The mistakes of history: Repeat them!

Rick Barker is the New Zealand member of parliament who is in charge of Civil Defense. There have been some stuff ups in recent weeks from his department and he was questioned about this on the floor of the House. I guess the pressure was a bit much.

We've all heard the saying from George Santayana: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Apparently Mr. Barker heard the saying as well. But like his department he got it wrong. He told parliament that those who ignored the lessons of history were "duty bound" to repeat them.

This is almost as bad as the Prime Minister, of Canada I believe, who once warned voters that the country stood on the edge of the precipice but that with his election they would take a giant step forward. Indeed. Flub up or just honesty? You be the judge.