Housing authority scandal no surprise

Thank you for the two articles on the front page of the April 25 Daily Herald of the investigations of the DuPage Housing Authority. Both federal and local criminal investigations of this housing authority seem to be warranted.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that the housing authority has improperly spent $5.8 million in Section 8 federal programs and inadequately accounted for $4.7 more. The credit cards issued to the agency employees were used as “cash cows” for a lifestyle few taxpayers can afford.

The FBI has also been brought to investigate. The DuPage Housing Authority is now ordered to pay HUD back with “nonfederal” dollars. How can this possibly be done except with more tax money?

This type of behavior is predictiable no matter how many rules are put on workers spending other people’s money. If they are not God-fearing and honest in their hearts they will find a way around every rule made. Accountablility helps a little (who is watching the watchmen?) but it is finally a matter of the heart.

Jesus tells us that “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts ... theft ... false testimony” (Matthew 15.19).

We foolishly think there is a government solution to every problem but too often government compounds the problem. Thomas Jefferson was right when he said that “little government is the best government.”

Priscilla Weese

Wheaton