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Oh, yes, the "greedy capitalists". You do realize this sounds rather "Marxist"?

Whatever it sounds like, it's true.

Why can't you buy stocks directly from a company? Why do you have to go through the stock market? Why do banks pay 1.5% for money and we are paying 12-26% for the money we borrow? Don't tell me there isn't a mass gouging of the American people by the money industry. Besides, it's all on paper. Isn't that what caused the collapse of 1999? No tangible assests. Everything was on paper and when buying paper with paper collapsed so did our economy.

"Why can't you buy stocks directly from a company? Why do you have to go through the stock market?"

You can. It's called a DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Program). Most of the large companies offer such programs.

"Why do banks pay 1.5% for money and we are paying 12-26% for the money we borrow?"

That's what's known as "stupidity". Get off the credit cards, pay cash, you'll live better.

"Don't tell me there isn't a mass gouging of the American people by the money industry. Besides, it's all on paper. Isn't that what caused the collapse of 1999? No tangible assests. Everything was on paper and when buying paper with paper collapsed so did our economy."

And, what do you propose to stop the "greedy capitalists" from "gouging the American people"? Will more regulation satisfy you? Surely, you must realize this sounds like something out of "Das Kapital"?

Why can't you buy stocks directly from a company? Why do you have to go through the stock market?

You can from most companies once you are a share holder. Then you can purchase shares directly from the company treasurer at no commission. You can also have your dividends reinvested into new shares at no cost.

Why do banks pay 1.5% for money and we are paying 12-26% for the money we borrow? Don't tell me there isn't a mass gouging of the American people by the money industry.

If you are paying those rates (12-26%) its because you are too lazy to move to another credit card or your credit history sucks. These days you can get all sorts of low interest rate deals for accepting a new credit card. After six months, if they dont continue to give you a good rate, you transfer your balance to another bank offering a low rate on transfers. Additionally, many credit card issuers are offering permanent rates of under 8%.

Actually, you can buy stocks directly from a company. SAIC has long had a policy where employees get stock. Carnegie for years purchased the stock directly of people who left his corporation.

The reason MOST people WANT to go through the NYSE is that overall it has a pretty good reputation for weeding out crooks and fly-by-night companies. For every Enron, you have 1,000 other companies that it has kept straight.

Why do banks pay 1.5% for money and we are paying 12-26% for the money we borrow?

Because they can.

While credit cards are hugely profitable for the banks, they don't get all the spread. Part of the spread goes to Visa, a hugely rich international instititution, more powerful than even the biggest banks. The card transaction processing networks are also huge and expensive to run. You are also paying for all the people who go bankrupt and don't pay off their balances, as well as rampant credit card fraud losses due to the fact that mag stripe card security is pathetic at best.

Get a card that gives you 1% back on your purchases, and then pay the balance off every month. That way you get back part of the vigorish the card companies charge the merchant.