I ran across this site on Reddit today, and while the advertising on the site is a bit much, the content could not be more timely. I need to read more about Thomas Paine. Sometimes it feels like...
I ran across this site on Reddit today, and while the advertising on the site is a bit much, the content could not be more timely. I need to read more about Thomas Paine. Sometimes it feels like our current struggles are something new, while apparently they are not.
The link is to a site about the writings of Thomas Paine. He was a key founding father of the United States. Many conservatives, especially from the Scalia school of “originalism,” claim some sort of descendance of thought from the founding fathers, while Democrats seem to have no response. Well check out Thomas Paine! Why is no one quoting this founding father?
The moral principle of revolutions is to instruct; not to destroy.
Paris, July, 1795
There is no subject more interesting to every man than the subject of government. His security, be he rich or poor, and in a great measure his prosperity, are connected therewith; it is therefore his interest as well as his duty to make himself acquainted with its principles, and what the practice ought to be.
Every art and science, however imperfectly known at first, has been studied, improved, and brought to what we call perfection by the progressive labours of succeeding generations; but the science of government has stood still. No improvement has been made in the principle and scarcely any in the practice till the American revolution began. In all the countries of Europe (except in France) the same forms and systems that were erected in the remote ages of ignorance still continue, and their antiquity is put in the place of principle; it is forbidden to investigate their origin, or by what right they exist. If it be asked how has this happened, the answer is easy: they are established on a principle that is false, and they employ their power to prevent detection.
Notwithstanding the mystery with which the science of government has been enveloped, for the purpose of enslaving, plundering, and imposing upon mankind, it is of all things the least mysterious and the most easy to be understood. The meanest capacity cannot be at a loss, if it begins its enquiries at the right point. Every art and science has some point, or alphabet, at which the study of that art or science begins, and by the assistance of which the progress is facilitated. The same method ought to be observed with respect to the science of government.
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Please read more about the OG T Paine, and let’s discuss. IMO, the mentions of Monarchy can easily be replaced with Oligarchy and all of the arguments are applicable to this day.
I ran across this site on Reddit today, and while the advertising on the site is a bit much, the content could not be more timely. I need to read more about Thomas Paine. Sometimes it feels like our current struggles are something new, while apparently they are not.
The link is to a site about the writings of Thomas Paine. He was a key founding father of the United States. Many conservatives, especially from the Scalia school of “originalism,” claim some sort of descendance of thought from the founding fathers, while Democrats seem to have no response. Well check out Thomas Paine! Why is no one quoting this founding father?
The moral principle of revolutions is to instruct; not to destroy.
Please read more about the OG T Paine, and let’s discuss. IMO, the mentions of Monarchy can easily be replaced with Oligarchy and all of the arguments are applicable to this day.