Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Killing Peasants... No Big Deal

Today's tale of American Justice involves the one year prison sentence and $250,000 fine imposed on Don Blankenship, former Massey Energy Co. CEO, for conspiring to violate federal mine safety and health laws. Blankenship's malfeasance led to the deaths of 29 miners in the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion.

One year in jail, and a quarter of a million dollars for the deaths of twenty-nine employees? A poor black kid caught possessing pot faces much stiffer penalties... and it's important to note that this was the maximum penalty which could be imposed on Blankenship. This is yet another example of the Golden Rule as it exists in American legislation and jurisprudence... whoever has the gold makes the rules.

No word on whether or not Blankenship took out dead peasant insurance on his employees.

3 comments:

mikey said...

I dunno - I look at it somewhat differently. For all the lefties who say the Obama administration refuses to prosecute fat-cat lawbreakers, here's a guy they prosecuted to the full extent of the law and handed down the maximum sentence. The US DoJ stepped in and held the guy accountable when state prosecutors would not.

And you may sneer at a year in jail, but let me promise you that a rich dood who's almost seventy isn't going to feel like he got off lightly...

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Point of order, Chairman Mikey.

These are the specific fat cats we lefties say Obama refused to prosecute: The big banksters who paid for his campaign in 2008.

(And whom his economic recovery was based on: classic Reagan trickle-down.)

As for Blankenship, to hell with him.
~

Smut Clyde said...

too much like the 'affluenza' defense

More a source of consolation, I think. As mikey says, that one year was the maximum sentence available.