Many years ago all my trading was through a full service broker, I paid commissions on all trades unless it was shares from a stock offering, and I believe that markets back then were far fairer. I stayed in contact with that broker even after he retired and I went to Fidelity where commissions were much lower at the time, and became free. We discussed what was happening in the markets and why things like shorting and hedge funds that make money bringing others down were legal. The answer was simple, they were legal because if we made them illegal here, all that money would move somewhere offshore where they would be legal.
We didn't make them legal because they were the right thing to do, we made them legal because if we failed to do so it would simply end up in business leaving the US and going elsewhere. The only way to end such practices is to do so worldwide, and that simply won't happen.
I'm elderly, I doubt if all the ways we screw up the planet will have a great influence on my remaining years, but honestly I wonder if even that will be true for my kids, who perhaps could live another 60 or so years. Of course a WW3 could practically end it for all of us, but barring that I expect it won't be long before our oceans are flooding deeper into the population each year rendering certain areas uninhabitable, or requiring new seawalls to be built that can only last so long. We can slow it down, somewhat protect against it, but I frankly don't believe that we can totally reverse it. I suspect in just a few centuries the planet will have a very different look. My house, which is about 120 ft. above sea level and a mile or so from the ocean will be much closer to being waterfront property, if it's not already underwater. I suspect that California will be far more tropical, seawater temps will go into the 80's, and while this may make swimming in the ocean better, it will also bring in hurricanes' and tropical storms. The changes will be everywhere and frankly many places we currently live will only be tolerable if you're air conditioned almost all the time.
We can slow it down, prepare for it, but I'd be very surprised if we can turn it around. The key is first not making it worse, reducing how much we pollute, then trying to make it better. Things like solar, wind, electric cars, trucks, trains, and planes, and ultimately fusion power will be a tremendous benefit, but that alone is just a good start, there is a lot further to go.
Gary
