I'm Noticing...

In my middle school teaching days, we studied a bit about the Ancient Roman Empire. Actually, we took part in a simulation, and within that unit of study there was a lesson called "Bread and Games." It was an interesting study, in that it explained the tactics the Senate used to keep the "mob" from rising up against them. One of the tactics was called "Bread and Games." The thought behind it was simply this: If we keep the "mob" fed and entertained, they will be more reluctant to rise up. So they made sure that free bread was available to all citizens, and they instituted more than 200 official holidays per year. This in turn made the people dependent on the government for sustenance, and turned the economy to one that was dependent on the holidays, much like having an economy dependent on tourism. The result was that over the years, the people lost their trade and service based economy, the economy collapsed, and eventually Rome was weakened to the point of being invaded by Germanic tribes.

Bread and Games. It's starting to feel less like a simulation and more like the real thing...