I’d need more information. What are the details? Who decides if a company is involved in genocide? How do you define “substantially”? If a company earns 51% of their income from “genocide” are they out? If a company earns 49% does that mean they are ok? Do we need to place a dollar figure to define genocide?

You say that the proposal “simply states” but there’s nothing simple about it. In theory it sounds noble but it’s really kinda worthless. In fact, it’s so ambigous it’s down right worthless. Sounds more like either a simply PR move that could cause big problems down the line or someone wanting to have more control over where money is invested.

I see what’s going on here. This was just a weak attempt to lure Sharky out. I see now. You guys miss him so much.

It should be noted that mutual funds are their own companies. They use names of financial institutions for marketing purposes. The financial institutions receive fees. For instance, if the mutual fund company decided to, they could remove “Fidelity” and become another institutions fund, ie Fidelity Contrafund coule become Vanguard Contrafund. All is based on shareholder votes and such.

Dont know how, or even if this changes the big picture argument.

Hi,

I am ordinarily an observer and reader, but this conversation has really struck a personal note with me. I have noticed some rather snarky, if not pernicious stuff, here, and I wanted an opportunity to respond, unapologetically.

To out myself a bit— I am a 22-year-old Jew. In a familial context, my mother is named for her aunt who was killed during the Holocaust. The rest of my family was fortunate to escape from Poland and Russia before mass deportations began. However, I have met Holocaust survivors and heard their narratives and experiences. Many of them continue to speak against human rights atrocities and genocidal practices, today.

To say that corporations have zero ethical culpability is a very dangerous position to take, and one I must say, that is consistent with the beliefs of many anti-Semitic companies during the Nazi reign. It is well-documented that several large companies used Jewish slave labor during the Holocaust (you may see http://www.theawfultruth.com/salbmw/ for more information). Many civilians were thus oppressed, and many died, as a result of these companies’ actions. It seems quite unlikely that any of you fellow bloggers would want to speak in favor of their actions, today.

Therefore, I would like to draw a bit of a historically parallel to Fidelity’s actions. Their position is principally that they knowingly abet corporations directly tied to genocide/human rights violations, but it is not their responsibility to care. To begin, I for one, would not want my money to be invested in spaces that knowingly act in ways to support genocide—it is, for a lack of a better word, unconscionable. We must utilize a free market economy in order to support just interests of the world’s citizens. An uninhibited use of power is not only an unethical use of power, but also a complicit action in violating freedoms that our own country has deemed very basic and fundamental rights (see the Universal Declaration of Rights of Man). However, even if you have difficulty sympathizing with an ethical position, it does not seem to make sound financial sense to want to invest with corporations that base their own financial gain on such unstable ground.

Ultimately, I am quite disappointed with many of the views I have seen here, today. As an American, I see views that irresponsibly represent my country; these attitudes certainly do not convey a message peace and humanitarianism. As a Jew, I see a historical and person connection with very real material implications. And, as a human being, I see a severe absence of deference for human rights.

I’ve decided. My moral compass is the surperior one. What I find to be appropriate or not appropriate is the answer. I will also, instead of letting my money show what is important to me, complain about them in a public forum. Additionally, I’ll degrade the stances of those who don’t share my clearly surperior belief systems. If I get enough people behind me, I’ll consider a more forceful tactic. I’m thinking acid to the face, or caning of the feet… suggestions?

I only need a bit more info. Once we’ve solved this issue, on which clearly we have the only morally correct view, what should we tackle next? Smoking? Child labor? Non green companies? Once we get this ball rolling, there will be no stopping us!

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scary

Can’t argue with that morally superior stance!