HFT systems scalp. They make their millions .001 at a time on front running and volume.

A way to discourage this is by adding a very small fee to each trade. This eats/takes away their profits.

The problem is their are too many folks making money that are connected to the right people in Government.There will always be talk about doing something about it but nothing will ever happen.

The only positive outcome from all this is that it created an arms race in the industry when it comes to the technologies used to facilitate HFT or fight it.

Now whether that technology trickles down to the rest of us through new and interesting things remains to be seen.