Bread and Circus

Panem et Circenses “the people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now meddle no more and longs eagerly for just two things — bread and circuses." (Juvenal, Roman poet)

By: James Brown, Amanda Doughty, and Lindsay Dobecki.

What is the Bread and What is the Bread and Circus?Circus?

The bread and The bread and circus is circus is offerings, offerings, such as benefits or such as benefits or entertainments, entertainments, intended to placate intended to placate discontent or discontent or distract attention distract attention from a policy or from a policy or situation. situation.

Rome’s CircusRome’s Circus

The Roman Circus The Roman Circus was invented when was invented when the city of Rome was the city of Rome was having its decline. having its decline. The government The government wanted to distract the wanted to distract the people from the point people from the point that the government that the government was falling apart and was falling apart and they did this by they did this by providing providing entertainment. entertainment.

Rome’s BreadRome’s Bread

For the poor, the For the poor, the government would government would provide necessities provide necessities that they did not that they did not have such as have such as wheat or money. wheat or money.

The United State’s “Bread The United State’s “Bread and Circus”and Circus”

The U.S government The U.S government does the same thing does the same thing today that the Roman today that the Roman government did when government did when their government was their government was falling. They provide falling. They provide entertainment such entertainment such as sport events and as sport events and T.VT.V

The United State’s “Bread The United State’s “Bread and Circus” (CONT.)and Circus” (CONT.)

Today with the bad Today with the bad economy, the economy, the government is government is lowering taxes and lowering taxes and giving bailouts to giving bailouts to make people make people believe that all is believe that all is well, when it really well, when it really is not. is not.

Facts…Facts… The average The average

American household American household watching 6 hours watching 6 hours and 47 minutes of and 47 minutes of TV per day. TV per day.

Daily there are Daily there are about 6 million about 6 million videos rented in videos rented in America. America.

66% of American’s 66% of American’s have 3 or more TV's have 3 or more TV's in their house. in their house.

More Facts…More Facts…

The governments The governments spends 20% of spends 20% of their money to pay their money to pay Social Security, Social Security, and 15% pays and 15% pays Medicare health Medicare health benefits.benefits.

To Conclude…To Conclude…

We believe that the U.S is following We believe that the U.S is following in Rome’s footsteps. However, we in Rome’s footsteps. However, we also believe that we can stop this also believe that we can stop this and prevent what Rome could not by and prevent what Rome could not by getting out of the recession and not getting out of the recession and not focusing so much on the “bread and focusing so much on the “bread and circuses” in our world. circuses” in our world.

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