Jan. 12, 2024
To those involved at the SEC: We are writing to urge the SEC to not list "Natural asset companies" or NACs pursuant to File No. SR-NYSE-2023-09. As we read current events and portend the impacts, we believe NACs must not be enabled. This effort to financialize/monetize productive natural assets will subvert the legal system and the capital market system and will cause harmful outcomes for both investors and the US alike. As financial expert Carol Roth writes, "Critical natural resources will be subject to the consolidation of a handful of wealthy and powerful individuals. Control of productive natural resources- as well as our food supply, water, energy, tourism and more have the potential of ending up in the hands of foreign nations and their sovereign wealth funds or other bad actors." We urge you to recognize the devastating harms NACs will have on free markets, our nation's economy and sovereignty, and most significantly, the liberty and property rights of our citizenry. Thank you for your consideration. Richard J. Runbeck, JD, CPA (ret.) Linda C. Runbeck, State Representative (ret.) [REDACTED]