Research Pit

[Jagman]

Shorting is not "evil".....

"Some people view short selling as something akin to flag burning. It's un-[insert your nationality here] to hope that a company stumbles and its stock plunges, right? Rubbish! Just as a healthy legal system needs both defense attorneys and prosecutors, healthy financial markets need people who will look at companies in a skeptical light, given that accountants, Wall Street, and the companies themselves have such strong incentives to spin a positive story. Short-sellers -- and the handful of courageous journalists who cover their pans -- are a blessing to savvy investors, even those who only invest on the long side.

(Shorters found the problems at Enron long before it became news)

The rest of the story....

http://www.fool.com/Specials/2001/sp010621.htm