I would remind you all of the sentiment expressed by Lord Acton, one of the leading 19th century thinkers in the British conservative tradition that stretches from Burke to Thatcher:
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has been sometimes disastrous, by giving to opponents just grounds of opposition, and by kindling dispute over the spoils in the hour of success.
— John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
When folks who identify as "left" get things right, we should regard them as short-term allies, useful auxiliaries in advancing the cause of freedom, not bosom buddies, all the while hoping (though not expecting) that they will see the error of their left-leaning ideas and become conservatives.
I would remind you all of the sentiment expressed by Lord Acton, one of the leading 19th century thinkers in the British conservative tradition that stretches from Burke to Thatcher:
At all times sincere friends of freedom have been rare, and its triumphs have been due to minorities, that have prevailed by associating themselves with auxiliaries whose objects often differed from their own; and this association, which is always dangerous, has been sometimes disastrous, by giving to opponents just grounds of opposition, and by kindling dispute over the spoils in the hour of success.
— John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton
When folks who identify as "left" get things right, we should regard them as short-term allies, useful auxiliaries in advancing the cause of freedom, not bosom buddies, all the while hoping (though not expecting) that they will see the error of their left-leaning ideas and become conservatives.
That's a great quote and comment. I bolded the part I think is key in the present time because we have a lot of people who take a "you're either with us or against us" view. And if you split from them on an issue or two, they try to destroy you.
But as Lord Acton said, the truth is that we need those people if we actually want to get stuff done When we personalize politics and insist on 100% or nothing, we make it impossible to accomplish anything.