Stop Regulating Market Prices

The front page (March 31) contained one article about the Soviet Union and one about the California Coastal Commission. After reading them, it was difficult to tell which article was about the U.S.S.R. and which was about California. Both related how government officials set prices below the free market price. In the U.S.S.R., it was nearly everything, whereas in California it was the price of homes set low for the benefit of moderate-income people.

In both articles, government employees took advantage of the situation. In both articles, the perpetrators were condemned, in part for taking advantage of their inside position and in part for making a profit. In both articles, the view was expressed that more governmental efforts must be undertaken to make sure that free market prices do not occur and that people should not profit from these governmental actions to regulate prices.

It took the Soviets more than 70 years to learn the folly of trying to substitute government for the free market. I wonder how long it will take the California Coastal Commission?

DONALD R. BOOTH

Villa Park