I had the pleasure of attending an outstanding lecture by a fellow named Tom Phillips. He is a former socialist who is now a conservative. He went through a chronological history of socialism.
http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/05/the-history-of-socialism/
http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2009/04/ideological-bigotry-my-book-is-now-available/
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
