November 6, 2013
SEC Comment file 4-637
Dear Comment file 4-637,
I am seriously concerned about the influence of corporate money on our electoral process for many reasons. One is that IF corporations are "persons" yet are not being taxed as if an income-generating-living-breathing-human (as are any living-breathing persons in this country) how is that fair? How is that just? For corps to have mega-loopholes TO avoid fair taxation is (literally!) depriving living-breathing-humans of their clean air TO breathe. It makes no sense to afford these on-paper-only-persons more loopholes with which any might smother and/or suffocate US.
In particular, I am appalled that, because of the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, publicly traded corporations can spend investor's money on political activity in secret. Isn't that like putting a mask over a target's face so they'll not know whom their predator (kidnapper, rapist, assaulter) was? Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Are we obligated to submit to any predator (kidnapper, rapist, assaulter) as if prey with zero options?
I am writing this to urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a rule requiring publicly traded corporations to publicly disclose all their political spending.
Ensure that both shareholders and the public are kept informed as to how much the corporation spends on politics and are aware which candidates are being promoted or attacked. I'd request that disclosures be posted promptly on the SEC's web site.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
Susan Jacobs PhD