April 17, 2012

Subject: Comment on File Number 4-637

I hadn't realized that money was being taken from the public's retirement savings and investments to promote election candidates who will help big businesses screw the public so they can make more and more and more money. This adds even more disgust to the horrible procedure of hiding where campaign funds come from. IT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC WHERE EVERY DOLLAR COMES FROM in an election, in a democracy. Or are we so far past being a democracy that even this one requirement is not possible. So much is in your hands. Are you responsible enough to make the right decision?

I am deeply concerned about the influence of corporate money on our electoral process.

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.

I am writing to urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a rule requiring publicly traded corporations to publicly disclose all their political spending.

Both shareholders and the public must be fully informed as to how much the corporation spends on politics and which candidates are being promoted or attacked. Disclosures should be posted promptly on the SEC’s web site.

Thank you for considering my comment.

Dr. Eve
NM