Update May 22: In this last month, the Traitors in the 111th Congress have surrendered our Democracy to the Trilateral World Bankers and Big Oil. President Obama and Democrat Senators blocked the full audit of the Federal Reserve, an extra- legal off balance sheet entity of the Treasury. More secret cover-up of the continual bail-out of billions of free money for the banksters. The owners of Goldman Sachs are the same Rothchilds co-owners of the privately held Federal Reserve Banking System, and they know how to play the game by participating in the SEC charade. 
Yesterday, the corrupt Congress permanently put an end to finance and banking reform effectively killing our Democracy and ushering in the Totalitarian financial New World Oder. 
Sad that our Democracy has ended this way, rendered useless and helpless by cowardly and corrupt Congress. Congress members are nothing more then mere vassals for World Bankers, Big Oil and their quest for the Totalitarian New World Order.
The utter collapse and failure of the 111th Congress to preserve our Democracy portents the end of the Democrat and Republican Parties.
I suggest that no one vote in the next election as protest. It is pointless; our Democracy is officially dead and it will take at least 100 years of struggle and millions of American lives to get it back.
2010 is a fast pace year of economic and ecological genocide of the American people. Big Oil is out of control and more powerful then the United States of America.

Why?

Because, the Kings and Queens, that control our corporate feudalism, have the right to kill your children and everyone you love with impunity. They have the right to take away life, liberty and property, deny you due process, and are immune to legal redress.

Just like the middle ages.

Sure they don’t call it feudalism, but it is nonetheless. The only thing missing is the right of primogeniture.

Let’s start with Warren Anderson former CEO of Union Carbid, wanted for the deaths of 20,000 people in the Bhopal India disaster in which he knowingly ordered removal of safety controls, killing thousands and leaving 120,000 more in a life time of agony. He lives in luxury in the US, so far we’ve denied his extradition to India.

Then there are the 400,000 killed by Viox, a long list of dangerous medications that kill hundreds of thousands each year, herbacides that kill through lymphoma and are gender benders, prescription drugs of abuse that kill more than street drugs. Depleated Uranium weapons, that kill our service men and women, and on and on and on.

Then there are the 3 ongoing wars, that are being fought to support the profits of the miltary industrial complex, while America itself rots from the inside out.

So why isn’t the CEO of AIG going to jail, why isn’t the entire executive staff of Goldman Sack going to jail, along with BP, etc, etc. Why? Why? Why?

The list of unprosecuted corporate crimes, against the serfs of America, is well documented.

It’s only a question of time, until millions of us drop dead due to some corporate money making scheme…

No doubt there will be a commision to study what happens and write a report, that no one will read..
The classic way to avoid doing anything and to stall for time, until the public can be distracted by some celebrity who cheats on their wife…

Why…?

Why weren’t the European aristocracy, sent to the guillotine, for murdering, men women and children for their entertainment, fighting endless senseless wars, bankrupting their countries, and generally working the population to death for generation after generation….?

Most people would agree that societies need to operate under the rule of law; however, the rule of law does not guarantee justice. Tyrants decree laws and selectively administer those laws. Laws are created and administered by elite ruling groups, even when populist grass roots movements initiate laws; those laws are fashioned and administered by these elite ruling groups. A thinking person needs only to give a cursory look at history to see that the rule of law does, not only, not guarantee justice, but that the rule of law sometimes enforces injustice.

The concepts of justice are subjective, and subject to much debate. In a truly egalitarian democracy, laws would be passed and revoked by democratic majorities, using democratic governance, under constitutional confines. When Law has been usurped by elite groups, within democratic societies, it is the responsibility of those democratic societies to return the rule of law to the governance and administration of “The people.”

When the Law, and other powerful institutional concepts come under the control of elite groups, which subvert justice, it becomes the responsibility of “The people” of a democracy to use every “Rational means” at their disposal to restore justice, not doing so, assures that justice for all will not be the rule. It has been said that people (Societies) get the democracy they deserve; I’ll suggest that peoples also get the justice they deserve.

The above mentioned “Rational means” would also be subject to debate, and would be dependent on circumstances. I’ll suggest that: Voting, signing petitions, contributing to the political campaigns of politicians that are likely to uphold justice, and political activism, would be considered “Rational means” by most.

When the circumstance arises that the people are seen to have been effectively disenfranchised by the machinations of elite groups, it becomes the responsibility of individuals within society to use those “Rational means” to restore justice and democracy i.e. good government. Endeavoring to right perceived wrongs does not validate a perspective of right or wrong, but that endeavoring is the responsibility of a citizen within a democracy and as a member of humankind.

