sovereignman.com / By Simon Black / December 18, 2102
In the days of ancient Rome when the republic was still a republic, Lucius Cassius, one of the city’s most venerated consuls, famously coined the phrase cui bono.
It means As a benefit to whom?, and Lucius Cassius, inquisitive and analytical by nature, was always asking the question… whether he was investigating a crime or unraveling political corruption. Even as far back as the ancient Romans, someone always benefitted.
This simple dictum still applies today, especially when governments pass stupid laws and policies.
For example, the Department of Homeland Security decided that air passengers need to be bathed in radiation, so they went on a shopping spree buying $100,000 body scanners. Who benefits? Why, avid body scanner promoter and former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, reported as having had questionable ties to Rapiscan Systems. Three guesses as to what they make.
Sometimes the corruption is so obvious it’s just painful.
Cui bono also settles the argument of inflation vs. deflation, which seems to be one of the most divisive economic debates of our time.
There are some who believe that systemic overleveraging will eventually cause the money supply, and prices, to collapse. There are also some who believe that perpetual printing and easy money will lead to substantially higher prices.
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