[quote=bearishgurl]
How would deregulation address this or prevent it from happening in many more places all over the U.S.? . . . [/quote]

Deregulation won’t. But protection of private property will. If your business dumps poison on my property and causes me damage, I should be able to at a minimum sue you. If you do enough damage your corporate charter should be revoked with all assets liquidated and paid out to the victims and/or for cleanup, and potentially your managers or board members imprisoned. Strong courts, no limits on damages (see the recent documentary “Hot Coffee” for more on this topic), prison terms for offenders, a corporate “death penalty” to dissolve and distribute the capital of egregious offenders, and a good education system (to ensure competent juries) would all help towards this.

No system can totally protect you (including ours), but if you have a system that ensures offenders of property rights are punished, you can at least reduce the number of times things like this occur.

Will we ever see a system that protects the property rights of serfs as well as lords? Ha! Not likely. That’s why I’m voting Zod in 2012. Vassals and lords alike shall feel his wrath in equal measure, he doth not discriminate. Kneel before Zod!