And lest any of you take offense at quoting the architect of the first welfare state, let me point to a similar sentiment expressed by one of the forefathers of modern conservatism, John Dalberg, the First Baron Acton:
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 differed from their own; . . .
of course Lord Acton goes on to warn us
. . . and this association, which is always dangerous, has been sometimes disastrous, by giving to opponents just grounds of opposition.
I think we may be beyond politics now. The coming struggle won’t be political.