November 6, 2013
SEC Comment file 4-637
Dear Comment file 4-637,
As a shareholder and citizen, I am deeply concerned about the influence of corporate money on our electoral process. As a veteran of W.W.II, I thought I was acting for democracy -- NOT a corporatocracy!
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. THIS IS NOT WHY THEY WERE ESTABLISHED!
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.
As a start, 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.
IT IS ALSO TIME FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER THE LICENSING OF LARGE CORPORATIONS. Delaware cannot control large corporations. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR SOCIETY CONTROLS AND ENCOURAGES DECENT CORPORATE CITZENSHIP BEFORE THEY COMPLETE THEIR CONTROL OF OUR NATION.
Sincerely,
Peter Cohen