Is this what the Roman poet Juvenal meant by "bread and circuses"?

Question

I turned on the tube a couple minutes ago to see how the immigration debate was going. I found Paris Hilton on every cable news channel. Paris' sister "partying" in Greece. Paris in LA. Paris free from jail. Paris to be on Larry King. Paris...Paris...Paris

"... Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man,
the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions - everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses"

-- (Juvenal, Satire 10.77-81)

Answer 1

That, reality TV, and entitlements - yes.

It's a fair analogy, like Rome, America is a former republic turned decadent empire. But, in the modern age, the rise and fall of a great power is much swifter. Rome stood pre-eminent for centuries. America had one century. That century is over, and, even those of us over 40 will probably live to see the final Fall of the American Empire.

Answer 2

How right you are.