[independentmind]

Free the market! Let stocks and preferred and bonds and such for small businesses such and pizzerias and car washes be sold on ebay! Let clearinghouses come into existance that package securities from small businesses.

How small, BVW?

Do you think that most small companies can afford the addtional overhead related to public reporting requirments, board oversight, etc.?

Do you think that fraud is more likely to occur in a small, thinly traded company, or a large, well-known one?

[bvw]

the addtional overhead related to public reporting requirments, board oversight, etc.?

Reduce the overhead. Nearly eliminate the regulation. Let the market regulate. People are buying containerships full of pigs in a poke anyway ... the big stocks, for all of the *reporting requirements* still do NOT assure safety. What's the price of Global Crossing today?