[wizzler]

Wiz, insider trading is antithetical to (liberty, capitalism and the free market).

How so?

The notion of "insider trading" -- which I place in quotes for good reason -- is a sham. Information is a commodity. If I have more of it than you do, than I am lucky, plucky, hard-working, or many other things. What I'm not is bad or immoral. And in a society that's truly free, I am not breaking any laws.

The only thing the government should be involved in with regards to the marketplace is prosecuting FRAUD. That's it. Pursuing the act of "insider trading" is what's antithetical to freedom. It's based on a socialist impulse to create an egalitarian distribution of property. It is born of envy, jealousy and a dislike of capitalism.

[mewzilla]

It's a commodity that's not available to all. If trust in the markets falls off we are screwed.

[nhoward14]

What you are saying is asinine. Since investors are putting up capital to operate the company that is being run for the benefit of the shareholders by company officers and directors, it is morally wrong for such directors to inform one class of shareholders of pertinent information while concealing or delaying the release of the same information to another class of shareholder.

[Moonman62]

The only thing the government should be involved in with regards to the marketplace is prosecuting FRAUD. That's it. Pursuing the act of "insider trading" is what's antithetical to freedom. It's based on a socialist impulse to create an egalitarian distribution of property. It is born of envy, jealousy and a dislike of capitalism.

I agree with you partly, but in this case Martha may have had information about Waksal's fraudulent activities. I still think the government is being overzealous in this case, and it's disappointing to see so many Republicans and conservatives lined up with their torches and pitchforks.

[Hildy]

I agree. And since she was the recipient...I mean if somebody calls you up and says..Sell the stock, it's going to go down on Wednesday...tell me, what would you do?

[Fury]

The only thing the government should be involved in with regards to the marketplace is prosecuting FRAUD. That's it. Pursuing the act of "insider trading" is what's antithetical to freedom. It's based on a socialist impulse to create an egalitarian distribution of property. It is born of envy, jealousy and a dislike of capitalism.

If she willfully lied or obstructed an investigation, I'd say that could be a problem as well.

[Bush2000]

If I have more of it than you do, than I am lucky, plucky, hard-working, or many other things. What I'm not is bad or immoral. And in a society that's truly free, I am not breaking any laws.

Wrong, your comments are ridiculous. The point is that, when you take information from insiders, you aren't "lucky, plucky, hard-working, or many other things." You're trading on an insider relationship that nobody else has; you're leeching off of information that you're not entitled to possess. The markets work (most of the time) because the playing field is more or less even for most investors. There's nothing stopping you from doing independent research (ie. reading the papers, investigating the company and its officers thoroughly) -- but suggesting that you're entitled to trade on information which nobody else can get is simply idiotic.