Gettin' A Little Punchy

What is it about American business - especially big corporations - that leads them to be increasingly blind to the consequences of their actions? I see things every day in the news that show the decision-makers in these companies believe themselves safe behind the faceless facade of a corporate logo and a high-priced legal team. For instance, in California Anthem is raising insurance rates 40%, Toyota has lied for years about the severity of its runaway cars, and banks that needed bailout money eight months ago are giving out the highest bonuses they've ever given, to men and women who failed utterly at their jobs.
   It's as if they think nobody will notice, or if somebody does notice, there's nothing anyone can do about it. There are human beings who made these decisions, people who've taken leave of their senses and let greed and apathy take over their more charitable virtues. They're secure in their anonymity, and that's dangerous. People will do all sorts of things when they think nobody else is looking or nobody else will ever find out. When there are no consequences people tend to let their baser instincts rule them. So let's make consequences.
   I say we create a Punch In The Nose Patrol, staffed with the biggest, meanest, most tattooed, punching-est ex-cons we can find. When Anthem decides to raise rates 40%, we send out the Punch In The Nose Patrol, who will find the person who made the decision - there's always somebody who gives the go-ahead - and punch them square in the puss. Maybe twice. Not enough to kill them, but more than enough to humiliate them and send a clear message.
   What better consequence is there than corporal punishment? When you can't reason with someone, when a person has proved again and again and again that they can't be trusted to do the right thing on their own, they need to have some negative incentive. I guarantee you, if the President of Toyota thought for one second that he might be visited by the Punch In The Nose Patrol, he would never have ignored concerns about his cars. If Wall Street brokers thought they might get a knuckle sandwich they'd think twice about their lying, theiving way of business. They might decide the risk isn't worth it and move to another career entirely.
   I'm no ex-con, not by a longshot, but I humbly volunteer to be on the first Punch In The Nose Patrol. And I'm guessing that the list of applicants would be long enough to keep the Patrol staffed up for some time to come.