To the editor: “We’re sending a message.” “Nobody is above the regulation.” (“Phillips 66 faces federal charges over alleged wastewater dumping at Carson refinery,” Nov. 21)
Proper. Studying these quotes in regards to the felony felony prices in opposition to Phillips 66, all of us bear in mind Mitt Romney lecturing to us unwashed ignoramuses that “companies are individuals.”
Right here’s my prediction: Phillips 66 shall be convicted of some mixture of misdemeanors and felonies. It’ll be commanded to pay fines equal to about two minutes of revenue, and that’ll be the top of it.
The executives within the C-suite will stay there, as a result of no particular person shall be convicted of something, as a result of the “company” form of individual made the choices, not a “individual” form of individual.
Now, I could possibly be fallacious. Phillips 66 might solely be ordered to pay the paltry tremendous, with the proviso that it’s not accepting blame (merely writing a examine to flee the trouble and expense of a trial — one other enterprise expense). , the form of factor people-people get to do every single day.
Predictably, it’ll simply be one other instance of the reality: Firms are undoubtedly not individuals.
Barry Davis, Agoura Hills
..
To the editor: So, with the closure of the 650-acre Phillips 66 refinery complex in Carson and Wilmington, we’ve got an incredible alternative to put aside some open inexperienced area populated by a California native ecosystem for residents sorely in want of it.
However no, in typical Los Angeles style, the reply might be extra warehouses and the large truck visitors they generate, one other chemically-laden golf course, unspecified “outlets” and perhaps some high-density housing thrown in to accompany the already tightly packed adjoining neighborhoods.
It’s the identical outdated components that features zero consideration for the neighbors who received’t be capable to play golf there, if that’s what is taken into account open area. However loads of these neighbors shall be up all evening listening to vehicles transporting earnings from warehouses. Disgrace.
Michael J. Harley, Laguna Niguel
