Panen et Circenses

So Prince William and Kate Middleton have seen finally informed those who care that they are getting married.Good on them I say.Two people who are in love and are willing to make the commitment should always be applauded.

My problem isn't with William & Kate (Gawd Bless em)but more with how the government will no no doubt pull out the stops to take our minds off what is going on in the country and how much they will spend of our money doing it.A specialist commitee has already been formed by the coalition.

When I first heard the announcement of the impending wedding ,my first thought was what on earth will the Daily Mail have left to speculate upon now?,but this was soon replaced by the theory that the Roman poet Juvenal was not really that far wrong when he mentioned the phrase "Bread and Circuses" way back in 100 AD.

It's a phrase now used to deplore a population so distracted with entertainment and personal pleasures (sometimes by design of those in power) that they no longer value the civic virtues and bow to civil authority with unquestioned obedience.

Never mind the fact the country is rapidly going down the 'latrina' ,tax and debt is rapidly approaching near epidemic levels and the gap between the plebs and the patricians is getting chasm like.Lets have a jolly old public event to take peoples mind of it.

Back then The Roman public flocked in their thousands to the stadia to pour praise and scorn on the popular gladiators that were in fashion.No doubt every attendee of the arena saw fit to voice their opinion of the fight and say how much better they would have done things.We have football.

While the Romans enjoy the spectacle of throwing Christians to the lions, we watch aghast as minor celebs devour such appetizing concoctions as Pureed Centipede a la Mode or Black Pepper Grilled Scorpion with Grubs and Live Ants on the side.

Excess,greed,gluttony and indulgence in all things was celebrated and desired by those that had money,whilst those that have nothing were then , and are now , seen as a commodity to be exploited and used as the elite see fit.