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German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

politico.eu

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Re: German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

#3

Post by FirmwareBurner »

I see this as an absolute win. Personal liability is the way to keep corporations accountable.

As long as breaking the law only results with a fine the company has to pay, then the issue is an accounting problem for the executives, but the moment they risk going to jail, then it becomes a legal problem for them so they actually address it.

Re: German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

#5

Post by hermitcrab »

Good for Germany, but it is all too rare to see bad corporate behaviour punished like this. Steal £10k from a company, and you will probably go to prison for a long time. Start a company and steal billions from your customers and/or the tax payer, and you will probably get away with it. I believe Iceland was the only country to jail bankers after the 2008 banking disaster. We are still waiting for the British government to bring any individuals to account for wide scale corruption and profiteering during COVID.

Re: German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

#6

Post by FirmwareBurner »

hermitcrab wrote: post #5

Good for Germany, but it is all too rare to see bad corporate behaviour punished like this. Steal £10k from a company, and you will probably go to prison for a long time. Start a company and steal billions from your customers and/or the tax payer, and you will probably get away with it. I believe Iceland was the only country to jail bankers after the 2008 banking disaster. We are still waiting for the British governm…

Because with large companies, blame and accountability gets spread thin over a wide area till it evaporates, so everyone gets away with it.

Re: German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

#8

Post by fanwood »

FirmwareBurner wrote: post #6
hermitcrab wrote: post #5

Good for Germany, but it is all too rare to see bad corporate behaviour punished like this. Steal £10k from a company, and you will probably go to prison for a long time. Start a company and steal billions from your customers and/or the tax payer, and you will probably get away with it. I believe Iceland was the only country to jail bankers after the 2008 banking disaster. We are still waiting for the British governm…

Because with large companies, blame and accountability gets spread thin over a wide area till it evaporates, so everyone gets away with it.

Not really, it's just that rich people are mostly above the law most of the time

Re: German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal

#9

Post by FirmwareBurner »

fanwood wrote: post #8
FirmwareBurner wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because with large companies, blame and accountability gets spread thin over a wide area till it evaporates, so everyone gets away with it.

Not really, it's just that rich people are mostly above the law most of the time

Rich people are above the law precisely because they use corporations and corporate laws as shields to deflect personal liability of their actions as a actions of "the company" which is a faceless entity.

"You see, I didn't steal your money, the company I ran stole your money, but that's actually on you because you didn't read the fine print I put in the contract you signed. And don't worry, justice was served, the company got punished and is now insolvent. Now watch this drive *swings golf club*"

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