Do we learn from our mistakes?

Nearly everyone answers that question with a yes.  Unfortunately, if you really observe behavior
the answer is likely, no.  We know we should not repeat our mistakes but our habits, preferences, and avoidance of hard work usually trap us where we are at.  What I find even more discouraging is man ( as a biologic entity) also does not learn from mistakes.  If we did, surely we could have eliminated the need for war centuries ago.  Why would we still have economic depressions if we had really learned from the last ones?  I am facinated with all the economic experts on TV today.  Where were they before this downturn?  We had downturns in the 1980's.  Surely they would have learned from those and helped us avoid this one.   Alas, man seems locked into behaviors that are as old as history.

Is there hope for the future?  I would like to think so.  New ideas and new ways of living face us.  What I have learned is that man can adapt.  Usually it is based on a need to, not on the foresight and willingness to change the future.  A system thinker, Russell Ackoff, once spoke about  those expecting him to have great insights for the future.  (He was 80 at the time.)  His comment was, "Whatever we can see clearly about the future we will take steps to prevent from happening".  Isn't that what we see today?  We know health care is expensive and poorly designed, but the debate and politics seems to trap us into the thoughts and ways of today.  No one has really offered a completely new way of providing health care in the future.  Modern politicians are bought and paid for (campaign contributions) with money made in the past and today.  Those providing it want them to keep us there so they can continue to make money.  They are not looking to really change the future.