The Double Standard

When Volkswagen executives found out U.S. regulations would kill one of their diesel models, they pulled some tricks. They fooled U.S. regulators by installing software which misrepresented the emissions released.

But the U.S. found out, and arrested the top executives involved.

One of them, a German citizen, was sentenced to 7 years in prison late 2017 for his role in the scandal.

That’s a pretty intense prison sentence for trying to trick regulators. The government says that society is the victim in this case, because the regulations are an attempt to keep the environment clean.

But how does the government respond when a business directly victimizes hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of its own customers?

Look no further than Wells Fargo to find out.