Leftbehind By Edward Hadas

European Left : Thepoliticalleft was christened in Europe during the french Revolution . It may haveended as a vital force with the opening of the Berlin wall in November . A few years ago the parties of left and centre -left Seemed to be flourishing . They were either in or about to be in the government of every leading Eu member stste . But the financial crisis -which shold have been a windwall for politicians who traditionlly took the side of the people against the bankers -has shown how shallow the roots really were .There are threr problem . first the abject failure of communist command to put policies of extensve national isation and income controls out of bound.