Cui bono? A simple legal term literally who benefits? In other words who is enlarged who is made freer given more liberty?

The opposite is “Cui plagalis” who is penalized, or who loses? Or in other words who is restricted, who is diminished who gets less power.

The question “who benefits” is used to begin many criminal investigations. Who benefits from the death of John Doe? Once this question is asked the police can begin to limit their suspect list.

Whenever anyone is presented with a “deal” or a “program” a critical thinking person should ask these two questions. Who benefits? Who loses?

It is apparent to me, from some of the e-mail spam that I receive, not enough people are asking this question. Or why would I keep receiving letters from a deposed prince from West Africa asking for a little help in ___ million dollars out of the country if I would be kind enough to send them all my personal information.

Cui bono? Cui plagalis?

I am automatically suspicious of anyone I have not asked who wants to lend me money. I am just as suspicious of any pop up on my computer telling me that I have a virus and it would be happy to remove it if I would just download this little program.

Cui bono?, Cui plagalis?

I am just as suspicious of anyone who decides that dismissing and belittling people who have legitimate concerns about what their government is doing.

The same people who objected to George Bush speaking to school children (without government provided lesson plans to go along with the speech) find nothing wrong with President Obama speaking to children and then asking them to think about what they can do to help the president.

I do not object to the President speaking to our school children and encouraging them to stay in school and get a good education. I do object to a government supplied lesson plan that teachers are expected to use, and frankly I am surprised that more teachers are not upset about the interference in their classrooms.

Cui bono? Cui plagalis?

Whenever a government program, new law or regulation is proposed any critical thinking citizen should ask, Cui bono? Cui plagalis? This question applies to the long term consequences not the short term effect of the item in question.

One of the principles I have been exposed to during my short experience in following politics is the desire for individuals or groups to bestow upon their person powers they would not trust to someone of the other group.

The Massachusetts democrat party comes to mind.

The problem with this mind set is, if it is a bad idea for the other people to have it then it is a bad idea for your people to have it also.

If your answer to cui bono is my side, my party, my agenda, and the answer to cui plagalis is, the other side, their party, their agenda then it is a bad idea.

Far to much of public policy these days is driven by the idea that we need to do this to destroy the other side, to keep our side in power.

When the constitution was written the answer to cui bono, was and still is the citizens of the United States. Yes it took a long time to realize that benefit for everyone.

The answer to cui plagalis was the government of the United States.

So ask, in the long run does this benefit the citizens and restrict the government? Or does this increase the government and diminish the citizen. If the power of government is expanded then liberty is taken from the citizen.

Examine your conscience when faced with a choice about your government.

Cui bono? Cui plagalis?