The July 25 Commentary “Money better spent on social services” asserts that “the spike in crime … is clearly a result of economic hardship and pov­erty.” The increase in crime really comes from a lack of morality, a real sense of right and wrong. It’s the internal factor of greed combined with the lack of morality, wanting stuff without caring how it’s obtained. “Social services” spending won’t solve that problem. Even worse, if the thieves are from L.A. County (as the author writes), spending on “social services” in Ventura County won’t have any effect.