When elite groups have succeeded in disenfranchising or alienating the electorate to apathy, thereby subverting democracy, political activism becomes the only “Rational means” of restoring democracy. Individuals who are politically apathetic and conditioned by the propaganda disseminated by elite groups are no more at fault for the failures of democracy than those who are politically aware and fail to participate in the necessary political activism or, puzzlingly, discourage political activism.

Activism: a doctrine or practice of vigorous action to achieve political or social goals. 

Nihilists, and doomsayers, who actively disparage political activism, are crypto activists against achieving political and social goals within democracy. Their criticisms are frequently cogent, but they offer no solutions within a democratic framework, they cogently point out the current injustices and prognosticate about the coming doom, while vehemently ridiculing those who seek to avoid that doom and seek to promote social justice.

From my perspective, the world is blessed by the presence of people like Amy Goodman, and cursed by the presence of reactionaries, those who seek dominion, and by nihilists.

If one were uncontrollably sliding down a slope towards the edge of a catechism, one would be well served to seek traction that would slow, stop, or reverse that uncontrolled slide.  Most would find such a predicament to be an evil, with greater and lesser outcomes.

Well Yeah—Where’s the beef? Are we really suprised that the perps are gonna walk? They’ll let your child die before they’ll pay for treatment—they’ll steal your home—charge you 30% interest—take your labor and pay you slave wages—gut your city and, get rich doing it. The lives of workers mean nothing.

      There’s a lot more good at play in America than evil. It’s just that a machine is in place to stop unity and prevent knowledge of the power we have left. As always, Goodman has her teeth in their corrupt asses. It’s gonna change. We’re gonna be here and they’re gonna be gone.

RE Gerard: “What’s all this about corporations insisting that they are “persons”, backed up by the Supremes to allow them to contribute unlimited funds in support of political candidates of their choice?”

It appears their right wing cronies on the Supreme Court intended the “person” status of corporations to be a discretionary kind of thing to be utilized at will by the corporations.  During times of war they may opt to declare they are “unnatural persons” and decline to serve their country.  (After all, corporations like Halliburton may have contracts to fulfill with the declared enemy.) 

In matters involving taxes, they may opt to file as “unnatural persons” so they may reap all the deduction benefits to which “unnatural persons” like corporations are entitled.  In matters involving campaign contributions to lawmakers makers, of course, corporations may opt to be considered “natural persons” so that their voices may be heard and politicians be bought.

In cases where these corporate “natural persons” demonstrate a reckless disregard for human life and/or destruction of the environment, however,  the corporations may switch and declare themselves to be “unnatural persons” so that they may avoid personal accountability, criminal prosecution, and jail sentences for the crimes they have committed against any “natural person.”

Michael McCann, the longtime district attorney of Milwaukee County,(retired 12 / 31 / 2006 )was best known for prosecuting Jeffrey Dahmer. McCann had also prosecuted more than ten corporations for reckless homicide over the last two decades and had won every case (162).

American Roulette - Red Collar Crime

Revolvers are for Russians. We use products, services and labor rights.
http://sites.google.com/site/toxicrevelations/red-collar-crime—-american-roulette

RE Lawrence Baker: “Rockefeller said . . . in bad times people take shortcuts—profits before safety is just the way the world works.”

It’s not the way the world works – it’s the way irresponsible corporations work. Nothing is going to change until the directors of these corporations are held personally accountable and prosecuted for their reckless decisions.

When it comes to “free speech” corporations - along with their less than honest Supreme Court cronies - argue that they are entitled because a corporation is made up of “natural persons” and it is wrong to deny them their voice.

But when it comes to the matter of accepting responsibility for their reckless conduct, voice and/or decisions,  these same “natural persons” argue they cannot be held personally accountable for their reckless decisions and/or voice. 

Quite a setup these corporate criminals have arranged for themselves.

So what can an unconnected garden-variety citizen do to insure that these coal, oil, and investment criminals get arrested and tried?

Thanks, kayrun,

for bringing a legal point of view to this subject. Law enforcement applies to big
business only when it’s politically convenient.  This is the same country that
invades other nations and tells them they need to build democratic institutions.

This is more than manslaughter.  It is murder.  As an attorney, I litigated many cases for and against corporations.  Amy Goodman’s indictment is valid, but mild.  There is a well-known and established doctrine in law called “reckless disregard” for the safety or well-being of another human being.  It is considered judicially as a substitute for “intent”.  In other words, if the actions or omissions are so blatant a disregard for the foreseeable consequences of those actions or omissions, then “intent” is presumed!  This makes the deaths of these men murder (probably second degree).

