Great Idea GENERALNATTY... =)

Cool Thanks remanns... =)

That is one school of thought given the resemblance to one of the yes men.
Here is an article on that from a Reuter's correspondent:

"If you look at his blog, his Twitter account, and his interview with Forbes, not to mention his notorious BBC interview, it’s pretty clear that Alessio Rastani is, at least in part, who he says he is. The Yes Men do set up elaborate hoaxes, but they do so with respect to large institutions: they wouldn’t put this much effort into inventing “Alessio Rastani” out of whole cloth. Mostly because there are lots of genuine traders like Alessio Rastani floating around the internet already. They trade their own money, they sometimes win and they sometimes lose, and they aspire to getting famous on the internet and selling their own trading advice.

That said, however, the resemblance to “Jude Finisterra” from the Yes Men is startling. Which raises the question: is it possible that Rastani is both a trader and a member of the Yes Men? And the answer there, I think, is absolutely yes.

Independent traders are, well, independent — and you don’t need to spend very much time hanging around the comments section (or even many of the posts) at Zero Hedge to discern a strong nihilistic and even anti-capitalist strain to much of the thinking in that community. Independent traders are often men in their 20s and 30s who inherited a substantial sum of money and who for whatever reason don’t have a more attractive opportunity in the regular workforce. They work from home, they tend to have a strong contrarian streak, and they have a lot of time on their hands.

All of which is entirely consistent with the profile of the kind of people who might join or become the Yes Men.

If you look at the two videos side by side (here, for instance), two things are pretty clear. One is that Rastani and Finisterra look and sound very similar to each other. But the other is that Finisterra is much less convincing, while Rastani is much more genuine: he seems to know what he’s talking about — stumbling over his words as he tries to explain trading to a broad audience — and believe what he’s saying."

I'm still open on the question but here are a couple more responses--from the BBC, the Guardian, and the Yes Men themselves.
Truth stranger than fiction perhaps in this case--or maybe not, as one commentator observes, not strange at all...

"A BBC spokesman said: "We've carried out detailed investigations and can't find any evidence to suggest that the interview with Alessio Rastani was a hoax. He is an independent market trader and one of a range of voices we've had on air to talk about the recession."

The Guardian contacted Rastani and asked he if was aware of the rumours about his identity circulating online. Rastani said he knew of the allegations but declined to comment on whether they were true, adding: "Conspiracy theories, eh!"

He added that he had been following the story's development "a bit on Twitter" and was aware of the online reaction to his comments. He said before making further comment he would have to seek advice from a third party, and was in talks "with other media organisations" about writing further pieces for them.

While the Yes Men issued a statement commending Rastani for his "masterful performance", and teasingly suggested his real name was Granwyth Hulatberi, who had once appeared on CNBC MarketWrap as a hoax World Trade Organisation representative, the group distanced itself from the trader. "Just kidding. We've never heard of Rastani. Despite widespread speculation, he isn't a Yes Man. He's a real trader who is, for one reason or another, being more honest than usual.

"Who in big banking doesn't bet against the interests of the poor and find themselves massively recompensed – if not by the market, then by humongous taxpayer bailouts?"

Well , get out of the way then , slave , because not all of us have given up yet ......

I stand corrected then . We will fight together . I believe , we will win , because that is the only outcome possible for this planet to survive .....

Heh.... =)

LOL!!! We are History... =)

Wow, that's been happening for years, glad you took notice... =)

Hey Coool, I wanna be Manly... =)

Okay, Cool, Thanks Progresshiv, and Nice guitar... =)

The US dollar right now is like the prettiest girl at the prison dance......

Funny, that.

That's a great question, and if you do buy gold and they want it back, well, they know where you live... =)

Lately, commercials seem to stress that the shipments are insured. So, have there been a rash of shipments that did not arrive? Is it gold or pretend? Makes no sense.

Gold buyers and traders make money in the traditional way--buying slightly lower and selling higher.
Gold is still in increasing demand in China and India.
However, if you need a heads-up, George Soros, (a fine and wise man in my book) recently sold his holdings in gold.

I think it's BS attilatheblond... =)

Hmmm, I never thought of that...

There's always that possibility. Or he is just trying to drum up some business by stampeding people who don't do their own trades?

They sure have learned their Craft...

and their paying off the regulators our own goverment

But Republicans are against wall street reform and Democrats are not. That is a sign right there.

yep. They require a steady stream of $$ and/or investors and all the discretionary income of all but the Hoarder Class is not there anymore. There is a reason the Street has been SO hot for the Social Security payroll withholdings to be put into play on their field. They have reached the top of their pyramid scheme's potential and they know it. They are locking for ANY crumbs of cash they can feed into the game in hopes it holds out until the current bunch of bosses are ready to run off and retire.

So much for making money out of thin air, wouldn't you say Leen...

This is why most of the world's wealth is only on paper. When the global economy collapses, it all goes poof.

Exactly, attilatheblond.

Stupid ass people think what the Republicans are proposing is a good idea. That is scary .

Hoooray!!! Blowing in the Wind like a Fart... =)

It is a Drag to watch lazloman...

I will keep my eyes open and if I see another by him, I will post it... =)

Excellent comment Schnookums and Thanks for posting this to Business and Analysis, I am a member, but Spaced it... =)

Yes and then they will tell you it is your own damned fault for trusting someone else with your money, right after they have crushed your 401k, or IRA, or the Growth Fund with the 20 year history of steady performance.

