Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

The purpose of the stock market isn't "control". If you wanted control of something you owned you wouldn't be interested in selling it. This is why some fascists were opposed to capitalism, they thought corporate owners should be running them like kings and not selling it for money.

It's to reduce risk by letting other people share in funding a venture.



Admittedly the original intended purpose of the stock market might not have been control but that's certainly a big feature of it now.

Unless you are already ultra wealthy there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly.

It's a vehicle for those with power and/or money to gain more power/money by siphoning it from everyone who isn't them.

Sure, some people make money, in the same way people in a casino make money.

The house, however, always wins.


> there is little to gain from individuals entering the stock market directly.

There is approximately 8% a year to gain from entering it. Just buy VTSAX.


Fair enough, that is on me.

What i actually meant was there is little to gain for individuals who aren't already relatively wealthy.

For those living at or below the poverty line, 8% of nothing is nothing.

It isn't until you get to those who can afford to lock up reasonable sums of money for multiple years to benefit practically from that 8%.




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: