Financial Reform: The End of Market Manipulation or Same Old Same Old?

This week Congress finally passed financial reform. Whether, after all the compromises, the bill has enough teeth left to end the kind of market manipulations that cause the financial meltdown remains to be seen. Critics are concerned that the legislation delegates most of the responsibility for writing the actual regulations to the oversight agencies.

Who did the financial market manipulators damage?

Homeowners, the retired, the gainfully employed, the unemployed, the underemployed. Small businesses, large businesses, local governments, state governments.

The moderately well-to-do, the middle class, the working class, the poor, the yet unborn. The United States, most countries around the world.

Who did the financial market manipulators benefit?

Market insiders, the super wealthy, "too big to fail" corporations.