Gambling is picking red or black, then rolling the dice; no thought involved. Investing has an empirical basis to it. For example: let's say you come to me and say you'd like to build a house and need $100,000. I figure, bank savings, or Gov't bonds pay 2% interest. After doing my due diligence, and you've satisfied me as to your willingness to work hard and sacrifice by saving up a substantial down payment, I offer you the money to build your house, charging you 4% interest. With the Government tax policy support they basically cover your interest payments with tax subsidies.

So, you end up with a house, a home that provides shelter, a place to raise a family, and the security of knowing you'll eventually own it outright and have something to bequeath to your heirs.

In other words, value was created.

That's investing, and it`s a good thing

Of course, that`s not what Wall St. did. They weren't satisfied with 2%; they wanted 50%, 100%, and more. And so, they set up the biggest fraudulent Sting operation in history to get it.