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From: chris@leadsv.UUCP (Chris Salander)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Meaning of Bread and Circuses
Message-ID: <406@leadsv.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 21:48:48 EST
Article-I.D.: leadsv.406
Posted: Mon Apr  8 21:48:48 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Apr-85 00:36:35 EST
Organization: LMSC-LEADS, Sunnyvale, Ca.
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     At the height of the Roman Empire, Rome was the most  
  populous city on Earth, with a population estimated to
  be as high as 1 million people, and at least several
  hundred thousand.   At any given time half of these
  people were unemployed.  

    Originally, the problem was not so bad, but Emperors
  started giving away free bread and providing free admission
  to special games to enhance their popularity.  Unfortunately,
  this cause all the loose souls in the Empire to gravitate
  to Rome.  Eventually, the masses became so numerous that they
  became a real threat.  Combined with the Praetorian Guard,
  the Roman MOB started deciding who would be Emperor.  As a
  result, continuing to provide adequate quantities of free 
  BREAD AND CIRCUSES  became a major item in the Imperial budget
  and became critical to an Emperor's success or survival.

      Most of the unemployed would spend their day at the games
  and spend their evenings collecting their food.  It is an
  interesting example of how a welfare state can come to control
  (and cripple) the national state.