It is illegal to throw a piece of paper on a highway. There is a fine of $20 or $30 dollars. Our society holds all it's members to a degree of accountability for it's actions.
Our corporations have to be held accountable. When our corporations don't hold themselves accountable then our government as the protector of the public good must step in and hold their feet to the fire.
For too long corporations have held the attitude that they are entitled to avoid responsibility for the problems they have created.
Whether it was Union Carbide after the Bhopal disaster, or the tobacco companies' cover up of the dangers of smoking, or the meltdown of the financial markets that we are still feeling the effects of today; they show none of the indignation toward their acts that they would show if an individual or smaller entity performed a similar act.
Lives have been lost. Livelihoods and businesses have been ruined. Coastal areas have been decimated. Real estate values have been decreased. Local, State and Federal tax revenues have been lowered. Health problems may well be a result of the pollution. Ways of life have been dramatically affected. Birds, wildlife and fish, including fish that many of us count on to eat are being poisoned.
I think I speak for all of us when I say BP CLEAN UP YOUR MESS.