Comment Text:
Wall Street has alway been and always will be something of a casino, why else would the word "bet" be used so often when stories are published about the stock exchange.
Hedge Funds from what I understand are a gamblers paradise, no longer "insurance" against unforseen calamities they now activily "bet" on things going wrong. What really becomes wrong is when the betting of Hedge Fund managers manipulate market prices. Often times the bets are made behind close doors, with the same "player" bet both sides of the market. That is just so wrong. Wrong in that it artificially inflates prices, regardless of the commodity or stock, this distorts the market and puts the prudent investor at risk of loss' driven by huge "wagers" by hedge fund managers.
I understand that the United States of America is a market economy driven by capitalistic princepals but a few bad apples can ruin it for all. That is why regulation, and transparency is needed, strong clear regulation, that is enforced. Doesn't do any good to have a regulation if it isn't enforced. Strong regulation will protect the little guy, the common man if you will, from the gyrations of a stock market driven by Hedge Fund Speculators. Stong regulation may encourage more small investors like me to reenter the market.
Lastly I believe that it is the job of Government to work for the Common Good, to often in these last years it seems that the Common Good is defined as what is good for Globalized Corporations/ to Big to Fail Banks and Investment Houses.
Thank you , Steve and Gayle
