In The Times. (thanks again to Andrew Sullivan)

One good paragraph, although my discussion of it is somewhat off the main point of the article (bracketed comment is mine):

...Which takes us to the myth of America the locust state, the predator on the poorest nations of the Earth. The truth, as the US writer Charles Krauthammer has pointed out, is that America’s influence for good in suffering states is directly measurable in three very different examples.



After the Second World War three devastated nations were divided. In each case one part of a culturally unified nation fell under America’s political influence [and the other fell under the influence of Marxism].

And in each case — South Korea versus North, West Germany as against East, Taiwan as opposed to Communist China — the territory which took the American path enjoyed greater freedom and prosperity.



These were the ultimate laboratory experiments for Marxism vs. capitalism. Same languages, same history, same people, same culture, same basic geography and resources. Only one major variable was different. Yet the capitalist versions succeeded and their people prospered, while the Marxist versions became living hells that often had to fortify their borders just to keep their own citizens in. There have been no exceptions to this in any Marxist nation.

That anyone can still be a Marxist in modern times indicates either evil, derangement, ignorance, or just plain stupidity. Show me one, and I can usually pick which it is.