Carl Levin is one of the smartest people in any party in congress right now. This guy rocks.

I agree Alanb4130, I just never liked Blankfein's snarky attitude.... He acted like, Who the Hell are you to question Me??? We Own your asses....

These people are the same types that took down Enron. They think the same way as Bernie Madoff but have a little more smarts to not break the law bad enough to get caught. The majority of people dont even have a clue what people like Blankfein do . And if they did they wouldnt understand . The problem is the Republicans wont unite with Democrats to put an end to some of the questionable practices like Carl Levin was pointing out to that douche from Goldman.

We need to remember, Republican or Democrat, we are all Americans.... =)

Try to tell that to tea partiers and hard core Republican voters especially those that really do cling to their guns and their bibles. They will disagree with your statement.

I am sure if things go down as this guy mentions, all will see that no matter how much money you have, you still can't use it...

You can't blame Blanfein, he was doing "god's work" remember

How is that not fraud? Why would anyone buy anything from Goldman-Sachs?

Cos they own just about everything??? This whole Mess has been fraud and all elected officials filled their pockets as the passed Bills and legislation in their best interest... =)

Fair Enough... =)

That guy has probably not done one single day of honest work in his life. People that trade money and make money off of money only care about money. There are thousands of people just like him. They are helping the decline by finding ways of pretty much scamming their way to increase their wealth . Traders dont make anything. They dont run businesses that make anytihng. They are leeches. IMO. :)

So if and when a Revolution kicks in, we know who to look for???

I think Republicans need to quit F'ing America and participate in policing this problem. But now with citizens United that passed the money will be free flowing so they can try and buy the White House . Republicans 100% support deregulation of wall street. They think that the big boys should be able to do what ever it is they want. That is anti American. IMO

I think the actions or lack thereof by Both Parties has been Un American!!!

To a degree. I will say this though . Look what has happened to America since the take over in 1994 and look who still has his fat head on the boob tube. Newt Gingrich. I read comments that people say they like this guy. I say you have got to be fucking kidding me. Then if you want to forget about the 1990's lets just focus on what happened to America after sept 11 2001. Republicans have owned the political process. They have gotten everything they wanted. Then when the Dems have tried to change things they fucking filibuster everything and obstruct everything. Both parties are not equally to blame in this mess. IMO

I am saying both parties were having their pockets filled as they looked the other way...

Republicans have tried to block every single attempt at changing the way things are.

True, but in who's best interest??? Not the Peoples....

I go back and forth with righties all the time that seem to believe that the actions taking by Republicans to block and obstruct everything is a good thing because they believe that Obama is pretty much the anti Christ. They believe that everything is bad for America and he is an Anti American.

I am afraid you are in for some real shocks on this site. There are plenty of GOP/TPrs trolling and spamming their talking points, but you will find a lot of progressives that have fallen for those talking points. That it is both parties fault and that the Democrats had a filibuster proof majority and various other myths.

I am a veteran in the blogging world. Those on the right want to try and say that the facts that are continually pointed are talking points when they are not. The Democrats did not have a filibuster proof majority and I will shout anyone down that tries to make that argument. That is an absolute false hood. Current didnt start out that way but I read articles about right wingers paying bloggers to just go out under pseudo names and repeat the right wing garbage. So it was only a matter of time before they made it to current.

I myself am not a veteran of the blogosphere only since I joined Current about 5 months ago.

Question: Are all the supporters of Mr. Paul, and those that insist that it is both parties fault, and the supporters of Anarchy -- plants? Serious question I am not be sarcastic or anything, I would really like to know.

No but I guarantee there are many out there. I have personally never come across a liberal that wasnt genuine in their comments and what they stood for. There is no reason why so many people would support Ron Paul or a Rick Perry and be out blogging about it. Uninformed voters that vote for those kind of people dont blog. There is way too much information to push back at what the republicans are doing. Fact based.

There aren't "both" parties, there are only two "tickets". There's only "them and us", and everyone knows which of "us" or "them " we are. If you don't know then you're them, not us.

They also believe in a Religion that is and has Never been proven, so go figure...

Yup, neither looking after the folks that hired them... Let's Fire their Asses!!! =)

I liked all your comments. I am a liberal and will never go against my party and president. They may as well go somewhere else, as my mind won't be changed by their lies.

Thanks for the comment. I will not vote for a Republican. I find that people who vote Republican think alike. I find that disturbing. No matter what facts are presented to them they blatantly ignore them. They put their fingers in their ears and go lalalalalala. They get pissed when you tell them they are wrong and then prove why they are wrong. Republican politicians have been an abject failure to this country. They have publicly dis honored the office of the President. They have lied on the floor of congress. They have fear mongered. They have used the most filibusters in the history of America. Just for starters. Keep up the fight.

I always fight for my party. I'm glad to hear you won't vote Republican. Congress has dishonored the president which is the office of the President of the USA. I'm glad you mentioned the filibusters. I get angry when people say he had a majority congress.

Joe the Douchebag Lieberman was one of the problems for the Dems all along. The guy is a turn coat. Democrats never had enough votes to stop the filibuster.

Thanks for saying that. No he never had the votes to get all he promised done. Lieberman was a turn coat along with some bluedogs .Even when he issued an Executive Order to close Gitmo, congress voted not to fund it.

I wonder who owns Goldman - Sachs???

Ya Think??? I don't know about that...