I've Debated About Mentioning This -- At All. But Here It Is. This Is A Sad Subversion Of US Public Co. Corporate Governance... By Bitter Dead-Enders... It Will Doubtless... FAIL.

Several large public companies have seen a spate of stupid "strike" initiatives added to their proxy packets, this year by what are obviously hard right organizations. I wasn't going to mention it, but I've decided it needs a wider airing. I will not link these groups' SEC filings -- as they are purely agit-prop pieces. But you should be aware of these moves against your investment dollars.

Merck has -- in the past week -- been targeted by them, in SEC filings. [And true enough, various orders of Catholic nuns have targeted Merck and others before, related to women's health issues -- but at least that had some nexus to Merck's businesses.] This bit of propaganda tries to substitute itself, for the role that all shareholders have entrusted to the board of directors, and the executive management. That is to say, it is an ordinary, internal business / HR and advertising question. These guys disagree with Merck's take on it. That's okay, truly.

Of course, since the dawn of public companies. . . the answer, if one doesn't like a company's stances. . . is to sell. To vote with your feet. There are other pharmas which don't hold these views, to be sure. [But they don't perform financially nearly as well. Gee - why might THAT be?]

So these capitalists think some pigs are more equal -- that they alone should be allowed to tell the company how to run HR, and spend advertising dollars, while still holding on to the financial benefits of owning stock -- where they collectively comprise far less than one-tenth of one percent of all shares outstanding. Hilariously, and wrong-headedly. . . entitled, are they.

The issue? Valuing the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. [It bugs these dead-enders that whyte guys aren't always picked first any longer.] And as I said, this is long the province of internal business-decision making -- based on numerous studies they've conducted (not loony whyte replacement theorists). So, no -- I won't give these groups any exposure. You can find their manifestos on the SEC EDGAR databases, at various companies.

Diversity is good business. If given the chance -- I know you science minded folks will say so. And. . . I encourage you to, if given a chance in your proxy materials this season. Onward -- grinning.

No eclipse road trip tomorrow; everything socked in tomorrow -- even if we drive out eight long hours in the right directions. So it goes.

नमस्ते