September 18, 2014
PERSONAL NOTE:
Our generation is the first to feel the effects of Climate Disruption and the last to be able to do anything to stop it.
I would think that a watchdog commission supposedly funded by "We the People" at least in part show such disregard for the people and carry water for the obviously failed socially enabled capitalistic paradigm. For shame.
The Fossil Barons are quick to point out the dilemma of "Stranded Assets" following environmental constraints on polluting the commons. The flip side is the "stranded assets" currently incurred by "We the People" in the mitigation costs of increasing forest firers, floods, storms, sea level rise, agriculture loses, acidified oceans, even lives should steps not be made stranding those fossil "assets" while there is still a chance for the survival of the kidders. You think?
It has been said that "Green Growth" is an oxymoron. I disagree. If "Growth" becomes defined as the opposite of planetary ecocide and not $$$. The opposite of destitute billions but clean water, nutritious food, justice and equality. The nurturing and rejuvenation of threatened species and habitat. The education and acceptance of women and girls as equal and deserving members of Humanity. The transformation of "socially enabled capitalism" and Governments that have evolved into "self licking ice cream cones," (Dr. J. Hansen), into watchdogs for a peaceful, just, harmonious cohabitation of all members of Space Ship Earth as we hurtle space and time. The lifting of the burden of necessary labor powered by exploited fossil carbon and the whip and cries of man and beast to the passive advancement of intellect, arts and love powered by the daily allotment of sunshine. Sounds like "Growth" to me.
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
=====================================
I am outraged that the Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped the rule requiring publicly traded corporations to disclose their political spending from the unified agenda.
Return the rule to the unified agenda and complete the rule in 2014.
After the Supreme Court’s appalling Citizens United ruling, followed by 2012’s tsunami of election spending, bringing corporate “dark money” into the light should be a high priority for an agency charged with looking out for the interests of investors like me.
Giving CEOs the green light to use our retirement savings and investments as a political war chest for partisan interests like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is exactly the wrong thing to do.
It would be absurd for a small business owner not to know if his or her company’s money is being spent to help elect politicians. The same holds true for shareholders. Both shareholders and the public must be fully informed as to how much corporations spend 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.
Leif Knutsen