Corporations get away with crimes

Bernie Layne, Las Vegas

Monday, May 31, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

Why the corporate sanctity? Why the ultimate in dual standards of responsibility? Why does our society impose different treatment of individual actions against the public good than it does for individuals who wear the corporate label of CEO?

If a private citizen commits an act of fraud, he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If, however, he is an officer of a large corporate entity, he usually faces no criminal charges although his crime may be huge in its effect on our society. The corporation also provides liability insurance to protect its officers against civil suits. Have there been sufficient criminal charges brought against those bankers and investment firm officers who have thrust the whole world into economic chaos?

And now we have a crime against the environment. If a private citizen were to dump toxic waste into our waterways, there would be an uproar and criminal charges would quickly ensue. When the world’s ecology is threatened, however, we blame the Republicans for allowing the drilling, and we blame the Democrats for being delinquent in handling the problem. Where is the criminal action and public outcry against the corporate officers of BP who wantonly decided to save corporate money rather than protect our environment?

We decry abuses of any bureaucracy whether it’s government or corporate. We abhor the lack of conscience wherever it exists. However, if we hold people criminally responsible for their actions, whether they are corporate or governmental, and apply the law unequivocally in all cases, perhaps we would eliminate the temptation to take the bribe, or take the short cut, or take the chance because there is no fear of being held criminally responsible for our actions.