"We are not saying go out of business. Do your job better. Make an investment in your employees. We want you to make a profit but not at the expense of killing your employees," -- Hilda Solis.
If I were to plant a bomb in a crowded airport and it detonates and kills people I believe no one would doubt that my premeditated intention was to kill somebody, and that I would be guilty of murder. If a corporation determines that they are willing to accept casualties as a risk for doing business we somehow change our perspective and speak of liability.
But would not the end result be the same? My bomb in the airport is not guaranteed to kill with 100 per cent certainty. Still the intent to kill is clearly evident in my actions. If a corporation proceeds with plans that put people's lives in jeopardy with the intention of increasing profit are their actions any different than a terrorist's?
In both cases a calculated risk is taken that is likely to result in the loss of human life. In both cases the intention is to advance one's own cause by terminating the existence of other human beings. When Massey and BP made decisions that put their workers lives at risk they were knowingly jeopardizing human life for the purpose of making profit. They might as well have planted a bomb in an airport or parked an SUV laden with explosives in Times Square and walked away. The outcome is the same, and the intention is the same.
But because BP and Massey hide behind the cloak of business we speak of liability rather than of murder. If a corporation holds the same rights as an individual do they send hold the same responsibility? If I hire you to clean a lion's cage, but knowingly and deliberately neglect to tell you that the lion is in the cage and will kill you have I not committed murder?
Liability will not correct what needs to be corrected in our society. The executives responsible for the decisions that take human lives are not troubled in the slightest at the thought that their companies might have to pay compensation for the loss of human lives. Only if we fairly enforce the law and make those responsible for the casualties answer to the proper channels of the justice system will we be able to prevent future disasters like the recent murders of our brethren in the coal mines and on the oil platforms.