The 'Ownership Class' and "(im)plausible deniability"

[TahitiNut]

At the height of US liberalism in the 70s, Congress (finally) passed the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) which, for the first time in federal statutory law, formally eradicated the hypocritical defense of plausible deniability for corporate executives. The common practice of claiming "no knowledge" of actions taken on behalf and to the benefit of the corporation, with the surreptitious instructions of "I don't care how you do it - just do it and don't let me know," became (hopefully) a thing of the past. Executives were deemed to have a duty to oversee and establish a system of internal management controls that gave assurance that any actions taken on behalf of the corporation, and activities funded by and performed under the corporation's name, were known to the executives. Failure to establish controls, take the initiative to oversee and obtain information, and ensure such knowledge was, for the first time, equated to complicity with penalties exactly the same as knowing involvement.

The same moral and ethical obligations exist in government office - despite the exemption from such laws they afford themselves, and despite the repeated erosion of the FCPA since it was enacted.

The fact that these people are embedded in 'ownership class' thinking is nowhere more aptly portrayed than in their claim that "it's not my job" to get that information - that they are Kings sitting on thrones awaiting petitions.

When Rice says "nobody knew" it's neither believable nor acceptable. They had a DUTY to obtain that information. They are NOT merely allowed to sit back and accept delivery. They're required to take active steps to obtain it.

When Hastert claims he "didn't know" it's even less plausible or acceptable. As it is with Boehner - who claims he "thought" it was handled bu can point ot no confirmation of that nor any act on his part to follow-up and ascertain such an assurance.

This is the corruption of 'ownership' thinking - that others are to blame, even though it is them who have the DUTY and to whom the benefits accrue.

This is at the black heart and corrupt soul of the hypocrisy of today's elitism. 'Ownership' - man's longest known corruption.

[catmandu57]

1. Wasn't that poppy's escuse

that he was out of the loop, therefore he had no knowledge of actions of criminals in st. ronnies day?

[TahitiNut]

2. I wish this were more interesting.

(Sigh) :eyes:

It would've been nice if someone had the insight to mention "husbandry."

[TahitiNut]

3. Kicking for the INCURIOUS

:shrug: