That is true, but at some point it's hard to distinguish between parts of the FAA and parts of Boeing, owed to the simple fact that Boeing have so much influenc

That is true, but at some point it's hard to distinguish between parts of the FAA and parts of Boeing, owed to the simple fact that Boeing have so much influence over the FAA. Statements about how Boeing more or less "certified itself" speak to this. Just go and look at the LinkedIn history of the folks that move between Boeing/FAA. If you accept this, then the question might turn to how it was possible for the FAA to be weakened to such a degree that this corporate influence was possible. FAA are the regulator - at the end of the day, safety lies with them. Perhaps it's the responsibility of committee and congressional oversight to the aviation regulator? Perhaps the buck stops with the government representatives who have allowed this mess to be possible in the first place?