NIAGARA FALLS — “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’’ — George Santayna

That famous line by the 20th century philosopher could prove prophetic with the current attitude that we should forget the War of 1812.

It was the war that neither the British, who owned all of Canada then, nor the Americans wanted in the first place. In retrospect, their reluctance was justified because nothing much was resolved when it ended 30 months later.

If by chance, however, the Americans had won that war, there’s no question that Canada would now be part of the U.S.

Think about that outcome: no armed guards at the border demanding your passport or Nexus; people in St. Catharines and Vancouver, B.C., celebrating Thanksgiving on the same day as those in Amherst and Jackson, Miss.; and with a common currency, no one asking if the dollar or loonie was worth more.

But back to the battlefront.

A major factor for starting the war was the English fleet seizing American ships, removing their crews and forcing them into service aboard the British vessels. In addition, there were the “war hawks” in the West, led by the outspoken congressman Henry Clay of Kentucky, dedicated to pushing President Madison into war with England.

At the time, Britain was preoccupied with fighting Napoleon’s armies in Europe so it didn’t want to split its forces between that Continent and the sideshow in North America.

By the time it was over, the U.S. casualties totaled 2,260 and 4,505 wounded. British losses were estimated at 1,600 killed and 3,679 wounded. While those numbers pale in comparison to lives lost in the two World Wars, Korea and Vietnam, they still reflect the supreme sacrifices the U.S. paid to protect its freedom.

Now, at the brink of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, there is little interest in our state government to approve any funding for the official observance of that dramatic chapter that unfolded along the Niagara Frontier, in southwestern Ontario and on Lake Erie, among other places.

Gov. David Paterson, in fact, took matters into his own hands when he vetoed the state Assembly bill that would have established the 1812 Anniversary Commemoration Commission.

“It’s a direct affront to the social and economic needs of upstate New York and to the legislative process,” said Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky (D-Westchester), who helped shape the plan for the commission.

Brodsky added that he was shocked by the governor’s veto, finding it mystifying and hurtful to taxpayers statewide , especially upstate New Yorkers, who could benefit economically from the increase in tourism that the bill would provide.

The Niagara Frontier became the focal point of the bloodiest and yet some of the most indecisive fighting of the war.

The American troops torched Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) and held nearby Fort George for a time.

In retaliation, the British forces crossed the Niagara River, captured Fort Niagara in a sneak December 1813 attack, and later burned most of the buildings between Youngstown and Black Rock, the Buffalo suburb.

If that wasn’t enough, they also invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House. In the Deep South, the biggest American victory in the war was at the Battle of New Orleans.

Ironically, the Treaty of Ghent ending the war had been signed two weeks earlier although the word had not yet reached Gen. Andrew Jackson who became a national hero as a result of that encounter in New Orleans.

But forget all that. Who wants to hear how Major Gen. Sir Isaac Brock died in the Battle of Queenston Heights. Or how the U.S. troops trying to cross the Niagara River that day forgot to put oars in their boats.

And do we really care what happened at Fort Niagara, in the Village of Lewiston, at Lundy’s Lane, and aboard the USS Niagara on Lake Erie?

The least the state government could do — it did have 199 years advance notice on this — is spend a few bucks to mark the occasion. Or is it possible that we are doomed to repeat it?

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THE FUNDING GAP: The harsh reality is that New York is struggling with a $7.4 billion budget gap. It has no money to observe this significant milestone in U.S. history.

Minus the bicentennial commission, no funds are available to sponsor or coordinate special events and programs.

Meanwhile, Canada has earmarked some $19 million to help fund the observance and promote events that could boost the tourism industry.

Contact reporter Don Glynn at 282-2311, ext. 2246.