February 7, 2022
I am concerned about the various practices that are detrimental to the retail community. The following practices appear to be affecting retail investors' (the common people's)ability to engage in a fair and free market with equal opportunities for all: naked short selling, synthetic share creation, dark pool trading, deep OTM married puts as way of controlling security prices, rehypothecation of shares, the use of ETFs as manipulation of stock prices (some SI% showing as many multiples of available float), hiding of derivative swap options overseas to hide abuse and possible FTDs. The fact that Market Makers can operate with a hedge fund wing and dark pool service is a clear violation offbeat practices, ethical standards, and plain fairness.
As an American who values equality as an essential value of our country's foundation, how can these practices go on without admitting that the market has become a way of keeping the rich wealthy while \"legally\" stealing from the common person. Fines that are smaller than the ill-gotten gains simply become \"the cost of doing business\" rather than an actual deterrent with teeth. When playing a game in which only certain, less advantaged players have to play by the most stringent rules, you would not be surprised to see the \"winners\" continue winning. If we as a people are to have any faith moving forward in the financial system, we must be in favor of this proposed rule and put a halt to unfair advantages in a system that should offer the same amount of risk and benefit to all.