> Humans are bad at predicting what will work or understanding the unintended consequences of something new. We can only see clearly in hindsight.

However, everything changes.

I believe that there's a good chance that the problem has changed, gone away, rather than recur when the solution goes away.

Many solutions become a problem, either because the problem changed or vanished (think defense against dinosaurs) or the solution changed the environment, creating new problems. (think autos, think cell-phone addiction. Perfectly wonderful solutions that created new problems.)

I see history as a field to mine for learning, and not for engaging in "woudla, coulda, shoulda" or longing for a time that passed. Unfortunately, it seems that history is often used as the source for grievances and payback. Just look at the source of conflicts around the world, other than pure greed in action. The people are different. Places are different. The times are different and the circumstances are different.

And, quite simply, I see solutions and traditions that don't pass the regular "why" test as questionable to dangerous.

Buddhists have an eight-fold path that starts with right understanding, right intent, right speech and right action. I have found four to be sufficient, though most of our problems start with the first. Asking "why" and examining causes and effects in a very cause and effect, and yet ever-changing world is a necessary first step.