We knew back when the poorly named JOBS Act passed into law that
it would provide more opportunities for financial schemers to
re-open bucket shops and rip off their clients with investment
scams than provide opportunities for employment. And regulators
tasked with implementing the law now see the same problems,
which has caused delays in the rule writing.  The JOBS Act gave
the SEC until Dec. 31 to determine how to implement and enforce
new rules allowing entrepreneurs to raise up to $1 million in
equity through online crowdfunding platforms. The platforms are
intended to help start-ups secure small amounts of capital from
investors without the costs and time required to register with
the SEC.  However, the agency still must determine which rules
will give entrepreneurs access to as many potential investors as
possible without sacrificing the protections meant to help
people avoid fraudulent business propositions. For instance,
regulators are still working on ways to ensure investors are
educated on how to e