Scientists want climate change denial industry busted under RICO

The worst criminals in America are climate change deniers.

But if there's even a shred of justice left in this land, the climate change denial industry will be prosecuted under RICO. A group of 20 scientists has penned the Obama administration, urging the government to prosecute the industry for racketeering under the RICO law.

The climate change denial racket is a practitioner of organized crime and fraud. The petitioners have likened the industry to Big Tobacco - which was also targeted under RICO. A RICO probe got the tobacco industry to stop deceiving consumers about the hazards of smoking.

Corporations that are part of the denial racket must be prosecuted to the fullest. The list of Gestapoey actions the denial industry has committed goes on and on. For years, they've faked data in an attempt to enrich itself. Not only have they profited from their deception, but they've also threatened violence and economic ruin against those who challenge them. They've even engaged in a long-running conspiracy to commit perjury.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) has already backed an effort to investigate the industry under RICO. RICO is meant to punish people who conspire to harm other people - which is exactly what the denialists have done.

Do we actually expect RICO to be unleashed on the denial racket? Don't count on it, considering my high school was never prosecuted under it. RICO is one of the most underused laws on the books, but would be one of the most effective if it was used more. If the Tea Party's heroin dealing is prosecuted under RICO, I'll have more faith in RICO being used against other corporate thugs.

(Source: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/21/1423309/-Scientists-ask-for-prosecution-of-climate-deniers-under-RICO-law)