Why Is Insider Trading Even Illegal?

TIME ^ | 07/28/2013 | Christopher Matthews

[Balding_Eagle]

I think that the Insider Trading Laws were created by politicians to ensure politicians had 24 hours to rearrange their portfolios before public announcement of decisions.

Worth repeating. Very few are aware that true insider trading is done by politicians who have legal authority to do so.

[Red Steel]

What I mean is, it’s obvious crooks would like to load the dice in the game for only their own advantage. Duh.

Congress likes loaded dice since they are exempt. I've got a stock tip for FR, find out when and what those Cong "crooks" buy and sell and mirror them. Check out the Congs on the Ways and Means committee first. Follow their crony capitalism and you can't go wrong ;-)

[Ouderkirk]

Insider trading should remain illegal.

If you are on the inside of a company and have a substantial stake due to bonuses paid, and you are aware that the company is about to tank and you sell out based on what you know.

You have defrauded the buyer because you know the value is about to fall.

It is also theft. You have stolen the the difference in value between what the buyer paid, and what the buyer might have paid based on the information that you possessed and the buyer did not.