Are we condemned to repeat the past even if we remember it in massive detail?

Comment to this blog post by Paul Krugman:

Could be a very interesting case study in how it is possible for terrible history to repeat itself even in the face of detailed analysis and understanding of past similar terrible events. After the great depression most would have said "that was awful, we'll never repeat the mistakes that led to that and hampered our getting out of it!" But here we are doing it again! Why? Why? Why? Santanyana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". Well heck, we remember the past in great detail, tons of books are written about it, but we're still being condemned to repeat it!!