Subject: File No. S7-08-09
From: RONALD TRACHTENBERG
Affiliation: RETIRED ENGINEER BSEE, MSMS

May 5, 2009

SHORT SALES SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE TO LONG TERM INVESTORS. WHEN HARVEY PITT ELIMATED SHORT SALES TWO TIMES LAST YEAR THE MARKET WENT UP. IF SHORT SALES WHERE ELIMINATED YOU COULD READ A BALANCE SHEET AND USE FUNDAMENTAL ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW A STOCK WITH CONFIDENCE. SHORT SELLERS MANIPULATE THE MARKET IN SPITE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS. PUT THE SHORTS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE MARKET
IS CONTROLLED BY THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE COMPANY, NOT THE CROOKS. THEN STOCKS WOULD ADVANCE WITH THE ECONOMY AND NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE PROFIT MOTIVE OF MANIPULATORS. LET THEM GET A PRODUCTIVE JOB, RATHER THAN DESTROYING PEOPLE'S NEST EGGS.