The idea is that keeping people occupied and diverted then you can fail as a civil leader but still maintain your control and position. The more people are satisfied (by government or business efforts or other large scale entities) the less likely they are to rebel when those entities are failing them. Even if they aren't properly satisfied, they're still made content.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
The idea is that keeping people occupied and diverted then you can fail as a civil leader but still maintain your control and position. The more people are satisfied (by government or business efforts or other large scale entities) the less likely they are to rebel when those entities are failing them. Even if they aren't properly satisfied, they're still made content.