From: Leahy for Senate
January 31, 2012
Securities and Exchange Commission
Dear Commission,
Putting aside the political question of whether any democracy can survive when corporations and other fictitious "persons" exercise inherently greater political and economic power than other citizens, the SEC should require transparency so that CORPORATE SHAREHOLDERS have at least some idea of where invested funds are put to work. As a shareholder in many mutual funds, i would like to know which of the companies I've supported financially has worked at cross-purposes from my own political beliefs so that I can factor that in when making my own investments. Even if they are allowed to keep secrets from the rest of the citizenry under "Citizens United," corporations should not be allowed to keep secrets from their own shareholders, at least without compelling reasons. Promoting political campaigns (or more accurately, attacking them) generally is NOT a "compelling reason" for secrecy.
Sincerely,
Mike Rubin