re: #38 Backwoods_Sleuth

operative word is “contract” which is in force for both them and the people you are railing against

Well, what I think ought to be, and what is (the is/ought fallacy) are two different things.

I can think of a lot of reasons why someone might want to borrow my car (which doesn’t involve selling it) but not too many for borrowing shares. I know it’s not theft if the loaner is aware of what the borrower of shares is doing with the shares. (The theft is from people who are holding shares who are screwed by the short, not the borrower.)

If someone wanted to borrow my car to go to the doctor I might (actually I probably wouldn’t but someone else might) allow that. I certainly wouldn’t want them taking it to the Highway 92 Racetrack to enter it in a race to win money with it, then give me my car back (even if they paid me money to go to the doctor).