Star Trek can help you explain anything
Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 8:45 pm
Try to think of derivatives as being like the Tribbles in that classic “Star Trek” episode. For all of history, there was no such thing. Then somebody found the first ones, which looked cute and made soothing noises. We liked them fine, until the population grew to be worth about $600 trillion. When they got into the financial engine, all hell broke loose.
From a Gail Collins op-ed column on financial reform (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/opini ... ns.html?hp)