A selection of our reader comments is provided below. We believe these statements are particularly relevant to our core question "Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?" or are pro or con our site.
We posted these pro, con, and not clearly pro or con comments in the approximate ratio that we received them. (For example, if 60% of the responses received are "pro," then about 60% of the responses posted below would be "pro").
The comments are arranged in reverse chronological order within each category. We sometimes edit comments for brevity, clarity, and spelling. We may also remove comments posted when we find better comments covering the same issues or for other good reasons. To preserve confidentiality, only the writer's first name is noted, unless he/she has waived confidentiality. Respondents are generally notified when we add their comments to this section.
PRO Congressional Insider Trading
CON Congressional Insider Trading
[None received as of Aug. 12, 2009]
"Insider trading is illegal, no matter who does it. Are you people kidding with this website? I can't believe that this is sponsored by our government. Apparently even the government does not know that insider trading is illegal. Unbelievable." Joan, Feb. 8, 2009
"The key issue here is the rule of law. No one should be above the law. If American citizens are not allowed to trade on material, non-public information, then neither should our leaders. Congress has set up a double standard that more closely resembles the ethics of Soviet Russia than the aspirations of the USA." Jason, Nov. 26, 2008
NOT CLEARLY PRO OR CON Congressional Insider Trading
"I think it is safe to say you have the most comprehensive source of information on the issue of insider trading by Congress in the world." Bruce Carton, JD, Editor of Securities Docket, Nov. 6, 2008
"Americans' elected representatives in Congress should be invested first and foremost in the public's interest. Public disclosure of lawmakers' personal finances is designed to keep them focused on the job they were sent to Washington to do, and to discourage politicians from undercutting the public's trust in government by trading on inside information to enrich themselves." Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Politics, Oct. 15, 2008