Oct. 17, 2018
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission should require corporate managers to be honest with their shareholders about how they are planning for the long term. Shareholders have a right to know 1) if oil executives are trying to buy off politicians to slow progress on addressing climate change. They also have a right to know 2) whether the company is cultivating diversity on its board or 3) moving profits abroad to avoid paying taxes in the U.S. They also have a right to know 4) if corporate managers are using their funds to support the NRA or attack gun legislation or 5) to support voter suppression and 6) spread more bias and division. These are just a few examples of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks that the SEC should require public companies to disclose to their shareholders and the public. We have assumed the objectivity, practicality and non-partisan direction of these corporations for too long and have been blind-sided by their poor choices and unethical avarice. Help us establish trust in the decisions of these entities again by insisting on their transparency and honesty, especially to their shareholders. Thank you for considering my comment. Pam Freshney