"Bread and circuses" is a phrase that originated in ancient Rome and refers to a strategy used by Roman emperors to maintain the loyalty and pacify the populace through the distribution of free food (bread) and entertainment (circuses). The phrase is often attributed to the Roman poet Juvenal, who criticized the practice as a means of controlling the masses and diverting their attention away from important societal and political issues. This pitch from selfish, highly dysfunctional, unhonorable, non-initiated leaders to one another being, "just feed them and keep them entertained."
In ancient Rome, providing free bread to the citizens, known as the "grain dole" or "bread dole," was a common practice initiated by various emperors as a form of social welfare. This distribution of free grain helped alleviate hunger and poverty among the lower classes, which was good cause you then didn’t have people literally starving and then getting very desperate, but it also served a political purpose by ensuring the support and loyalty of the population.
Similarly, the Roman emperors organized lavish public spectacles, including chariot races, gladiatorial contests, and theatrical performances, in arenas such as the Circus Maximus and Colosseum. These entertainments, while oftentimes brutal, played to our inherent human interests to watch a physical fight but were also intended to distract the masses from their grievances and discontent, fostering a sense of unity and loyalty to the ruling powers.
This concept is still very applicable 2000 years later. At the time of this writing & speaking, the United States has just had its largest sporting event, the super bowl. Which is not even the largest sporting event in the world, the World Cup being larger. And like with big everything, big sports are big money. While most middle class Americans, in the most powerful country in the world, can not afford an unexpected $3000 medical bill, the current price for said sporting event is now climbing up to a quite horrific nearly $10,000 per ticket on the low end, and going up to $100,000+ for some extra poshy seats. While democracy is often under threat, and to maintain healthy democratic systems requires constant participation from an historically well educated and well informed populace, far too many people put more money into purchasing their sports tickets than they do on small dollar donations to opposing pro-democracy political candidates.
While things very much have improved since the ground zero days of Empire, Ancient Rome, with more respect for human life, as the events no longer feature participants being run through or mauled to death, but instead kicked and punched in an octagon until bloodied, or smashed up against one another on a court or field, and occasional still gored via pissed off bull, it’s important to stress that in free and open society, circuses should certainly be allowed, but it’s about the amount of time one puts into them. While this is not intended to be us as a curmudgeon saying "no one should enjoy a sporting event", engaging with them only to the point where they are not allowed to be consumed to the point of constant distraction is crucial.
The phrase "bread and circuses" has since become a metaphor for any pro-oligarchic and pro-corporatized governmental policy or strategy that seeks to appease the populace with superficial benefits or distractions while ignoring underlying societal issues or problems. It is often used to criticize politicians or leaders who prioritize short-term gains or superficial entertainment over addressing more significant issues facing society and also highlights this dynamic between the aristocracy and bourgeoisie compared to the everyday folk, is very old and distraction had been figured out as a tool of control by the ruling but infinitesimally small minority long ago.