From a Life-Long Republican Contemplating the Election Results

The writer, a lifelong Republican, reflects on the election results through Rudyard Kipling’s poem “The Lesson”. They argue that a major political setback should prompt an honest reckoning and practical change, rather than excuses or excessive talk.

The poem was written in response to Britain’s poor performance in the Boer War, despite its eventual victory. The writer says its message can apply to politics: acknowledge failures and put them to use. They leave open whether enough people will heed that advice and whether they will draw the right lesson.