April 2, 2014
SEC
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 investors' money 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.
Money these days equals power - and that power is being concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. That is not democracy. We are becoming more and more like those we once scorned and still scorn - such as Putin and we call Russia an oligarchy. Well.. ??????
If ordinary people have a shred of leverage left, now is the time to use it.
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Olivia Koppell