The business of America

Someone once defined members of Congress as “messengers for business.” The executive branch in the Bush administration is obviously in business’ corner, with the vice president leading the way. Now a Times article reports that the “High court is good for business,” (June 21). That means that all three branches of our government are working for business, not the people. So much for the old idea of checks and balance in government. It would seem that now there are more checks and little balance.

Congress made it more difficult for the common person to file bankruptcy, the president signed it into law and now the high court has made it much more difficult for the common person to sue corporations and big business for wrongdoing. That proves that the old adage, “money returning to its rightful owners, the rich,” is working.

KENNETH TUXFORD

Redondo Beach

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Contrary to what the article suggests, the recent spate of Supreme Court decisions absolving corporations of responsibility for their wrongful or negligent conduct is not “good for business” -- unless you believe that all business owners are scofflaws. Rather, the decisions should be characterized as bad for consumers and ultimately bad for justice.

Making it impossible for people injured by corporate acts (or neglect) to be compensated for their damages essentially sends a signal that companies need not consider the public interest, or indeed the niceties of the law, in their relentless pursuit of profit. That is not a pro-business stance; it is an antisocial stance. Everyone -- as a potential victim of corporate cost-cutting, incompetence or outright malfeasance -- is significantly worse off as a result.

J.G. BERINSTEIN

Northridge