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 concerning the felony felony costs in opposition to Phillips 66, all of us bear in mind Mitt Romney lecturing to us unwashed ignoramuses that “firms are folks.”
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 tip 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” sort of individual made the selections, not a “individual” sort of individual.
Now, I could possibly be incorrect. Phillips 66 might solely be ordered to pay the paltry nice, with the proviso that it’s not accepting blame (merely writing a verify to flee the effort and expense of a trial — one other enterprise expense). You understand, the sort of factor people-people get to do each day.
Predictably, it’ll simply be one other instance of the reality: Companies are undoubtedly not folks.
Barry Davis, Agoura Hills
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To the editor: So, with the closure of the 650-acre Phillips 66 refinery complex in Carson and Wilmington, now we have an important 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 previous method that features zero consideration for the neighbors who gained’t have the ability 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 vans transporting income from warehouses. Disgrace.
Michael J. Harley, Laguna Niguel
