June 1, 2009
My wife and I are over 65 now and like many older Americans, had most of our savings in the stock market hoping that our money could grow so that I could retire. During the last 8 years the stock market has not even grown at the long term average of 10% year but anyone who had the Dow 30 has lost significant principle in addition to buying power. We firmly believe that the use of naked shorts by the big players especially hedge funds (which we understand is illegal but the law against it has not been enforced, the removal of the uptick rule, and the approval of the use of power shares ETF's the go up 2 to 3 times when the market goes down has done terrible harm to the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans investments to have their investments grow.
We urge you in the strongest terms to first reinstate the uptick rule in at least it's strength that has been in force since the crash of 1929 and if possible make it stronger not weaker. To do otherwise would be pandering to the big money players at the expense of all Americans who must have a level playing field in order to keep thier money in the American Stock Market. Next, enforce the law against naked shorts and either ban or put stringent restrictions on the use of the inverse ETF's. We need a new day in American investing because little folks like us cannot afford to swim with the sharks when they have all the rules to jam the market down on their side. Our future depends on you now.