Everybody, including bankers and corporate executives, must know that they are subject to the rule of law. If we fail to prosecute crimes, how can we complain when crimes are committed? By failing to prosecute we have abandoned the core principle of constitutional government: that all are equally subject to the law. We have become a nation where some are held above the law.
The $2 billion settlement? That money will come from innocent shareholders, the people responsible will not feel the sting of that settlement. The individuals responsible must be personally held to account, or getting caught committing a crime will become just another cost of doing business. Like any other investment, the decision to commit crimes will be based on a simple calculation of financial returns.