Can history repeat itself?

Can history repeat itself? The famous philosopher George Santayana is famous for stating this famous saying which reads something like this.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

George was a professor of philosophy at Harward College, where he studied under the philosophers of William James and Josiah Royce.

I do understand that the majority of people in this world do find history rather boring. I hear this all the time when I chat with people all about certain events in our history of our country. However, I am afraid that the more of history which people refuse to remember, the more mistakes which people in the past would be repeated by those in the future over and over. This piece of our provinces' history seems to be repeating once again in 2021.

Now, I was not around when this backbencher's revolt happened. I was born on April 26 in 1968. To remind everybody reading this piece that the 1937 Social Credit Backbenchers' revolt took place from March to June 1937 in Alberta. This revolt was a rebellion against our premier at that time, whose name was William Aberhart.

These backbenchers were not part of the government's cabinet who were unhappy with the premier's failure to provide Albertans with the $25.00 monthly dividends through social credit that he had promised before his 1935 election. Now, here are some comparisons between 1937 and what is happening today. Albertans in both times were facing job losses, however, from different sources. In 1937, the World was at war with each other, while today, the World is at war with a virus. In addition, the new United Conservative government had promised to scrape the Federal Carbon Tax during the last election campaign. Unfortunately, both Premiers were not able to do what they had promised. These issues were out of their control. When the government did not make any moves to implement the $25.00 dividends, many MLAs revolted openly and threatened to defeat the government in a confidence vote.

This revolt in 1937 took place during a period of turmoil for the government of that day. Besides the dissident backbenchers, half of the cabinet resigned or fired less than one year. Aberhart also was criticized for planning on attending the coronation of George VI at the province's expense and stifling a recall attempt against him by the voters of his constituency. Now, what Jason Kenny is facing today was not as severe as the ones which Aberhart faced. Here are some similarities and differences between these two different periods in our history of our province. Alberta, both times were in the red when it came to our finances. However, there are some similarities between today and what had happened in 1937. I see our current government kicking out those who disagree with him out of the government. When it came to Aberhart's government, I noticed that half of his cabinet were either fired or quit in less than a year. However, there are some differences which I do see very clearly, which is happening today in our government. I do not see a stormy debate in which the government's survival is being called into question. I do not see a compromise where the government relinquished considerable power to a committee of backbenchers which insurgents would dominate. I do not see any experts to be invited to Alberta to advise what the government do next. Now, I will remind everyone that most of the new legislation proposed was ultimately disallowed or struck down. However, this committee did manage to get most of the MLAs to sign a loyalty pledge which was the first step in saving the party from destruction.

Things can always be a lot worse than they are. In 1937, people were facing a market crash, while in 2021, we are facing a pandemic. Jason Kenny has the chance to rescue his party from destruction without going to far-left wing ideas, which are sort of illegal in every sense of the word illegal means. Will history repeat itself? Will this saying of this famous philosopher come true? Time will tell if our politicians will learn from history or repeat all of the mistakes which were made in our provinces' past.