Caroline Paulsen, Chapter 12, Question 5

One passage in Chapter 12 the stuck out to me was about the redistribution of income. Charles Wheelan gave an illustration of angry people carrying pitchforks outside the factory of a successful capitalist and advised the factory owner to "throw these people some food (and maybe some movie tickets and beer) before we all end up worse off". I found this illustration amusing (though accurate), since it reminded me that the concept of the redistribution of wealth/stuff in order to satisfy the people is millennia old. The Latin phrase "panem et circenses" (bread and circuses) came to mind when I read this passage. During the Roman Empire, those in power discovered the need to keep the plebeians satisfied and happy (so that they were able to stay in power). This lead to the distribution of free food and the staging of public entertainment.