Sense on Cents

There have been cheaters and con artists throughout history. While I do not present myself as an economic historian, I think it would be interesting to review the depth of cheating and scandals today relative to other eras. The challenge for many individuals and businesses is competing honestly yet coming up short in the process. What is one to do?

We witness this cheating throughout society. From the steroid scandals in sports to financial frauds on Wall Street and at every point in between, the lack of real moral integrity has eroded our economic foundation. The excuse commonly utilized by cheaters is the need to keep up with the competition.

I lost all respect for Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots when it was revealed he cheated. What was the common refrain around the NFL? “If you’re not cheating, you’re not really trying.” (more…)