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The idea of "heaven on earth" -- a godless temporal utopia -- is "the most harmful delusion in history," said Dan Flynn, author of A Conservative History of the Left, in a speech to the Young America's Foundation conference this afternoon at George Washington University.

Addressing some 400 students from across the country, Flynn recounted the history of 19th-century socialist Robert Owen's "New Harmony" commune, "a complete disaster." Noting Owen's opposition to private property, religion and marriage, Flynn said, "It is as it was -- not a lot has changed in 180 years."

As mentioned in my article on the conference, this is the temporary headquarters of "Youth Against Hope." To give an idea of the "brand damage" problem on some campuses, one student reported that one of her classmates told her, "I'm a libertarian -- I'm for Obama."

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