Quick hits: On PTSD, or more properly, on Coming Home [An absolute must-read] Good news leaks past the embargo on good news… Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals Kerry vows to disprove Swift Boat claims [Dream on, Johnny Boy. Dream on.]

When the numbers of needy rise and overwhelm the numbers with ability, the socialist system breaks down even faster than usual.

When you allow immigrants into a socialist system, and the vast majority of them will become recipients of largesse in a socialist system, isn’t it obvious what’s going to happen?

The only places I’ve heard where socialism succeeded is where the culture and the people have a strong work ethic. They feel morally compelled to work hard, regardless of the drain on their own worth. This was the case in the Scandinavian countries. But culture is generational, and within two generations, we are now seeing the disappearance of the work ethic even in those countries; and their socialist system is now - again, inevitably! - in deep trouble. They too have large numbers of immigrants living on the needy side of the equation, and their productive folk are giving it up.

Perhaps countries rich in natural resources can still succeed with socialism. I’m thinking of oil-rich countries here. I think the jury is still out on that one.

But if you look at any poorer country, experiments with socialism are absolutely disastrous. Look at the shocking case of South Africa. Under the leadership of the Communist African National Congress, the country has collapsed. It is spiraling downward into a cesspool of misery. Will we never learn?

That pretty much can tell you what happened, just by itself.