Are you saying that these insane leveraged trades won't be happening if elected officials are compensated more? That is a preposterous assumption! You're right, trading isn't the issue. Greed and abuse of power are, however.

Honestly some of these trades also seemed small to me; anyone can make a trade that’s up 30% in a year with public information - they can also easily lose as much. It is only problematic when they consistently win by large percentages on the majority of their trades, and this doesn’t appear to do that kind of statistical analysis of average returns?

> this doesn’t appear to do that kind of statistical analysis of average returns?

Exactly, and you had to be really unlucky not to have significant returns over the past year.

Has anyone looked at their managed retirement find lately? I wouldn't be surprised if you see 30% even in a medium-risk fund.

Our top officials are compensated to the tune of 174,000 which is 95th percentile. Making people wealthier doesn't make them more honest.