I read The Bellingham Herald's article regarding the results of the investigation into the BP fire Apparently BP was at least partially at fault and in one case very at fault. A fine was imposed. My question is, why?

Why bother to fine the company since they simply pass it off as higher prices at the pump and I end up paying the fine. Isn't there some other way to punish companies rather than fining them (actually fining me since I pay more at the pump)? I'd like to hear suggestions from the community on how to punish the companies for wrong doing without punishing me. How about reducing the salary of the executives of the company and preventing the company from paying them back later. They do wrong, I seem to get hurt. This doesn't seem quite fair.

Robert C. Knodt

Bellingham