April 28, 2012
Dear members of the Securities and Exchange Commission:
I am writing to urge the SEC 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.
It was always a badge of honor to send a $10, $15, $20 contribution to candidates supporting my views.. people I admired and felt a political and social connection with that allowed me to view my paltry sum as helping move my country forward.
It was a way of participating as important as voting to ensure my voice was being heard. I am now in a position.. out of work for 2 yrs, unemployment benefits exhausted, home in foreclosure, short sale imminent.. without the money to donate to elections, but insistent that no amount of money will deny my 19th Amendment Rights (1920): "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." or deny our 24th Amendment Rights (1964): "vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax." or deny our 15th Amendment Rights (1870): "vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." or deny our 26th Amendment Rights (1971): "vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."
The wealthy may have a "torrent of secret corporate spending" available to them, but when they go to the polls they are still out-numbered 99 to 1!
Thank you for considering my comment.
Sincerely,
Kevin L Kalmes