Bread And Circuses.

[Theland]

Caesars gave the masses bread and circuses to keep them quiet.
Now we have shopping, Hollywood, Facebook etc and fill in the blanks yourself.
But we have low turnouts at elections, political ignorance, and I think the strategy for controlling us is working quite well.
Do you agree?

[AuntLydia]

no

[andy-hughes]

No.

[Old_Geezer]

What are the present day elite rulers offering ?
Whatever it is, it swayed almost 50% of those members of our population who felt interested enough to vote.

[Mamyalynne]

No.

[Tilly2]

Who is doing the controlling?

[woofgang]

no

[Theland]

Controlling? The elite? The super rich? The drinks and tobacco companies that have the ear of the government? The bankers? (Nobody went to gaol!)
The list goes on. The media is controlled in the interests of the establishment, even the state owned BBC pay mega bucks for idiots. A club.

[sandyRoe]

Is it The Illuminati?
They're not that good when they let Britex get so close to happening.

[kvalidir]

No, but I'm not a fan of the dumbing down of TV, that does have sinister elements attached to it.

[AuntLydia]

What does the 'dumbing down' of TV mean?

[Tilly2]

'But we have low turnouts at elections, political ignorance, and I think the strategy for controlling us is working quite well.'

If it's the politicians, they seem to be losing the plot.

[kvalidir]

It means fewer programmes of intellectual or educational worth replaced by reality TV and Soap Operas. Particularly reality TV gives people, often younger people, unrealistic role models for themselves, lifestyle and behaviour and often encourages them to value things which are frankly not very valuable. I think it creates insecurity and anxiety and leads people to obsess of unimportant things whilst they are blissfully unaware of the very important things. this clearly doesn't apply to everyone, but when you find that a huge percentage of people under 20 think Auschwitz is a beer, you really do have to wonder.

[AuntLydia]

kval really good answer and totally agree. Unfortunately its something now that can't get turned back. Not sure if this dumbing down TV is a clandestine way of trying to control the masses or the TV just providing a service that is popular. Chicken/egg situation. Social media and fake news is more disturbing to me.

[woofgang]

Kval, while I agree with you, I am not sure what can be done or even if its a new thing. Novels which we now consider classic literature were considered frivolous and a waste of time when first published. The phrase “dumbing down” hadnt been invented but if it had been, I am sure that it would have been used. The novels and fashion magazines of the time were criticised for giving girls unrealistic ideas.......plus ca change I guess

[Zacs-Master]

The proletariat are quite easily quelled with entertainment and a hearty meal. Great leaders have always know this. Our indifference to politics is ‘cos many of us are better informed and can see through their tired old cliches.