Bread And Circuses

Offerings, such as benefits or entertainments, intended to placate discontent or distract attention from a policy or situation. http://www.bartleby.com/61/39/B0463950.html

Juvenal on the Roman Empire: "Two things only the people anxiously desire - bread and circuses." The government kept the Roman populace happy by distributing free food and staging huge Spectacle-s.

• [alternate](http://www.shout.net/~bigred/Pan Circ.htm) version: Now that no one buys our votes, the public has long since cast off its cares; the people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions and all else, now meddles no more and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2003/02-10-2003/vo19no03_bread.htm

even a Star Trek episode