Climate Quote by Jane Mayer
““The Kochs never did play by the rules. They had their own playing field. They just didn’t abide by anything. Not the EPA or anything else. They constantly polluted. If they got fined, it didn’t matter, because they made so much money doing it. We never reported things like busted pipeline out in the field. Otherwise, we’d get fined. When we spilled oil, we never reported the real amount. We were told to do that, to keep our costs down. The Kochs expected us to lie and try to cover it up,””
About This Quote
Source Book: Dark Money, Jane Mayer, 2016
Powerful corporate interests can manipulate regulations and hide environmental damage to maximize profit, undermining public safety and trust.
In simple terms: Corporations may break rules for profit, hiding harm.
Key Takeaway
Demand transparency and enforce accountability.
Themes
corporate power
environmental ethics
regulation
accountability
Mood
critical
concerned
investigative
Type
statement
exposé
warning
When to use this quote
- policy making
- environmental compliance
- whistleblowing
- media investigation
Key Concepts
political influence
corporate malfeasance
environmental degradation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance economic growth with environmental protection?
- What mechanisms can prevent corporate cover‑ups?
A Different Perspective
Corporate profit motives can conflict with public health and ecological sustainability.
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