Perks, Pitfalls of Public Service

Mark Petracca’s Commentary, “Law Agencies Need Public’s Help to Fight Official Corruption” (May 3), described the problem quite well. However, by misdiagnosing the cause he then offered the wrong solution.

The problem of public corruption was identified by Mr. Petracca. “It’s no surprise that many conflict-of-interest cases involve public officials who do business with or accept gifts from developers, while at the same time promoting or approving new development projects.”

The cause, as seen by Mr. Petracca, is a lack of prosecutorial political will, a lack of sufficient public disapproval and a lack of resources (money and personnel (more money)) to combat these conflicts of interest.

The solution, for Mr. Petracca, is more will, more money and more bureaucrats to prosecute more bureaucrats.

However, the obvious true cause of this political corruption is evident in the description of the problem: public officials with the power to approve and disapprove development projects. This lack of respect of the property rights of developers by the very institution charged with protecting property rights, the government, is the real cause of political corruption.

Therefore, the obvious true solution for political corruption is to remove from bureaucratic hands the power to control the property of corporations and individuals; that is, to restore property rights to the owners of the property.

STEVE MOORE, Irvine