Why Don't We Really Hold Anyone Accountable For Errors?

As the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico continues, with thousands of barrels of oil spewing largely unchecked into the ocean, I wonder why we never seem to hold anyone accountable for such disasters.   Almost two years after the economic meltdown, we've only recently even begun to investigate a single company (Goldman-Sacks) for criminal or civil misconduct leading to the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.  

Since the US Supreme Court recently ruled that corporations are entitled to First Amendment free speech rights, just like individual citizens, shouldn't those same corporations be fully liable for disasters like the oil platform collapse in the Gulf , just like an individual who destroys your car?  

Under current law, oil companies have a (relatively low) limit on liability for off-shore drilling mishaps.  Efforts in Congress to raise the limit in light of the immense cost related to the current British Petroleum problem seem to be gaining no political traction.  I doubt very much that the limits will be raised, and therefore the US taxpayer, who also pays through the nose for gasoline and oil to run cars and heat homes, will be on the hook for the clean-up costs. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the efforts to expand off-shore oil drilling continue unabated by corporate interests in Congress.    I don't know what could more clearly show how unsafe, unpredictable, and environmentally unfriendly such off-shore drilling is.   

Ultimately, we seem unable to really hold anyone accountable for anything really serious.   This Brewster Rockit comic demonstrates the concept:  (I don't know how long these comic links work)

   So much for accountability, now or in the future.