GOP Protecting Wall Street Monopoly on Derivative Trading

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/business/12advantage.html?hp

One of the reasons why Wall Street banks are so profitable is that they have a monopoly on derivative trading. The related reason is that customers who purchase these derivatives have no basis for determining the fees that the banks charge for the derivatives. Attempts to make the fees more transparent to customers and to introduce competition into the market are being blocked by GOP politicians seeking a tribute from the banks in return for protecting their monopoly. Of course, Wall Street bankers and GOP politicians, are among the most enthusiastic supporters of free enterprise. That is, as long as it does not affect them. Perhaps what they really mean by free enterprise is freedom from government limitation of monopoly power.