Historically, it was known as "Control By Impoverishment"...

[TygrBright]

Kings and emperors who worried that their vassals were getting too powerful would go on tours, called "progresses". They'd let the suspect vassals know that they were expected to host the ruler and their entourage at the vassals' own expense, providing lavish accommodations and entertainment, not just for the royal household, but for all the local peasants and citizenry... frequently it was costly enough to take the vassals and their families to the edge of bankruptcy.

By providing bread-and-circuses for the serfs while the ruler waved and smiled and looked spiffy and tossed a few pennies into the crowd, the vassals not only impoverished themselves but added luster to the image of the ruler in the eyes of the commoners.

The current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue appears to be pursuing a similar strategy with respect to those darn Librul big cities and their mayors.

cynically,
Bright

[MrScorpio]

1. Handy tip:

Link to tweet

[crazytown]

2. "bread-and-circuses" is about keeping the population well fed, and well entertained

it's a Roman term.

[malthaussen]

3. For a given value of "well-fed." n/t

[Hekate]

4. Ah well, he is the Mad King, and he did promise us progress, of a sort. Well spotted. nt

[BillyBobBrilliant]

5. Then they came up

with the concept of "noblesse oblige" to satisfy their consciences.