It became necessary in short order – after Augustus – for the new caesar to do this, else he might end up – and often did end up – being put to death by his own praetorians.

Trump promised sesterces – twice thus far. Initially, we plebes were supposed to be getting a $5,000 check as our common refund, to be paid-for by all the money saved by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Does anyone in our amnesiac era recall? Musk has moved on to other things. As has DOGE. It ceased to exist as a formal entity – one created temporarily by Trump – back in November of last year. Some cling to the idea that "the principles of DOGE remain alive," just as Roman plebes told themselves the principles of the republic remained alive after the ascension of Augustus.

DOGE was, as ought to be obvious by now, a show – like the shows (panem et circenses) put on for the plebes in Roman times, to keep them distracted and momentarily ecstatic. It works for just as long as the bread and circuses last.

Trump's promises of sesterces – to the tune of $5,000 for each of us plebes – was of a piece. It was greeted with wild enthusiasm because so many of us plebes could very much use $5,000 – a small portion of the sesterces most of us plebes have been relieved of by the federal government over the course of just a few months of working and withholding.

A dog is always grateful for the scraps he gets.

But this DOGE produced no scraps. No sesterces. The imperator did revise his promise to $2,000 sesterces, which he – in his brilliantly oily way – did not say when would actually be paid. Just a hint that at some point they would be paid out. Well, we're very close to the vaguely hinted at point at which the imperator said the sesterces would be paid out. Is there anyone who still believe they will be? Almost certainly. There are always people who believe – because they want to believe. They need to believe. The alternative is much too horrible to contemplate for these people. It is a common human failing. Consider all the people who continue to get "vaccinated" – and continue to get sick. To admit to themselves – never mind to admit it openly – that they got fooled is too much to bear.

Spring is almost here and summer not far behind. Both are likely to come and go without any sesterces arriving in the mail.