[KorematsuFred]

Constant news around this bothered me deeply. Someone admits they committed fraud and 346 people died but pays a small sum to get out of the mess without jail time for anyone ? A lot of people say this is bad and these corporations are too powerful and we need someone like Bernie sanders to teach them a lesson.

A closer scrutiny reveals exactly the opposite. It is the government that is too powerful, government tries to open an investigation with an explicit objective of jailing the executive. At some point Boeing has to ask how much it stands to lose if the executive goes to jail. Even though the probability is low, the DOJ has long arms and more resources to harass Boeing. $2.5B is not a fine but a bribe that an all powerful DOJ has extracted from Boeing.

$2.5B is still lot of money and 346 deaths is even bigger disaster for Boeing. Boeing did not benefit from 346 deaths on other hand it suffered massive losses. A selfish and greedy company like Boeing have far greater incentives to course correct rather than DOJ or US government. Remember how USA bombed countries while making completely fraudulent claims about WMD ? Who went to jail for that ?

[arcticbull]

> It is the government that is too powerful, government tries to open an investigation with an explicit objective of jailing the executive.

"It is the government that is too powerful, government tries to open an investigation with an explicit objective of jailing the [person responsible]."

Oh no. Just wait until you learn what the job of the police is in a civil society.

> Boeing did not benefit from 346 deaths on other hand it suffered massive losses.

It absolutely did. It benefited up front from not having to redesign the 737 MAX to conform to global aviation standards. This allowed it to go to market faster, reduced development costs, and gave it an edge in sales against its competitor, the A320 family on the order books. You know, the one that didn't fall from the sky spontaneously. Boeing achieved this through lying and deception.

All this fine did was attenuate the benefit.

> Remember how USA bombed countries while making completely fraudulent claims about WMD ? Who went to jail for that ?

One unprosecuted crime doesn't mean all crime should no longer be prosecuted. Whataboutism is never a good look.

[ineedasername]

You're basically saying the fact that the government can investigate a thing is proof that the government is too powerful.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that an investigation was opened with the specific purpose of jailing an executive: I don't see any indication that was the case, and just about anyone in or outside of government could have predicted before the investigation that no executive would go to jail over this.

[KorematsuFred]

> You're basically saying the fact that the government can investigate a thing is proof that the government is too powerful.

Not at all. If government could actually investigate and prove charges and jail Boeing CEO would be the sign of an effective government.

The fact that it simple files charges, does a phony investigation and settles for a very low bribe for the deaths of my loved ones is the proof that we are dealing with a mafia and not a government of people.