Mona Charen: Public corruption not normal, but it's sure getting up there

First, there was Bell, Calif., the little L.A. suburb that achieved distinction for its florid corruption. Robert Rizzo, former city manager, stands accused of 53 counts of misappropriating public funds and conflicts of interest.In a town described as the poorest in Los Angeles County (average income $30,000, unemployment rate 16 percent), Rizzo earned a salary of nearly $800,000 in 2009 and was expecting to rake in $1.5 million this year.

In addition to Rizzo, police arrested and charged the assistant city manager, mayor, and a gaggle of council members. It was, in the words of the district attorney, “corruption on steroids.”