February 11, 2012
Dear SEC Commissioners,
Please do not give in to industry pressures on Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act (the Cardin-Lugar Amendment) - and make sure that ALL companies are covered, every country and every project gets reported, and loopholes that would allow large sums of money to go unreported are closed.
My Comment:
Transparency is essential to fostering any relationship that aspires to last. We all know that trust and confidence in a relationship creates security because those attributes are really about honesty. Companies and industries create a relationship with their customers and the public. People, everyday people, believe that the companies to which they give their patronage are being honest and that leads to the trust and confidence that can give a sense of security to customers and a sense of success to companies (and industries) that will translate to many positive gains for everyone involved. (i.e. jobs with fair wages, innovative products, charitable donations, etc.) When a company or an entire industry is not transparent, an honest relationship can never occur. And customers will quickly discard loyalty to a company that they feel is no longer operating in everyone's best interest. Section 1504, as it currently stands, is really about honesty and the creation of healthier relationships between the public and the oil industry. Any changes or omissions allow dangerous loopholes that threaten not only the relationship stated here, but ones internationally. The United States of America is judged by the actions of its industries, especially to those living in poverty. Transparency, for example the complete honesty in an industry's dealings with the leadership of other countries, is an important piece of the economic puzzle which the USA is trying to piece back together. Once again, do not allow the lobbying of the oil industry to undermine the American values that make us a world leader by allowing exemptions and/or loopholes in Section 1504. Thank you for your time.