Blog reader Nicole Tan
commented on October 29, 2012 1:09 PM:
The term ‘Bread and Circuses’; (Latin: Panem et circenses)
is a figure of speech for a fake sense of satisfaction or the ‘feel good’
factor. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the garnering
of public approval through manipulation and/or the instant/quick satisfaction
of the shallow requirements of the citizens.
In other words, as ‘panadols’ are for quick
fixes. Juvenal (a Roman poet) defined it as “a simplistic motivation of common
people”. The phrase is taken to describe a populace that no longer values civic
virtues and the public life.
To politicians, it connotes the winning formula
for the survival of the Roman Republic for centuries. Both the Roman Republic
and China’s Han dynasty lasted for 500 years. The former used “bread and
circuses” whilst the latter was an absolute monarchy.
Instead of winning the citizens’ approval
through excellent public service and policies, the Roman Republic gave cheap
food and entertainment. The Roman Republic provided the bread and circuses in
order to order to keep the Roman citizens from becoming too discontent with
their lives.
The Roman government provided the citizens with
enough food (bread) so they wouldn’t starve and enough entertainment (circuses)
so they would be amused. Hence, the Romans elected them again and again.
BN’s breads are the 1Malaysia goodies and
handouts (BR1M Part 1 & 2, free tyres for taxi drivers, smart phone
allowances for young adults, Felda’s RM15,000, pay rise for civil servants,
etc).
BN’s latest ‘bread’ was the announcement by
Najib of RM2.98 billion for Sabah next year. Its circus shows are the alphabet
soup management (ETP, GTP, NKRA, etc); not forgetting tarring of roads before
any general election. Another great circus show was Najib’s ‘groundbreaking’
announcement in his Malaysia Day’s speech.
He said the government shall repeal the three
Emergency Declarations and draconian statutes like ISA, Printing Presses and
Publications Act and Banishment Act. They were BN’s powerful weapons to curb
opposition and rakyat who do not accept the government’s policies.
Why should BN take away these powerful weapons?
It is actually for BN’s political survival. Like the lizard’s survival skill.
The lizard will shed its tail in order to escape from its predator/death.
Food (or bread) for thought: Is BN using the age
old formula of ‘Bread and Circuses’ to survive another general election? Are we
gullible enough to allow that to happen again? (end of comment)
Nicole, thanks for the timely erudite
contribution.
