What History Teaches

My father was a bright man with a decidedly conservative view of things. He majored in history at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He always said that we could learn a great deal from the mistakes of the past, making history one of our most powerful tools moving forward into the future.

Europe has long been experimenting with socialism (over 100 years) and has much to tell us regarding the practice, where it leads and what its limitations are. Europeans, while not keen on killing such a central part of their culture, are not blind to its ill effects. These include high unemployment, lack of job mobility, failure to foster business startups, talent flight, hyperinflation and generally slow economic growth. In short, many Europeans are fed up with Socialism and are crying out for change! (change…..sound familiar?) Isn’t is interesting that the socialism they are running from is exactly what our new president is asking us to embrace?

Below, Daniel Hannan, Conservative MEP for South East England, gives a speech during Gordon Brown´s visit to the European Parliament on 24th March, 2009. You can Read Daniel´s blog at www.hannan.co.uk