Peter Klein recently observed that the majority of popular tourist attractions in Paris were financed by coerced philanthropy (i.e., taxation). While there are exceptions to this rule, the same hold true for most of the state edifying temples in the DC/Kremlin areas as well.
In addition, Peter linked to an interesting story from of all places, Esquire. It is an overview of the Seven Wonders of the Totalitarian World.
And unsurprisingly, North Korea makes the list (not because of the Ryugyong Hotel).
Speaking of which, be sure to read the excellent essay by Peter Hitchens, Prisoners in Camp Kim — it is a stark contrast to this naive report.
More on the calamity that is North Korea: 1 2 3 4
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Shouldn’t it be ‘megalomaniacs’?
I am the Adlai Stevenson of Spelling Bees.
How disappointing not to find the Lincoln Memorial on the list.
Hi Austrian folks worldwide,
I’m pleased to sketch these lines all the way from Brazil, part of the (not yet consolidated) Union of Latin American Socialist Republics, currently being incubated by our great democratic leaders & inspirers Lula da Silva I, Chavestalin, Ramses Fidel, Evo Cocales & most recently Evita Kirchner I.
My 5 cents: the whole city of Brasilia, artificially designed by Stalin’s admirer Niemeyer, is one of the most important Monuments to Megalomania ever erected.
Its architecture, carefully designed to make the common man feel insignificant, the artificial zoning (residential, commercial, administrative etc. areas) which aims at making daily life a constant struggle, in summary, everything is purportedly constructed for the eternal Glory of the corrupt Leviathan.
BrasÃlia is, until now, one of the main causes for brazilian external debt, apart from the alienation of the political chaste, empowered to the pinnacles of the bureaucratic palaces, far away from the taxpayers’s sight.
You’ve got to admit, it’s a strong player!!
The force be with LvMI!!
RHU, Mech. Engineer, Rio de Janeiro.
Is that guy next to Mao carrying an AK47? Somehow I doubt there were many, if any, Kalashnikovs in China in 1949.
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