Roman parallels are apt

Alas, Mrs. Groenig, Cicero never said those lines you attribute to him. Maybe he would have if he had thought of them, but he didn’t.

This “quote” has been around for many years and has taken on a life of its own. Now, don’t believe me, but check it for yourself and try to find the source in Cicero’s writings. Hint: You might take a short cut and check a reference book called “They Never Said It.” But let’s not worry about these pesky facts.

Rather I would compliment you on focusing on the end of the Roman Republic (and not the Roman Empire as so many would have it).

Study the end of the Republic and you will find factions only interested in their own political agenda to the point where the government was paralyzed. And another: The Senate voted away its powers one by one as emergencies arose (and they never returned to the people), powers like the right to make war and peace in the name of the Roman state.

Still another: the concentration of extreme wealth in the hands of a few. There are many others. And look what happened. The parallels to our own time are truly scary!

Fred Lauritsen

Professor emeritus of ancient history, EWU

Cheney

If, in this recession, Obama wants to raise taxes on “the rich,” he needs to hurry.

Kenneth L. Hills

Spokane