In days of yore, banks and investors of all kinds, made money on a market facet known as "The Churn." This is money made just from the fact that a transaction is taking place. If I'm a bank, and I have your money and you want me to give it to PECO on Thursday, I can make money on interest on that money until then. Maybe PECO pays me a small percentage to make that transfer electronically instead of by a paper check and I charge you to make the payment from your checking account: I'm making money on the transaction. I didn't do anything but move some money around and I made money three ways. If I'm a stock broker and you buy or sell a stock, I get a commission whether the stock goes up or down or stays the same. I'm making money on the transaction or "the churn" of money through the ecomnomy.

Jon Stewart enlightened his audience to maybe the biggest churn game yet. The big bailed out banks borrowing money from the Federal Reserve at 0% and then buying interest bearing Treasuries that are then used to finance the bailout. Huh? you say? Watch: