Treating HFT as a proxy for 'Finance' is a flawed premise.

Without 'Finance', you would not have: - Cheap mortgage rates - mainly due to securitization. - Cheap loan rates - yes, car leasers, I'm looking at you.... - Rational commodity markets. Think Starbucks, every car/computer made today. - You get the idea.

Certainly, some aspects of modern markets appear to add little value, but the bulk of 'finance' benefits not only companies but everyday consumers immensely. -