It seems every time one turns around there is something else popping up about the auto industry. I just started following the saga of Volkswagen, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, having VW, Audi, Porsche, Bentley & Lamborghini under their Masthead. It seems that over the past 10+ years they have devised a piece of software that controls the emissions from their diesel engines, it masks the true emissions from the engine when it is plugged into a testing device to see if it would meet or exceed the clean air standards, once tested it reverts back to polluting the air. It has been discovered that over 1 Million vehicles from VW & Audi have this piece of software install. Not only was this piece of software created and installed it was all done with the approval and encouragement of VW executives.
The EPA has said that the company might be liable for up to $18 Billion dollars in fines and penalties, and now over 20 states have begun to investigate and bring their own suits. The CEO of VW just stepped down this week. Who knows how many other executives heads will roll, but here is the big question, what executives if any will face primal prosecution? Based on the past and the history between the US Attorney General and the industry, no one will be held accountable, no one will be prosecuted, fines will be levied on the company and then it gets swept under the rug.
Is this our justice system in the US now, blatant disregard of the laws and regulations of our country are disregarded and broken but for the right price the masterminds and people behind the law breaking go unscathed. More frightening is where is the public outrage, where is the media who supposed watches and reports all of this to keep the system honest. The car industry has elevated the phrase, "Crime does pay" to new levels.
