May 10, 2026

The responsibility of a political party is in inverse proportion to its chances of getting office.

Lord Hailsham (1907-2001), British Conservative politician, House of Lords, 13 February 1961, Jay p.163

MEDITATION: Is this true? And does it explain the tone one often observes in minority parties in the American Congress or the opposition in a Westminster-style parliament?

COMMENTARY: It is true. But, there is hope! When minority parties are seized of a winning issue—one that the majority of the citizenry support, but the majority party opposes or at worse ignores for whatever reason, that minority—as long as it deals responsibly with that winning issue—has found political gold.