Sympathy for the Devil

The New York Times and local newspaper feel a Corporate Criminal’s pain – No “Three Strikes You’re Out” or Harsh Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Corporate crime
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy,
Have some sympathy, and some taste.
Use all your well-learned politesse,
Or I’ll lay your soul to waste.
~~~ Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” (1968)
http://www.angelfire.com/ri/cerat/Sympathy4Devil.html
The New York Times does a good Mick Jagger in a recent story about corporate criminal McWane, Inc.:

Bill WolfeAtlantic States Pipe foundry, Phillipsburg, NJ

“Addressing Judge Cooper, McWane’s president, G. Ruffner Page, expressed regret for the McWane employees who had been injured or killed, and for the communities whose air and water were fouled by the company.
“This experience has been extremely painful for this company, and for me personally,” he said. “All of us are deeply sorry.”[…]
“Mr. Page told Judge Cooper that the publicity and prosecutions prompted intense soul-searching among McWane’s senior executives. He said the company redoubled its efforts to improve its record, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on improvements, hiring dozens of new safety and environmental managers and, in time, replacing more than 90 percent of the company’s top management.
Iron Pipe Maker Is Fined $8 Million for Violations
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/nyregion/25pipe.html?_r=1
The local rag was even more sympathetic in its coverage, as was the sentencing judge, who apparently left his hanging robes at home:
“Suspended Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. supervisor Craig Davidson drew a relatively short six-month federal prison sentence Thursday, after the judge described him as an extraordinarily giving man.
Davidson, 44, of Lower Nazareth Township, faced a prison term ranging from 30 to 37 months under federal sentencing guidelines.
U.S. District Court Judge Mary L. Cooper opted for a fraction of that. She based her decision on Davidson’s lifelong history of helping others, his acquittals on numerous counts brought by the government, a lack of “quality evidence” against Davidson and his lack of a criminal history.
“He is a devoted family man” said the judge, also describing Davidson as someone who loved and respected the environment.[…]
Davidson addressed the court from a podium before his sentencing and repeatedly broke down in tears. About 100 supporters showed up in the fifth-floor courtroom of the federal courthouse. Court attendants brought in folding chairs to accommodate the overflow crowd.

Former Atlantic States finishing department superintendent draws six-month prison sentence
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1240546044172550.xml&coll=3
So, let’s take a look at the operations of these corporate executives who the newspapers and judge feels “love and respect the environment” – comments in the captions:

Bill WolfeMcWane facility belches toxic pollution into the air of Phillipsburg, NJ

Bill WolfeThe McWane foundry is right on top of a residential neighborhood it pollutes

Bill Wolfe

Bill WolfeBooms on the Delaware River try to trap some of the illegal toxic water pollution discharges from the foundry

Bill WolfeToxic chemicals are shipped to and from the foundry, and stored on site

Bill Wolfe“Family liquor stores”, bars, and toxic air pollution assault local residents

Bill WolfeThe company abuses its workers and benefits from high unemployment and desperation