From: Dasu [dasu_baregala@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 1:48 PM
To: rule-comments@sec.gov
Subject: S7-19-03

Dear Chairman:

I am strongly in favor of the rule S7-19-03. I have frequently observerd that 
incumbent board members control the nominating process. Generally, they think 
they do a great job so they re-nominate themselves. For vacancies, they invite 
their pals. The company ballot (printed and mailed at shareholder expense) 
offers just one candidate per available position. Although investors can 
accept or reject those candidates, even if 99.99% of shares withhold authority 
from a nominee, 0.01% affirmative means election. There is no better example 
of corporate corruption and nepotism.


As an alternative, the investors can nominate their own candidates but those 
nominees will not appear on the official company ballot. Currently , the 
challengers have to pay for a separate ballot and distribute it to all voters 
at a huge expense, in accordance with rules established by the incumbents, who 
are free to sue opponents, again, using shareholder money. Failure to follow 
those rules to the letter automatically grants all uncast votes to the 
company's candidates.


That system makes the old Soviet Union look democratic and dissident-friendly. 
Of those 13,000-plus commentators, the only ones opposing reforms are 
corporate beneficiaries of the current system, supported by their lawyers, 
lobbyists, and other paid agents.

In order to protect the shareholder interest in the board election process, 
please pass the above rule.

Thank you.



Dasu Baregala