Common Sense: Introduction

Thomas Paine admits that the "sentiments contained" in his pamphlet weren't necessarily popular among everyone in the English colonies of America. But why wouldn't these words be "fashionable?" He observed that tyranny can be tolerated to some degree even among freedom-loving people. What is it that shielded the eyes of the oppressed colonists? Loyalty to the Mother country, perhaps? Were they ignorant of what true liberty entails while slowly subjugated to intolerable acts.

Paine also stated that "[t]he cause of America is...the cause of all." And the fight for independence was a universal circumstance, because it's a fight against those "against the natural rights of all Mankind." He recuses himself from any party and uses reason alone to defend those deprived of their natural rights, and their justification for retaliation.

Full Text...

Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not YET sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question (and in Matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his OWN RIGHT, to support the Parliament in what he calls THEIRS, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either. In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion. The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth, is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censure, is the AUTHOR.

P. S. The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt to refute the Doctrine of Independence: As no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past. Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the DOCTRINE ITSELF, not the MAN. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle.

Philadelphia, February 14, 1776

5kYL: Principle Nine

ROLE OF REVEALED LAW

From within the writings of the Bible, the founding fathers and former like-minded scholars found that God's laws are revealed. These laws are designed to promote, preserve and protect man's unalienable rights.

Not only does man have unalienable rights, but unalienable duties as well.
These duties include:

• Public duties between state and people.
• Private duties between the individual and God.

The duties between the state and the people are enforced by the people granting the state authority to maintain civility. The duties between an individual and God are enforced by self-discipline. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of each person to respect the rights of others.

Are there laws enacted today that contradict God's laws?
Also, are there laws that support God's laws, but are not readily enforced?

5kYL: Principle Eight

MAN'S UNALIENABLE RIGHTS

From the 9/12 project:

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

Man's rights of Life, Liberty, and Property are granted by God and may not be abridged.

What is meant by the "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence?

Are there instances in which we forfeit our natural rights?

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

5kYL: Principle Seven

EQUAL RIGHTS, NOT EQUAL THINGS

From the 9/12 project:

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

The government may not have any power over which the individual citizen has legal right to do. One cannot take what is not his and give to another he deems is in need. This follows that the government shall also have no authority to do so.

In America, we were protected by equal opportunity to acquire as much wealth/property as we please. It is the incentives that enables the wealth and prosperity of this nation. But once the government starts taking away incentives by placing exorbitant taxes on high-wage earners or by giving welfare checks to no-wage earners in the name of equality, equal opportunity is no longer protected. Ultimately, the more wealth taken from a few and given to many others, results in all living equally miserable.

The government should only protect the people's equal rights, not provide equal things. As noted previously, we are a generous nation. If our neighbor is in need, we are encouraged to pick him up. But it is not encouraging to be forced by government to be charitable.

5kYL: Principle Six

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL

In America, man is equal in the eyes of God, by the established laws, and in the protection of his rights.

This chapter explains the struggle of the second-class or minorities. I choose to disregard this as I consider the most important, and as a modern philosopher states it, the smallest minority, is the individual. It's not productive to exemplify a group that collectively surmount adversity, rather I extol the one who did. Only in America is this possible.

One important thing to note is that government hand-outs never improve the minority's position, as they are only supplements to his freedom to succeed or fail.

5kYL: Principle Five

ROLE OF THE CREATOR

The existence of the Creator is the most fundamental premise underlying ALL self-evident truths. The revealed law of God, based on man's reasoning, is considered the foundation of society's justice system. Laws are constructed based on a moral code that distinguishes right from wrong.


God is also deemed intimate, displaying divine intervention in our daily lives and in the founding of this nation.

5kYL: Principle Four

ROLE OF RELIGION

The "Religion of America" that was to be taught in all schools included five Fundamental Points:
1. There is a God to be worshiped.
2. Through reason we are able to understand God's will.
3. We are to live by the Golden Rule.
4. The soul of man is also immortal.
5. We are held accountable for our actions.

Jefferson: These are the basic beliefs "in which God has united us all."
Religions, both Christian and non-Christian were legally equal; the U.S "should not prefer one religion over another." But never is it cited that non-religion was supported.

5kYL: Principle One

NATURAL LAW

From the 9/12 project:

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

This is a simple and easily understood principle:

• Love God and
  
• the truth of His Justice.
  
• Love your fellow man.
  

Follow these commandments and government becomes irrelevant. The foundation of society must be Nature's Law. Laws created in antithesis to Nature's Law are by definition, evil.

Questions to consider:

In the Declaration of Independence there is an affirmation of Nature's Law with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But what laws enacted thereafter oppose Nature's Law?

Is the permitting of abortion opposed to Nature's Law?

Is the recognition of gay marriage acceptable under Nature's Law?

The acquiescence of some States the bondage of fellow man in involuntary servitude was practiced and legal until the ratification of Amendment 13 of the Constitution of the United States. What becomes a Nation that permits such laws?

5kYL: Part 1

So our view of left and right has, let us say, skewed a bit over the last 230 years. What we have today it seems are two sides of the same political coin. One side moving towards tyranny and the opposite, though facing the other way, is following right behind at the same coins-width pace.

Skousen: "[U]nfortunate that issues [are discussed]in terms of political parties instead of political power".

Let me commence this post concerning the Ruler's Law which represents the left side of the political spectrum. #9 on the list of characteristics of Ruler's Law states that problems are always solved by issuing more laws, setting up more bureaucrats, more regulation, and continually adding taxes. This is exactly the course we've been heading for decades. We have an exorbitant corporate tax rate that makes it harder to compete. We've increased the size of Government and set up more excessive federal agencies over the years. Incessant laws and regulations are crippling rather than solving the nation's objectives.

Also, look at #11 on the list of characteristics. We don't necessarily have a class of nobility, but there are many who comprise a privileged class we refer as the elites. Then there is the class that seems to subject themselves to those elites. Examples of the latter class are found in the inner-cities where they live in perpetual poverty and pay higher taxes, yet continue to support the elitists.

Rather than Tyranny or Anarchy, the founders wanted to establish a government similar to the systems established by the Anglo-Saxons and ancient Israelis. In the pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine elaborates on his expostulation of Ruler's Law and the prohibition of Kings in Israeli law.

Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land
unto all the Inhabitants thereof

Questions to Consider:

So what of this natural inclination to move towards tyranny? What furthermore do you suppose could have been added to the Constitution to slow down this tendency?

What is meant by "coordination without consolidation"? Why is it important to require compromise and equally important to refrain from centralization of power?

Finally, the founders warned against the welfare state, yet we find ourselves deeply entrenched therein. Sam Adams remarks that it is "unconstitutional" to permit such a system. Where and when did we turn wrong? Also, where in the Constitution can you discover collectivism and the re-distribution of wealth prohibited?