The private equity industry represents the great, hidden-in-plain view predator of American capitalism. As the Prospect has detailed in numerous articles examining markets like newspapers , grocery stores , and retail , these firms are secret entities whose basic business strategy is to borrow money to buy healthy companies and then loot the assets. They accomplish this feat first by putting the acquisition debt on the balance sheet of the target company. Next they pay themselves exorbitant dividends and management fees, further stressing the companies they purchase. This forces target companies to slash costs by cutting wages, benefits, laying off workers, and selling off real estate. And when the company goes broke, they abuse the bankruptcy process. Whether the company fails or manages to survive, the private equity managers have often made back their money many times over. Sometimes, as in the case of the great abuser of iconic Sears Roebuck , Eddie Lampert, the private equity...