So the numbers are in, and it's official: despite what is inevitably stiff competition from other major players in the energy industry, Chevron comes out on top again as the highest spender on lobbying in the good ol' US-of-A for 2010. That's a cool $2.9 million spent pressuring Congress and regulatory agencies to look away awkwardly while the company attempts to evade responsibility for the multi-billion dollar ecological catastrophe it has caused in Ecuador.
Here's a taste of the argument from plaintiffs in the court case which is currently closing on the entire situation:
"Chevron's complete disdain for Ecuador, its courts, and its citizens was captured perfectly by a Chevron lobbyist who told Newsweek: 'We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this -- companies that have made big investments around the world.'"
Ah, capitalism.
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