I could defend the merits of algorithmic trading - having computers instead of humans price liquid securities has reduced spreads and the competition has brough

I could defend the merits of algorithmic trading - having computers instead of humans price liquid securities has reduced spreads and the competition has brought down transaction costs overall. This all results in less and less of a chunk that "Wall Street" is taking out of "Main Street". And it results in a higher liquidity premium leading to higher share prices overall. This is good for companies and good for shareholders which include everyone with a mutual fund or pension. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. People have traded for profit motives alone for hundreds of years without a social motive. Most of finance is conducted for profit alone. There are tons of businesses out there that are for profit alone. There's no need to look down on people for it.