Nothing new under the sun. Ancient Roman politicians did the same. panem et circenses (bread and circuses", "bread and games") was the term Decimus Junius Juvenalis used to describe this practice.

Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81:

"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."

I was reminded of Frank Zappa's "I Am the Slime" (about television):

You will obey me while I lead you

And eat the garbage that I feed you

Until the day that we don't need you

Don't go for help ... No one will heed you

Your mind is totally controlled

It has been stuffed into my mold

And you will do as you are told

Until the rights to you are sold

AS Mencken said: "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."

Too many people would be upset if we had a fantasy land where people they don't approve of could be happy.

Not sure if this is a misunderstanding or conscious misrepresentation of the article, but either way it misses the mark.

1) Billionaires would love if the poors were distracted. 2) Religious bigots would be upset if Gays or Muslims or atheists were ever happy. Thus fact two will prevent the first group from getting their way.

A commentator I follow pretty closely sometimes says that the ultimate ambition for the ruling class is to corral the vast majority of humanity into an isolated technological prison, where the gaps created by the absence of community, nature, and purpose will be filled with endless digital content, and the elites get to enjoy what's left of nature. A little surprising to see someone like Carmack come right out and say yes, that's the idea!

The elite will care more about a virtual reality where there is no taxation than nature.