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You are right that financial crimes are a big deal. However the solution to criminality is not to create a surveillance state.


Well, banks sure have a solution for such problems. They call it self-regulation.

[Hey you! Yes you at the back! Stop laughing...]


A surveillance state is exactly what the financial companies have created within their walls. Typically, every keystroke is logged.


I mean it's one solution. What is the solution?


Let's start with actually prosecuting those that break current laws without regarding color of skin or size of bank account.


To disincentivize huge salaries for people who create zero value, and just move money from point A to point B.


Moving something that is currently at A but should be at B absolutely creates value.


Well, depends on your definition of value. In Marxian economics, with the exception of natural resource, value is created by labour, and commodities have both a use value and exchange value.


This just isn't true. Don't let Marx cloud your understanding of Smith.

Value is created when someone is willing to pay for something to get done, and that something gets done at a cost less than or equal to their willingness to pay. If somebody A is willing to pay for money to be moved, then as long as somebody B is there to move that money, then somebody B is likely generating value by doing so.


My mistake, you're right. Going to correct my comment.


But the value of commodities aren't fixed, but vary in both time and location. Much as taking a lump of gold and turning into a ring adds value to the gold, so does bringing the gold from the goldmine to the jeweler.




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