OK, I know Americans have short attention spans so here is a brief recap.
A little after 6 in the evening, on September 9th, 2010, there was an explosion in the California city of San Bruno. A gas line exploded, killing 8 people and destroying 38 homes. The owner of the was pipeline was Pacific Gas and Electric. It was later revealed that 100 million dollars that was supposed to be used for safety operations was diverted to executive pay, including bonuses.
The California Public Utilities Commission is considering levying a 2.25 billion dollar fine against Pacific Gas and Electric. That is exactly the wrong thing to do.
They correct thing to do? Charge Pacific Gas and Electric with negligent homicide, or even first degree murder.
The Citizen's United decision says corporations are people. If people commit murder, they go to jail, even face the death penalty. Here is the perfect case to put a lie to that.
The San Bruno district attorney should be filing murder changers against Pacific Gas and Electric. It was their job to ensure the safety of the pipeline, they had the money to do it, they used the money for something else.
When people are killed in a bank robbery, it is first degree murder. It does not matter if the robbers planned to kill someone. They walked into a bank with guns prepared to kill someone.
This is the same. The corporation stole money, and in the process, and as a consequence, people died. If a corporation is a person then that corporation must face the same penalties as any other person would face.
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
2 comments:
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I disagree. Here's why. It isn't practical. This is still considered a white collar crime,the tragedy happened because of policy that was decided in a board room. Litigating in the US system of justice does not make this crime cost effective to the tax payer. We the people will need to prosecute the huge number of people connected to this horrific tragedy and would mean a prosecutorial nightmare. In theory you'd be right, but in today's litigious society it could be years and the utility would be compelled to defend itself and its board members. I'm sure there is policy passed by the same board to cover them. The utility admitted wrong doing,basically cutting their loses, which was wise. A fine is faster, sends a message to investors and the taxpayer is spared three hots and a cot for another white collar crime, which would be served in a Club Fed type "prison". Taxpayers are already being taxed to death, and the State's crowded prisons are releasing people for lesser offenses because of it. Spare me a buck. Hit this wealthy corporation where it will hurt the most, their bottom line.Oh and regulate them till they scream uncle. Maybe then, they'll get serious about green, clean and efficient alternative energy exploration.
ReplyDeleteBut the point is not about punishing the individuals, although they may indeed be accessories to murder. The point is this.
ReplyDeleteIf a corporation is a person, with all of the rights of a person, then a corporation that commits murder can be put to death. It would only take one of those, and the Supreme Court's wrong-headed Citizen's United decision would be gone.