However, I am now going to make a very bold statement and suggest that (particularly in England) FOOTBALL has become the people's Opiate and I would like to qualify this by inviting members to consider a few pointers to such a suggestion.
The football players (those who have reached STAR status) are revered by the fans to such a degree that one would imagine them to be GODS.
One has only to observe the behaviour of the fans at matches to recognise that (during the match) nothing else is of any importance other than the outcome of the contest between the two teams.
A win produces a euphoric state of mind which sustains the fan for the whole period up until his team plays again.
A loss has a peculiarly deflationary effect on the fan and it also lasts until the next match, a RUN of wins or losses either inflates or deflates the fan accordingly and losses can be detrimental to the fan's health.
Then we have the 'War Cries' and the battles between rival fans, they disport themselves in such fury when confrontations occur, one would imagine that the 'Vikings' would turn tail at such onslaughts.
The Government (particularly UK currently) LOVE to see the way the fans offer their adoration to their 'Heroes', they actually encourage such behaviour because they are aware that while the fans are so engrossed, they are not conscious of the manipulative schemes that are taking place in high office to control them further, what is more, the fans are actually PAYING for the privelege of such manipulation.
Then we have the WORK problems, the losing fan cannot operate effectively and the winning fan is too hyped up to do likewise, SO, in come the immigrants, prepared to work for less money, not so much interested in football as they are in supporting their families.
The seeds of disharmony are sown, racial tensions increase and the Government officials can make a fine show of hand-wringing in despair of what they can do next to solve the problems they are SO happy exist.
Production figures suffer, which is also very handy since the UK is currently incapable of producing much in any case (hence the cheap labour) and all the while the fans are either looking forward to or dreading their next FIX (Opium).
