Where it all started

The budget should be balanced,
the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced,
the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,
and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed
lest Rome become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work,
instead of living on public assistance.

A wisdom that transcends the years.

Attributed to Cicero, over 2000 years ago during the world's first ever credit crunch as Rome went deep into the red.

HT The Hound, Rural News Jan 20 2009

Parallel commentary here and here.