If BP got treated like the peons do for dumping oil.

[coti]

...

"Also, if $1000 is a reasonable fine for dumping one gallon for a do-it-yourselfer, then using that same penalty, BP would already owe ten billion in fines (10,000,000 gallons times $1000) to neighboring Gulf states.

"Tony Buzbee of the Buzbee Law Firm has handled roughly 250 cases against BP over the years — collecting more than $200 million in settlements — and has 130 current BP cases that don’t even involve the latest oil spill. Buzbee admits that the oil business is dangerous, but BP is in a class by themselves. Buzbee said, “Shoot, I’ve tried cases against BP, and even pounded them with a $100.3 million verdict, and they don’t get it. They don’t get that they need to change their way of doing business.”

"Maybe that’s because corporate fines should be more proportional based on annual income, especially for the repeat offenders found at BP. While Buzbee may feel that a $100 million verdict is a “pounding”, it’s actually less than 4 hours of BP profits which are the settlements of everything from huge spills to wrongful death claims. Let’s see how that kind of “pounding” compares with the fines imposed on the Average Joe for dumping a gallon of oil.

"The overall median personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 (an adult who could be held criminally liable for dumping) was $25,149 in the year 2005. A thousand dollar fine would be 5% of his annual wages. 5% of BP’s annual revenue (of 14 billion) is $800,000, so if all things were proportional, the fine per gallon would be $800,000. If that figure is multiplied by 10 million gallons, you have 8 trillion dollars. That seems like a fitting fine considering that is roughly how much we’ve spent on the US military budget which has been fighting abroad for “big oil’s” pipelines and wells over the past ten years."

...

more at:

http://www.thelibertyvoice.com/you-spilled-it-you-killed-it-youre-billed-it

[BrklynLiberal]

1. What they did in the Gulf is nothing short of act of terrorism as far as I am concerned...

and BP and their executives should be treated like terrorists running a terrorist organization.

[OHdem10]

2. When they say Business and Elites have all the power--this is

perfect example.

Business do what they want. Unfortunately the GOP agrees with
them. The GOP in Senate have now successfully blocked Legislation
which would increase the cap which Oil companies must pay for
oil cleanups etc. It is capped at 75 million. This would not
pay for a few days. The Cap must be increased or we the
taxpayers will pay.