Common Sense vs. Common Senseless - How Thomas Paine Can Be Applied To Modern Day; Part Two

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have, 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 of 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 4 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 Independance: 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.

America has long been a beacon of light to all oppressed peoples. We have stood for personal freedom, endless possibilities, unalienable rights (unalienable-what happened to that?). At one time we could stand with our chests out, not with bravado, but with genuine pride. We stood with the David's of the world against Goliath. We fought for our beliefs and lived them, at least for most of us. We have been "baptized" by the fire of social injustice, economic disasters, and social consciousness to name a few, and we have emerged like the variable phoenix. Our nation has taken the hits that have broken many a regime and turned into something to be used for the greater good. Where else can you find a society that has uniquely taken the best of all your ?isms, discarded (for the most part) the bad, and added it to a healthy base of diversity and respect for your neighbor? You can argue what is wrong with our society all day long, but at the root, America has always been the very best humanity had to offer on earth anyway.

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.

My own political leanings are irrelevant. It does not matter what party I call myself affiliated with, whatever that means. I am not writing to you to push anyone's agenda. My aim is not to convert the masses, but to remind you, America of who and what you are, and to urge you take control of you government and your country.

Of the origin and design of government in general, with concise remarks on the English Constitution.

SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.

A common thread in American life today is a general somnolent attitude about almost every important aspect or issue that should be a priority. We have, like children, closed our eyes, put our hands over our ears, and said, "No, no, no! We do not want to know what is really happening all around us. Our government and our troops can handle it!" Are you insane? Our government? If history has taught anything at all, it has definitely given credence to that old adage, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." We have given the government absolute power over the last three and a half to four years. Trust in government is all well and good, but it is the average American's responsibility to keep government in line. You do not live in a monarchy where your leaders are simply born into their positions of power.

Contrary to growing sentiment, you do no live in a theocracy were your religious leaders get to make laws as they see fit. You are really not in a parliamentary system where there is no discernable separation of power between the executive and the legislative branches of government. You live in a republic (not a democracy, but we will go into that later). Any and all abuse of power invested to the legislative and executive branches of our government should be checked not only by one another (Legislative checking the executive?), but also by the citizens. If you have a representative that has been abusing power, that has questionable ethics, that has shadows following him/her, it is your duty to check said representative. If he/she refuses to be checked, it is your duty to fire said representative. If you do nothing, then you share in the corruption and rot that has blighted this nation. You handed this person power by voting for them, and yet, you are refusing to check that power.

Instead, fringe groups on the right and on the left are checking the representatives in Washington. Would you hand a teenager with a record for speeding and recklessness the keys to you car, then look the other way when the load the back seat with drunk, loud mouthed miscreants? This is different how?

I am just an average conservative hippie veteran living in a very blue pocket of a very red state.