Marcus Tullius Cicero on Universal Basic Income

[Epicurus] does [praise virtue], and so too Caius Gracchus, after [Gracchus] had granted extravagant doles and poured out the funds of the [state] treasury like water, nonetheless, in his [own] words, [he] posed as the protector of the treasury. Why am I [Cicero] to listen to words, seeing that I have the deeds before my eyes?** The famous Piso, named Frug[al], had spoken consistently against the Corn-law [Lex Frumentaria, a/k/a Lex Sempronia, a/k/a Universal Basic Income]. When the law was passed, in spite of his consular rank, [Piso] was there to receive the corn. Gracchus noticed Piso standing in the throng; he asked him in the hearing of the Roman people what consistency there was in coming for the corn under the terms of the law which he had opposed. “I shouldn’t like it, Gracchus, to come into your head to divide up my property among all the citizens; but should you do so I should come for my share.” . . . . Read Gracchus’ speeches and [based upon his speeches] you will say he was [the] protector of the treasury.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, Tusculan Disputations, Book III, ch. XX (trans. J.E. King, 1971) (Cicero’s authorship circa 45 BCE) (Lex Frumentaria enacted circa 123 BCE).

**Quid verba audiam, cum facta videam?

Seth Barrett Tillman, Marcus Tullius Cicero on Universal Basic Income, New Reform Club (Mar. 15, 2020, 3:47 PM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2020/03/marcus-tullius-cicero-on-universal.html>; 

Alternate translation: But [Epicurus] commends virtue, and that frequently; and indeed Caius Gracchus, when he had made the largest distributions of the public money [to the people], and had exhausted the treasury, nevertheless [he] spoke much of defending the [public] treasury. What signifies what men say when we see what they do? That Piso, who was surnamed Frugal, had always harangued against the law that was proposed for distributing the corn; but when it had passed, though a man of consular dignity, he came to receive the corn [like everyone else]. Gracchus observed Piso standing in the court, and asked him, in the hearing of the people, how it was consistent for him to take corn by a law he had himself opposed. “It was,” said he, “against your distributing my goods to every man as you thought proper; but, as you do so, I claim my share.” Did not this grave and wise man sufficiently show that the public revenue was dissipated by the Sempronian law? Read Gracchus’s speeches, and you will pronounce him the advocate of the [public] treasury. 

Steve Bell’s Cartoon of Minister Priti Patel

Seth Barrett Tillman

Lecturer

Maynooth University Department of Law

8 March 2020

The Guardian

Letters Editor

guardian.letters@theguardian.com

RE: Steve Bell’s Cartoon of Minister Priti Patel (4 March 2020, 19:42 GMT), <https://tinyurl.com/rzwac3o>.

Dear Letters Editor,

I am a long-time reader of your newspaper. I even had a letter published in 2019. I am untroubled by strong writing and strong views. That said, Bell’s most recent cartoon strikes me as racism—straight up. In this situation, I can no longer buy your paper. That said—I think you should remain free to publish what you want. Should you come to your senses and a sense of decency, let me know, and I will consider buying your paper again in the future.

Only wishing you well,

/s/

Seth Barrett Tillman

Seth Barrett Tillman, Steve Bell’s Cartoon of Minister Priti Patel, New Reform Club (Mar. 8, 2020, 8:47 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2020/03/steve-bells-cartoon-of-minister-priti.html>.

First World Problems

In a citation to a forthcoming journal article, the Blue Book mandates listing the month as well as year of publication. I intend to cite a forthcoming article. I wrote the journal's student editors and asked them what was the expected month of publication. They said it is not their policy to give out such information. That journal is one of the student journals which has oversight over the Blue Book. Such an unwillingness to share pertinent citation information seems to violate aspirational norms.

Can I ask you to consider revising the rule -- and removing the need to cite to the expected month of publication, OR to send a memorandum to the student journals which edit the Blue Book and ask them to commit to best practices?

Thank you,

Seth

Seth Barrett Tillman, First World Problems, New Reform Club (Mar. 3, 2020, 4:26 AM), <https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2020/03/first-world-problems.html>;