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Economic Failure Endorses Stimulus

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gmsc2/19/2009 4:25:03 pm PST

I linked to this article before, but post #599 reminded me of another part of it:

1. Cake or Death?

In order to stop rising inflation and devaluation of the currency in third century Rome, Emperor Diocletian instituted fixed prices on most consumer goods. Anyone selling goods at prices higher than those of the emperor was put to death; this led to hoarding of goods. A law was then passed that forbade the hoarding of goods. Penalty? Death. So people just closed their businesses, then another law was passed. You guessed it: shut down your business or fail to follow in your father’s business? Death. It’s amazing the Roman Empire lasted as long as it did.