[st26]

As a general rule of thumb, screwing people by changing the rules on them harms investor confidence. The promise of future stability is an underrated part of our economy. See the FDIC. This is why many legal changes go to great pains to grandfather the old rules.

That's not to say the rules could never be changed. But just imagine being, for example, a small time landlord in the UK. Recently the rules changed, and you can no longer deduct mortgage interest as an operating expense from the rents you collect. Old mortgages are not grandfathered. This means a lot of existing rentals are suddenly & out of nowhere going to be losing their owners money. Thanks, government. Maybe it needed to happen, but it's a bit chilling to have that kind of rule change happen on you.