work one morning in order to vote, I asked my 27-year-old nephew, who is living with us while attending graduate school, when he planned to go the polls. “That will be difficult,” he quipped with only a trace of embarrassment, “since I’m not registered to vote.”

The next evening I tried to probe that non-participatry stance of his. Here is a well-educated young man, who reads the newspaper and is far from uncaring about what happens in our society.

“Why bother?” he said. “Most politicians and a lot of people who work in government are, in one way or another, bought and paid for. Either subtly or obviously they are obligated to individuals or groups who finance their campaigns. Or else they are making extra money on the side in ways that are bound to influence how they make decisions. And, if they are not doing that, they are making deals and associations now so they can make money after leaving government service. Financial institutions, developers, contractors, rich individuals, unions, trade associations--they are the ones who do the real voting in this country with their bucks and influence. Why should I waste my time?”

I wanted to claim he was exaggerating but on most days, all he would have to do is pick up the newspaper to prove his point. One could contend that investigative reporters are only telling us what has always been true in politics and government service. But there is certainly a strong and growing impression that the ethics of those in government service are a long way from what they should be. My nephew is far from alone.

There is a crisis of confidence in Los Angeles and throughout our country. Many people suspect, rightly or wrongly, that the breaches of trust disclosed in the past decade alone are just the tip of an iceberg of major and minor misuses of public office for ill-gotten gain. Some might argue that in the face of drug wars, severe problems with schools, housing and medical services and other societal concerns, this crisis is only a minor problem. Yet it is also arguable that a crisis in confidence in the character of governmental leadership is a major contributing factor to the other problems--a major reason why people believe there is no way community action through government can solve them.

The city of Los Angeles has a great opportunity not only to halt, but to reverse this sense that many government officials are on the make and take. Now before the City Council is a stringent and carefully drawn ethics code for our municipal government. It must be strong. There is nothing else that will do now. It could become a model for other governmental bodies throughout our state and country.

There may be some minor adjustments that can be offered to make the code more equitable, but any major weakening will be an enormous step backward. Council members may be able to get themselves reelected if they do not pass a strong code but they will have contributed to the crisis in confidence that will increasingly make it difficult for government to work on the real problems of society.

The one excuse, above all, we do not want to hear is how government officials need outside income to make their livings. I certainly want our officials to be given good wages. But if they feel that they must continue to take money from sources who call into question even the slightest possibility of conflict of interest, let them be thanked for their service and then step aside. Other fine people can be found.

How proud we will be if our mayor, who already backs the code, and our council members give us new confidence in our city government by approving this ethics proposal. I would so like to pick up the paper the next morning and say to my nephew, “Look what our leaders have done. Now go register to vote.”