Left-Wing Beliefs and Last and First Men

A large fraction of left-wing beliefs can be explained by the dystopian SF novel (as far as the near future is concerned) Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon. Many leftists think our present is the same as the future in that novel.

• Communism in Russia failing because it wasn't Communist enough? Check.
• Evil America taking over the world? Check.
• Capitalist civilization using up all fossil fuels with no substitutes developed or any evidence of foresight? Check.
• Nuclear energy turned out to be ineffective as a substitute for fossil fuels but is supported by government propaganda anyway? Check.
• A nuclear accident destroys almost all life on the planet? Check.

And that's just the first five chapters.

I was reminded of this by Moe Lane's dissection of Naomi Klein's ignorance of dystopian fiction.