[nottrobin]

Yes, you're right. Not everything in the world is a ponzi scheme. I clearly didn't write my post with enough caveats in it. I'm just saying tons of shit that happens all the time is a ponzi scheme. The selling of stock for a business of value isn't a ponzi scheme in itself, but the speculation on that stock then largely is - stock value bears very little relation to "real worth". Stock that pays dividends is fine when held for that purpose. The thing is that so many of these systems are set up to encourage speculation. And now everything is high frequency trading etc. That is the toxicity.