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Most Americans are busy. They work hard, raise families, pay bills, attend church, coach little league, and try to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that generations before them fought to preserve. There is nothing wrong with living a productive life. In fact, it is part of the American Dream. The danger comes when everyday responsibilities leave us with little time or energy to pay attention to politics.
More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman poet Juvenal coined the phrase “bread and circuses.” He observed that many Roman citizens had become so distracted by free food and endless entertainment that they neglected their civic responsibilities. As long as they were comfortable and entertained, they paid little attention to the decisions being made by those in power. The result was a population that gradually gave up its role in governing itself, allowing those in power to make more decisions with less public scrutiny.
Bread and circuses also takes the form of political discouragement. When people conclude that voting doesn’t matter, that all politicians are the same, or that their involvement cannot make a difference, they have fallen into another form of distraction. A disengaged citizenry is just as useful to those seeking power as one preoccupied with entertainment, because both leave the public square unattended.
Today, “bread and circuses” represents anything that distracts citizens from remaining engaged in public affairs. Modern life is filled with work deadlines, sporting events, streaming entertainment, social media, vacations, and countless daily obligations. While these activities are not inherently bad, they can become distractions if they cause us to ignore the political decisions that ultimately shape our lives.
Those in political power know that many citizens are too busy to follow legislation, attend local meetings, research candidates, or vote in every election. Every hour that informed citizens disengage creates an opportunity for others to organize, campaign, influence elections, and reshape public policy. Laws affecting taxes, education, parental rights, religious liberty, property rights, public safety, and free speech are often written while millions of Americans are busy trying to make a living or are disengaged due to political apathy.
That is why I often remind people:
“If you don’t have time for politics because you’re too busy making money and enjoying your freedom… you must not know that others are making time for politics to steal that money and freedom from you.”
The point is not that every political opponent has bad intentions. The point is that political engagement never stops. While many citizens are focused on building families, careers, and enjoying the blessings of liberty…activists, candidates, lobbyists, and elected officials continue working to shape laws and public policy. If one side remains engaged while the other grows complacent, the engaged side will inevitably have greater influence over the direction of society.
As we approach the upcoming midterm elections, now is the time to become involved. Learn about the candidates. Read beyond the headlines. Volunteer for campaigns that reflect your principles. Encourage your friends and neighbors to register and vote. Attend local meetings. Support Republican organizations working to preserve our Constitutional Republic and individualism.
Freedom is rarely lost all at once. More often, it is surrendered gradually while citizens become distracted, complacent, or convinced that someone else will protect it. Don’t let “bread and circuses” become the reason your children inherit less freedom than you were given. Stay engaged. Stay involved.
Together, we can help Keep Texas Red and preserve the principles that make America exceptional.
Author: Joseph Vargas