In defense of crooked builders in Britain it should be pointed out that builders everywhere are also crooked (“Crooked Builders,” April 19, 2008). The reason is simple enough: much money passes through a few hands in a short period of time. That is in the very nature of building projects. The builders’ ways are therefore hardly surprising; rather, the governments’ ways are truly suspect. Why do they not oversee builders better? Again, the reason is quite simple: in many countries governments actually collude with builders and divide the spoils. As this is not likely to be the case in Britain, where could the laxity originate? Could it be that the British government only sees capitalism through overly rosy glasses?