I don't see how you can possibly make this comparison. What VW did is so much worse than legal but creative tax strategies. VW deserves to pay for all of the harm it did to the environment and our lungs.

Yes, just like GM, BMW, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Ford, Fiat do.

All of which bought and used the exact same defeat device.

So why is only VW being punished, and why almost 1.5 years after the EPA learnt about it?

Do you have a source? Those are extraordinary claims. I'm not aware of any other cheating anywhere close to the magnitude of what VW did. Also, what "defeat device" are you talking about? VW's cheat was in software; it wasn't some specific device.

And are you seriously surprised that it can take 1.5 years for a massive multi-billion dollar lawsuit to wind its way through federal courts? If you think 1.5 years is long, look at the Exxon-Valdez settlement, parts of which are still unpaid 28 years later!

The "defeat device" was a specific piece of software that Bosch provided with the chips they sold.

Also, it was 1.5 years from discovery to investigations being started.

And regarding the claims: They’re not extraordinary. 4 companies have been in the original report that incriminated VW, others incriminated themselves [1], etc.

Germany is deciding to ban GM cars in Germany because they used the same defeat "device" VW used but refuse to fix things, etc.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/26/news/companies/mitsubishi-ch...

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/dieselabgas-manipulationsvorw...

It’s everywhere on the news here that all manufacturers did it. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it yet.

The wheels of justice grind slowly but exceedingly fine. VW is the largest and first target to be taken down, but hardly the last. I don't think your expectations of all of this getting resolved very quickly are realistic. Mitsubishi is currently being investigated by US regulators as of this past April, and will probably be charged on a similar timeline as VW. Keep an eye out for it. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mitsubishimotors-regulatio...

As for the Germans taking on Chrysler, good. If Chrysler did it then they should pay, same as VW has and Mitsubishi is going to. http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/23/germany-fiat-chrysler-ban... No one deserves to develop lung disease because some stupid manufacturers decided to cheat on tests rather than passing them. I still don't see how this is a trade war, when it clearly looks to me like an environmental enforcement issue.

In theory, millions or euros that should be spent in taking care of the environment and the health system are going to someone's pockets through Ireland, so they would deserve to pay that harm too.

That thought is so misguided it doesn't even warrant a rebuttal.

No such thing. Every misguided thought deserves a rebuttal. Just admit you're too lazy to do it. That's fine.

Nothing to do with laziness. It's a matter of pragmatism. Some wild conspiracy theories are so out of touch with reality that engaging in correction or education (a rebuttal) is a futile effort and a complete waste of time.

If I told you that "I can't speak freely because agents of the shadow government are watching my every move via microchips implanted into my brain at birth", would you really take the trouble to respond with a rational rebuttal? By your own standard, would you be lazy not to do it?

I find it seriously hard to believe that you live your life by the motto that "every misguided thought deserves a rebuttal". You'd be an extremely busy person if that were the case.

If I cared about you, I would at least make the effort to respond rationally. In some sort of theoretical sense, I care about all sentient beings, but I just don't care about you enough.

the fuck has Spain to do with VW

A lot actually: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT

(Not that I agree with the grandparent)

the only difference is VW admitted wrongfulness