Reply #29: No way. I support regulation, but outlawing them is absurd

[anigbrowl]

It's not actual capitalism, it's voodoo math. It's not a real product or service, and should therefore not be legal for sale.

It most certainly is a real service, and a useful one. What we need is to avoid excess leveraging of derivatives and their covert use by securities underwriters to offset losses foreseeable at time of issue by making OTC bets against their own financial instruments.

I appreciate that many people don't understand what derivatives are or how they work, but suggesting that they should be outlawed solely on the basis that they can be abused is foolish.