Hanging around outside the conference of Britain’s governing Labour party, I was handed a leaflet declaring that the “crisis of capitalism” was upon us.  A nostalgic glow came over me.  It brought back fond memories of a time when Marxism was fashionable and capitalism’s nemesis was always just around the corner.  Alas, like the many Millennial sects who have predicted the end of the world once too often, most Marxists seem to have drifted off and will probably miss the coming Apocalypse.

You have to go back a long way to find a time when capitalism faced its previous systemic crisis.  We are not talking about mere 1970s-style crises here; a difficult time but one where the fundamentals held steady.  We have to look back almost beyond living memory; indeed, before John McCain was born.  Now, that’s what I call ancient history.

The Great Depression brought us financial misery and political upheaval and led, indirectly, to the Second World War.  When crisis hits, some people go for the familiar and secure; others turn to extremes.  There is no way of telling with certainty which way it will fall.

The problem with historical parallels is that they only work with hindsight.  Predicting the future involves more than a little guesswork even if it is wrapped up in learned analysis.  If by chance some would-be dictator sporting a dodgy mustache should show up blaming the global financial crisis on a Zionist conspiracy, we might hope that the Europeans would be more sensible this time than to elect him into office.  The omens are not good, however; last week, 29% of Austrian voters gave their support to two far-right parties, a combined total that matched the support of the Social Democratic Party and surpassed that of the conservative People’s Party.

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By Ryan P. Christiano

In an address before The House of Commons, on the 1^st of March 1848, Lord Palmerston declared: “We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal, and those interests it is our duty to follow”. Which theory or theories of International Relations motivated the Iraq War, and more narrowly, inspired President Bush? The President’s State of The Union Address; four short months after the attacks of September 11^th, declared that a new ‘Axis of Evil’ exists in the world after 9/11. In the 2003 State of The Union Address, the President declared that America and her allies were the only things that stand between a world of peace, and a world of chaos and constant alarm; and that Iraq now threatened the world with chaos and constant alarm.

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Well, I’m not planning on adding a “joke of the day” section to this blog, but on this Leap Year February the 29th, I just couldn’t resist. So here it is:

Millions of Russians have voted in general elections expected to confirm President Vladimir Putin’s popularity, but blighted by claims of fraud.

~The BBC

and….

Claims on Monday of widespread ballot-rigging have marred the poll from the day before, which gave United Russia more than 64 per cent of the vote, which will translate into 70 per cent of seats in the Russian parliament.

~Al Jazeera

and…

“I headed United Russia ticket, and, of course, it’s a sign of public trust,” Putin said in televised comments, adding that victory would let the United Russia party cement its power base in the Duma.

~CNN

and…

European election observers warned Wednesday that they might once again refuse to take part in a Russian election, saying the government was still imposing unacceptable restrictions on their work.

~NY Times

and…

The vote followed a tense Kremlin campaign that relied on a combination of persuasion and intimidation to ensure victory for the United Russia party and for Putin, who has used a flood of oil revenues to move his country into a more assertive position on the global stage.

~Fox News

So I’m not sure if this is funny because they’re still calling it an election, or because Fox, Al Jazeera, the NY Times, etc. can all agree on something. Either way, it’s already shaping up to be a hilarious Leap Year!.