Also, what about the felonious cruelty or abuse of animals?  While this is not quite in the range of murder (although it probably should be, but murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a human being), it is a serious crime that supports charges based on the killing or harm of EACH ANIMAL. 

Further, corporations are liable criminally as corporations.  Therefore, it is not necessary that individual directors or officers be charged (they should be if guilty), the corporation itself is charged with the crimes.  There are multiple punishments or consequences to conviction, including dissolution (rarely); probation (sometimes); fines (often); and submission to government regulation and oversight during a period of time.  Conviction of criminal behavior is almost always a basis for judgment in civil lawsuits and cannot be revisited by the corporation—meaning their or its guilt is already established for the civil trials.

We have thousands of laws, both state and federal, which would really stop this type of behavior, but they are not enforced, not supported, and virtually unknown to the general public.  We do not need more laws or committees to investigate; we need to enforce powerfully the laws we have.

Kayrun.

Bravo!  Amy Goodman’s words should be read on every news program every day for the next several months as this worst environmental disaster in history continues to unfold. 

The US government should immediately file a cease and desist order to stop all BP operations in the US, and revoke their corporate charter until they can demonstrate that they have the proper and required permits and safety systems in place.  Further before being allowed to reinstate their charter to operate in the US again the government should charge BP a fee of 50 billion dollars payable in full before getting a permit to operate again. This is like any landlord who requires a security deposit before renting their property.  the fee will be held as security and paid out, as a down payment to compensate the US for the damage done to our lands and our people.

Also in the meantime citizens can begin to boycott BP gasoline which done through avoiding both the BP,and ARCO brands.

Hard to argue against—- but easy to lobby against.

Logic and law do not prevail in our supposed constitutional democratic Republic.

Money and power of the Global corporate/financial/militarist Empire, which hides behind the facade of its TWO-Party ‘Vichy’ sham of faux democratic government (aided by its equally ‘Vichy’ corporatist press) prevails——not only sometimes, but all the time—- and until the end of time.

Best luck against Empire,
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine

May 18 elitist Rockefeller Sen. John D. “Jay”’ Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, also expressed concern about oil continuing to pour into the gulf. “There will be many more days, many more weeks, many more months—who knows at this point— before the devastation can be brought fully to a halt,” he said. “Every day the damage grows worse.”
Rockefeller said he wanted to know whether companies took shortcuts. “I’m familiar with shortcuts, because I come from West Virginia where there are a lot of coal mines,” he said, “and in bad times people take shortcuts—profits before safety is just the way the world works.”

May 18 elitist Rockefeller Sen. John D. “Jay”’ Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, also expressed concern about oil continuing to pour into the gulf. “There will be many more days, many more weeks, many more months—who knows at this point— before the devastation can be brought fully to a halt,” he said. “Every day the damage grows worse.”
Rockefeller said he wanted to know whether companies took shortcuts. “I’m familiar with shortcuts, because I come from West Virginia where there are a lot of coal mines,” he said, “and in bad times people take shortcuts—profits before safety is just the way the world works.”
That was an easy case- Mystery Solved

Your premise that corporations should be held responsible for criminal charges in regard to their dealings is rather laughable.

First of all, the laws in this country are written by white collar criminals in our political class. Do you actually think that they will write a law that may impact them? Really? Millionaires writing laws concerning other millionaires will have so many loopholes that it just boggles the mind.

Your example of driving a vehicle 90 mph in a 55 mph zone and you hit someone and kill them should be involuntary manslaughter only shows someone that is quite naive. Again, laws are written by white collar criminals. A motor vehicle is NOT considered a dangerous weapon. Most laws concerning motor vehicles are written as misdemeanors and not felonies.

These major corporations all own several sub companies that hold the legal responsibility for the actions of the individual operations. These sub companies have directors who would be in the line of fire when things go wrong. These directors are not normally on the main board of the corporations.
The carrot of a directorship within a major corporation is hard to resist however the legal implications can be massive especially if the title covers health and safety / environmental responsibility. Using these legal entities usually protects the main board from prosecution.

Another example of why I keep up with what’s on Democracy Now and look for Amy Goodman’s articles.

Well said.

What’s all this about corporations insisting that they are “persons”, backed up by the Supremes to allow them to contribute unlimited funds in support of political candidates of their choice?  If they are “persons” let them be prosecuted as persons, and in the case of Massey, BP, Halliburton and Transoccean, punished for manslaughter as they deserve. After that, add on the Wall Stsreet gangsters, the banksters and all the high-flying financiers who, as “persons”. cheated ordinary people out of their jobs, homes, bank accounts and retirement funds..  Otherwise, ther ain’t no justice and we have to stop pretending to be a democracy or a government of laws.