[avn2109]

>> "... or keep 'em distracted with shiny baubles and insipid passive entertainment."

Panem et circenses. Hardly a new trick, and truer now than ever.

[zo1]

For those that didn't get the Latin reference: Bread and Circuses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

[eli_gottlieb]

A few decades ago, when mass consumption of luxury goods was still "A Thing", I could have agreed. These days, the system mostly just keeps busy people at work, constantly trying to keep up with their bills.