[Hugin]

“Given that the incompetent government worker drones will never be held to account for this, the sum is actually quite reasonable.”

How does that make it reasonable? The people responsible are not going to be paying it, so it’s not punitive. And close to $20,000 a day would be coming out of the pockets of taxpayers who had no control over or even knowledge of the situation. How about if something like that happened where you lived, and your share came to a few thousand dollars. Would that seem reasonable to you?

[The Antiyuppie]

“And close to $20,000 a day would be coming out of the pockets of taxpayers who had no control over or even knowledge of the situation. “

Ahh...there’s the problem. So, the collective “you” voted for these people...so that’s the end of your responsibility, right?

It happened in a district where politicians and officials that they voted for DID or SHOULD HAVE HAD have control of and knowledge of the situation.

If the citizens are punished financially for making bad choices, perhaps they will wake up and make better choices - that is, “hire” better people who will make better decisions.

[rottndog]

And close to $20,000 a day would be coming out of the pockets of taxpayers who had no control over or even knowledge of the situation.

So who's going to pay? Crimes were committed here, by people who work under rules that make it virtually impossible to fire or even severely punish them. The taxpayers, through their representatives, agreed to the Union and Civil Service workers' contracts that make it so.

I'll bet next time those contracts are up for negotiation, nothing will change, and it will be business as usual....unless the taxpayers feel the sting of a heavy payout, and seek to provide for more accountability.

BTW....civil immunity does not extend to criminal acts, so there is plenty of room for criminal prosecution here. Wanna bet if it actually happens or not?