Ken Lay - Justice delayed is justice denied

Link
What do these two people have in common? We know the fate of one of them today. Will the other be treated similarly and the punishment fit the crime? Or will money and power win out?

I usually comment on political issues but today I am turning my attention to the topic of justice. Back in February of 2002, Ken Lay, after having refused to testify before Congress over the Enron debacle, sat and listened to lawmakers tear him down. But now after 4 years of delay, his trial is set to start on January 30th. Justice delayed is justice denied. And in the case of Ken Lay he has enjoyed his freedom, where others of less means would be in jail serving their time.

In my local paper this morning, there was a 1/4 page article titled, "Couple get prison terms in Wendy's finger case." The woman, Anna Ayala, and her husband (who plead guilty to the crime of putting a finger in a bowl of chili in hopes of extorting Wendy's insurance company with a false claim) were sentenced to 9 years and 12 years, respectively, for their crimes. The judge in the case said, "Greed and avarice overtook this couple" adding that the pair had, "lost their moral compass." The couple must pay $170,000 in restitution and the judge ordered them to pay nearly $21.8 million to Wendy's and JEM Management, which owns the restaurant.

Isn't it also true that, Greed and avarice overtook Ken Lay and his team and that they collectively lost their moral compass too? So the moral of the story is this: if you are rich you can plead not guilty and cost the government, and us taxpayers, million and millions of dollars in prosecuting your case and delay going to jail for years. And I hope, in all sincerity, de Lay is going to jail for years!

Let's see who gets stuck in this case. Will Lay, and the delay, cause Americans to be uninterested in the trial? Will Lay get off the hook by blaming his lower level executives and claim he knew nothing about this? Will Lay be allowed to keep most of his $20 million wealth after the case is over, no matter what the verdict? Remember the Finger-in-the-Chili case if it comes to pass and what sentence these people got by comparison. And remember the uncanny similarity in the sound of these two names from Texas who are both crooks: DeLay and Lay. Coincidentia? I think not.